Emergancy! - 2008/01/26 06:20Sparta had babies!!! What do I do? There are 5 of them. And it is too cold to move them to a vet.
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CThogs
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Re:Emergancy! - 2008/01/26 06:41Is she in the nest with her babies? Do not disturb her. There is no need to do anything if she is taking care of them.Ann Connecticut Hedgehogs
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hedgiepirate
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Re:Emergancy! - 2008/01/26 06:44Shes in the nest but sniffing them all I did pas pick up her hut when I herd some squeeking (because I thought she was having trouble breathing and she huffed bigtime then I put the hut back over the nest but there are 7 not 5.
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CThogs
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Re:Emergancy! - 2008/01/26 06:51That must have been quite a shock to you. Try to stay calm and keep your distance. If she is taking care of them, she will keep them all in the nest so you did the right thing by putting the nest box down. Do not disturb the nest again. Seven is a pretty big litter, but hopefully she can handle it.
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hedgiepirate
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Re:Emergancy! - 2008/01/26 06:54Oh it was a big shock but I'm so happy now. is there any special food that I would need to feed them or mom rather?
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CThogs
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Re:Emergancy! - 2008/01/26 07:13If she has been eating and drinking well up to now, I would not worry about changing anything immediately regarding food. For the time being I would just let the situation stabilize. Just quietly give her food and water. If she has a wheel in her cage right now, you should also remove that at some point soon if she seems calm.
Later, you could add some mealworms if she likes them. You could also add a dish of esbilac puppy milk. It is powdered and you mix it with water.Ann Connecticut Hedgehogs
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hedgiepirate
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Re:Emergancy! - 2008/01/26 07:51Ok, now what should I do if she ousts one of the little guys from the nest hand feed it with baby formula and keep it warm? If I have to clean the cage when and how should I do it? And when will it be ok to handle them (obviously not any time soon)?
p.s. Thanks for all the help!
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CThogs
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Re:Emergancy! - 2008/01/26 08:08"If" she rejects one of the babies and hopefully she won't, you could email us your location and there may be a breeder by you who has a mom who could be a surrogate. Hand feeding is not usually successful and is a last resort for most breeders.
Don't worry about the cage getting dirty. When you put in the food and water you can grab out a handful of dirty bedding and put a clean handful in if mom does not seem stressed. Most moms keep their nest area clean on their own. It may not be up to our standards but it works for them.
Take your cues from mom on when to handle them but wait at least two weeks. How long have you had your hedgehog and how relaxed was she with you before all of this?Ann Connecticut Hedgehogs
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hedgiepirate
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Re:Emergancy! - 2008/01/26 08:54I have had her about 3 weeks (adopted her from Rumfords in East Providence, RI) and she warmed right up to me the first time I picked her up but she was getting progressively grumpy but always found sanctuary behind my neck, but she loves to explore.
Post edited by: hedgiepirate, at: 2008/01/26 08:56
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Julie Pierce
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Re:Emergancy! - 2008/01/26 12:16I live near there. I am in North Attleboro. Feel free to contact me if you need any help or encouragement. I have a nursing mom right now so if worse comes to worse I may be able to help you out. My email is piercespogs@hotmail.comJulie Pierce Pierce's Pogs http://www.piercespogs.com
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hedgiepirate
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Re:Emergancy! - 2008/01/26 13:39Awesome thats good to hear, I live in Westport so thats not to far for me. So far so good, all seven seem to healthy, I can see them through the door when mom comes out to eat. It looks like there were going to be 8 but one didn't make it, I noticed some red in some of her poo and slightly investigated but all seven seem to feeding from mom and are very vocal.
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Julie Pierce
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Re:Emergancy! - 2008/01/26 14:127 is a big litter! I had one litter of 8 a while back and boy I really felt bad for the poor mom!!!! Best you can do is just leave her alone and let her do her thing. Hopefully she will take right to it and you wont have any problems!Julie Pierce Pierce's Pogs http://www.piercespogs.com
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LORI611
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Re:Emergancy! - 2008/01/26 14:21Wow , what a suprise!! Best of luck to mommy and her babes, and to you too!! LoriLORI, SOUTHINGTON, CT Mom of: Chloe(dog), Mr.Toad(frog) and Hazel the hedgie!!
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hedgiepirate
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Re:Emergancy! - 2008/01/26 15:49Thanks! I can't wait to see what colors they are. And by the looks of it mom is doing a very god job being well a mom.
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hedgiepirate
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Re:Emergancy! - 2008/02/03 16:51I think something is wrong with Sparta. I filled her bowl up with fresh water and and food. I left to go to work and when I came back to check on her food and water she was sleeping near her water bowl. But when she say me she got up puttered around and went back into the nest. and just sat aside from the kids. Now I'm really worried.
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Julie Pierce
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Re:Emergancy! - 2008/02/03 17:04Dont make yourself too crazy with worry. Keep an eye on her and see how she does tonight. She may have just wanted a little break from the kids but she should be spending the majority of her time in the nest. Watch for excessive time out of the nest, loud cries from the babies (indicating hunger), etc. that would indicate a problem. Watch that mom is eating/drinking and seems "well" in general and is nursing the babies.
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hedgiepirate
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Re:Emergancy! - 2008/02/03 17:45the babies are crying a little and mom has been eating and drinking (puppy milk, the powder one) plenty I have even given her some extra mealies to help supplement the babies needs.
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hedgiepirate
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Re:Emergancy! - 2008/02/03 17:49i may have found the cause... For once I can say its the parents fault meaning my dad... I asked him if had checked on the kids to day and said "I peeked in" so i assume she got really scared.
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CThogs
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Re:Emergancy! - 2008/02/04 06:19Most likely she was just taking a break. As the babies get a little bigger and sleep longer and she starts recovering from the pregnancy she may stay outside the nest when she gets a chance. As long as she goes in to feed them when they start squeaking, I would not worry too much.Ann Connecticut Hedgehogs
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hedgiepirate
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Re:Emergancy! - 2008/02/04 16:03phew, yeah she seems fine. I almost forgot they were hedgies for a moment
Post edited by: hedgiepirate, at: 2008/02/04 16:03
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Julie Pierce
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Re:Emergancy! - 2008/02/06 16:32Babies are very nerve wracking whether they are human or hedgie...lol!!! Glad things are going ok.Julie Pierce Pierce's Pogs http://www.piercespogs.com
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hedgiepirate
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Re:Emergancy! - 2008/02/12 20:13Allrighty heres an update. Every one is doing great there starting to move around much more in the box. Mom comes out to eat and sometimes I catch her sitting nose first in the food bowl. She now sits to eat but moves around ok, I think shes just tired. At what point should i start to expect them to wander out of the nest and start grinding up food?
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CThogs
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Re:Emergancy! - 2008/02/13 05:42Probably around 4 weeks or so. They will start getting interested in Mom's food. Here is an article-week 2 to weaning age
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hedgiepirate
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Re:Emergancy! - 2008/02/13 17:14Awesome! that helps big time I'll try to get some pictures up, some of them try to watch me change moms food and are curious in me but mom gets huffy so I let her be.
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hedgiepirate
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Re:Emergancy! - 2008/02/16 09:11Ok so I started to handle said beasties this last week (started Wednesday) and mom seems fine until one of them rats me out! I'm approaching step 4 from here http://www.hedgehogworld.com/content/view/43/42/ and theres one that I can't identify sex on because he/she keeps balling up and huffing then mom comes out to see whats going on. I just hold the little guy in my hand for a minute and gently stroke its back. he stops huffing and loosens a little bit but curls up as soon as I start stroking again.
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but all seven seem to feeding from mom and are very vocal.
