new baby pig

Question
Hi Lacey,
Yesterday I adopted a 3 week old pig from a local shelter. He is the youngest pig I have ever adopted. I currently have 2 males, around 10-12 months old. I do have the new guy in a seperate small cage. My question is, are there any special feeding needs that he may require? He seems to be eating some pellets, and I did give him a little carrot and romaine lettuce, which he did eat. I also gave him some alfalfa hay that I had (which we somtimes give to our gerbils) because I read that babies need alfalfa instead of timothy hay(which my big boys eat). Just wanted any advice on a pig this young, and how old should he be before I introduce him to the other boys. He is so small!! He fits in the palm of my hand! Thanks in advance for any help.

Answer
First I am so sorry it's taken me so long to answer you back! Please forgive me, as I've had a lot I have had to do in the last couple days. I am so happy you adopted. I wish more people would do so. It would save so many more lives. There are no special feeding needs. Since he is a male, he needed to be seperated from his mother at 3 weeks to keep from impregnating her, so he sounds like he was weaned at just the right time. If you're looking to help him grow more, give him a steady supply of pellets fortified with Vitamin C (all good pig foods have that, but I'm sure you already know that LOL) alfalfa is great, especially for babies. It has more, calories I believe, which will help baby grow strong. Fresh fruits and vegetables are great and are extremely good for him. Timothy hay is fine, it just isn't as fattening, which is what a baby needs, unlike an adult since they're still growing. You could try alfalfa cubes for your piggy to nibble, but my pigs wouldn't touch them, but all pigs are different. I suggest large amounts of alfalfa so baby can romp and play. You may even see him popcorn (jumping in midair with happiness). The most important thing in a pig this young, is attention, attention, attention. Right now, he is at a very impressionable age, and lack of attention can cause him to become anti-social towards humans and very fearful. Be extra gentle with him, as his body is extremely soft still, and bones can be broken easily. For extra fun, when I'm holding a baby, I like to get one of my boyfriend's socks. They love that snug secure feeling, and it keeps them warm. Let your piggy wiggle into the sock, and shake it gently to get him out. When a pig is a baby, they are even more susceptible to drafts and cold. Make sure to keep him off of the floor, or in a draft free part of the house. It's spring where I live, so right now that's not an issue for me. I also reccommend a towel as baby guinea pig claws hurt!!!! They'll continue to hurt you for a while, and it's almost impossible to trim claws without hurting your piggy as they're nails at this age have nerve endings to the tip. For bonding purposes I reccommend you feed him his lettuce, carrots, etc by hand occassionally. This will help him learn how to trust you and will give him an incentive to want to be held. I know at this age they're so tiny! It's normal for them to fit in the palms of your hands :) My boyfriend's mother jokes and called them "pocket pigs." You're doing an awesome job :) Keep up the good work. We need more devoted pig owners like yourself :) If you have any more questions please let me know :) I'm glad to answer:) I wish you all a lifetime of health, happiness, and love. :)