Joeys age

[Lottie]

What is the absolute earliest you can separate joeys from their mother?  I have been offered a pair of 4 & 5 week old suggies but I'm not sure I should accept as it seems way to young. What would the risks be for them?
Opinions? Suggestions?

[tillie]

I never seperate my joeys from the parents till they are 8-9 weeks oop, sometimes they stay longer.  They learn so much from their parents.  4-5 weeks is way too young unless they have been pulled due to being rejected in any way and then I would keep them till they were still 8-9 weeks to make sure they are ok.

[jungleflockmom]

Even 10 weeks is a great age for them to go to a new home. During weeks 8-10 the joeys learn more of the social skills from their parents that make them more able to easily adapt to a new home. At 10 weeks adapting to a new  home is much easier as they are mentally stronger - they don't cry for their mothers as they often do when they go to a new home at 8 weeks.

It is a fallacy that younger joeys adapt and bond better. In fact, they have a more difficult time of it as they are still at a fearful developmental stage. A 10 week old joey is so much more resilient.

That person selling 4-5 week old joeys is doing something very inhumane.

[loulou]

Agree with Dee, we try to keep joeys until at least 10 weeks OOP sometimes 12, 4 weeks is far to young in my opinion. And again agree with Dee I have found the older the joey the easier they bond to the owner (obviously every joey is different) just look and cerian and her two they went to her at about 5-6 months OOP and they have a special bond with her.

[Lottie]

Yeah, I knew it was a bit NQR (Not Quite Right). I almost want them even more now just so that they will be in better hands. This guy also just asked for £40 for them (not sure if he meant for the pair or each, either way, its way cheap) so I'm almost thinking he's got chipmunk babies or something like it & just doesn't know the difference,  I mean who would let a pair of suggies go for £40?

[Marie]

Well 8 weeks is the minimum but I usually leave them for 10 weeks, just to make sure they're eating on their own.