How old is a joey when it comes of the pouch?

Answer 1

"Joey" is a general term referring to all marsupial young. Therefore, it would depend on the species of marsupial. Even within the commonly known kangaroo family, there are over sixty species, so there is no single answer.

For the animals most commonly recognised as kangaroos (e.g. Red kangaroos and Grey kangaroos), the average is about 7 months. They may continue to suckle for several months longer, but are no longer dependent on the mother.

Answer 2

"Joey" is a general term referring to all marsupial young. Therefore, it would depend on the species of marsupial. Even within the commonly known kangaroo family, there are over sixty species, so there is no single answer.

For the animals most commonly recognised as kangaroos (e.g. Red kangaroos and Grey kangaroos), the average is about 7 months. They may continue to suckle for several months longer, but are no longer dependent on the mother.

Answer 3

"Joey" is a general term referring to all marsupial young. Therefore, it would depend on the species of marsupial. Even within the commonly known kangaroo family, there are over sixty species, so there is no single answer.

For the animals most commonly recognised as kangaroos (e.g. Red kangaroos and Grey kangaroos), the average is about 7 months. They may continue to suckle for several months longer, but are no longer dependent on the mother.

Answer 4

Headfirst.

Essentially, the baby kangaroo uses instinct. When a joey is born, its mother prepares a path for it from the birth canal to the pouch by licking her fur so it lies flat and in the direction the joey must travel. This is actually not to guide the joey so much as to stop it from drying out before it reaches the pouch. The tiny joey uses its claws and front legs to clutch the mother's fur until it reaches the pouch, where it attaches to a teat, staying there for a minimum of two months.

Answer 5

By the time the joey is about 8 months old it is able to leave the pouch and stand on its own. This sometimes happens when the mother is lying down. She relaxes the muscles that control the pouch and the joey tumbles out then hops back in again.

Over the next few months the joey will spend more time out of the pouch. It will practise skills like hopping and jumping. It also learns what to eat but will still come back sometimes and put its head into the mother's pouch to have a drink.

By the time the joey is about 10 months old, it is too big for the pouch and stays out all the time, sometimes straying away from its mother to explore. The mother will call to her joey if it strays away too far or the joey will call for its mother if it gets lost

Answer 6

"Joey" is a general term referring to all marsupial young. Therefore, it would depend on the species of marsupial. Even within the commonly known kangaroo family, there are over sixty species, so there is no single answer.

For the animals most commonly recognised as kangaroos (e.g. Red kangaroos and Grey kangaroos), the average is about 7 months. They may continue to suckle for several months longer, but are no longer dependent on the mother.

Answer 7

The joey is in the mother kangaroo's pouch for about eight months (235 days), depending on the species. The young Joey continues to suckle until it is about 12 months old.