my pups are 5 weeks on tuesday mum still happy to feed them, they are having weeatbix and purina puppy food mix with mince. what does every one else feed 5 week old pups? when should i take the pups of mum

Why give them Weetabix?  there's little nourishment in it for humans, even less for puppies :(  They need food that will give them the correct nourishment in a small amount, so scraped beef, mince, soaked puppy complete (JW, Burns, etc are good) white fish, scrambled eggs etc.  As they eat so little at 5 weeks, the best food you can afford basically.  I would use soaked puppy complete (Burns or JW) as a base and add extras to this, small amounts of mince, scraped beef, eggs, fish etc.  at least that way they experience different tastes and textures and will grow up less fussy about what they eat.   The advantage of giving no weetabix/fillers is that the pups will not produce so much waste and there's less clearing up, so keeping them clean is easier, they also don't walk through it so much. 

I would be starting to feed five week old pups pureed fruit and veg (because they cannot digest it otherwise) raw eggs, chicken carcass', breast of lamb, lumps of tripe and various minced meats.  I allow their mother free access at all times so she can wean them from her as and when she wishes.  Six week old pups can manage the bones in breast of lamb and chicken wings etc so there is no need to feed them solely on "mush" :)

I leave pups with mum for as long as mum wants to be with them. She will gradually wean them off her the way that suits her.
:)

Do you know, it never occured to me that anyone would want to wean the pups off mum faster than she wanted? :rolleyes:  In all things I am guided by the bitch - she knows best how to care for her pups and feeds them as often and as long as she wants :)

When I referred to 'soaking' the puppy food, I didn't mean to a mush, just so that it was moistened through, not all pups/dogs drink enough to compensate for the dried food.  I would love to feed raw foods but haven't been able to find a suitable supply of meat and bones.  My only option appears to be Tesco/Morrisons :rolleyes: and you know how expensive they are!  I would also need a second freezer and have no room for one :(

the pups are 5 weeks and mum still feeding them

That seems perfectly normal. She'll start feeding them less and less, and by the time they're 8 weeks they may try for a quick 'comfort suck' but will be fine to leave home.
:)

Mine are 9weeks old today and although mum never feed them (no milk) she has comforted them and still does. She gets up and walks away when she has had enough of them, I dont interfere. Mind you it was quite funny when they tried to suckle Bailey,  he was mortified.

I believe that a complete puppy food is just that, complete, and balanced. By adding other stuff to it that makes it unbalanced.
Amos