Mix litters from seperate colonies?

[dturner100]

Well, my asf breeding has finally picked up. I'm finally to the point where I'm having multiple litters born weekly.

Anyway I really want to keep my breeding going on my own stock since I know they're healthy. The problem is I don't want inbreeding being the staple of my program. So the question is at what point after weaning ( or how early to wean to avoid ) do they develop the aggressive territorial behavior? I basically need to put multiple litters into a single grow out tub so they can be separated into trios for selective genetics at a later time.

So when is the best time to pull the babies for this purpose? Any help would be great. I've got two litters on the ground now, and 4 litters that should be born with in a week.

Thanks
Dustin

[pavlovk1025]

Aggressive territorial behavior begins when they have started breeding. However, if you keep a mixed sex growout tub, if they mature sexually while in it you can start seeing some problems. Keep a growout bin for males and a bin for females and youll be good to go.

After weaning, as long as everyone is living with the same sex, aggressive territorial behavior wont be a problem.

[dturner100]

Thanks Pav. So you're saying that I can just keep them separate growing out, and put them into breeding groups when they hit young adulthood.

[llovelace]

I have male & female grow out tanks, and when I start a new quad, I pick from them. I also have gone to my rat guy to pick up a new male for a new bloodline. Hope this helps

[pavlovk1025]

Thanks Pav. So you're saying that I can just keep them separate growing out, and put them into breeding groups when they hit young adulthood.

Shoot, I put em in groups when theyre adults too if I have to. Ive had to put adult females in with a 1.1 when a female in the trio has died.

I hate posting the vid, but check out my set up and see if it helps you any. The ASFs are halfway thru.

YouTube - Herp Room Tour