Ranger
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Uh Oh. - 2007/09/25 08:07
I recently purchased a hedgie female from the pet store. She is supposedly 8 weeks old and she was housed with a male.
I think she is possibly pregnant. How can I tell, and prepare her if she is?
Thanks
-Gina |
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Stasi
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Re:Uh Oh. - 2007/09/25 11:41
There are various threads on here regarding pregnancy and babies - surf around a bit and I'm sure you'll find all the answers you'll need. 
If she's in a cage by herself now, and has a hiding place, food to eat and a quiet environment - that's quite a bit of the preparation work right there. You could weigh her every couple of days, but honestly, if she's really that young she should be gaining weight steadily anyway. Gestation is typically 35 days, but can go as long as 52 days from the date she was last with the male hedgehog.
Fingers and quills crossed she's fine, and it's all a false alarm!
Stasi
Terrapin Hedgehogs
Joppa, MD
www.terrapinhedgehogs.com
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CThogs
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Re:Uh Oh. - 2007/09/25 13:53
I hope its a false alarm too but I'm glad you are thinking about it and getting ready just in case.
I like these articles cause they have a lot of details. They are from the breeding and babies articles section.
http://www.hedgehogworld.com/content/view/45/42/
http://www.hedgehogworld.com/content/view/44/42/
Ann
Connecticut Hedgehogs
We had a great time at Hedgehog Fest 2008!!! |
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Ranger
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Re:Uh Oh. - 2007/09/25 17:29
I went back up to the petstore that I got her from today. And I talkde to the lady.
She told me they were together for a week. She also told me I can bring the hoglets back to the store when they are weaned.  I told her If she is pregnant that I am going to find the babies good homes, not bring them back so they can make more money.
Then my mom suggested they sex them before housing them together, and the ladies response was "Oh, we like babies."
I read another page on "pregnant symtoms" for hedgies. And Im still thinking she is. Her poo is larger, she is eating and drinking aton, and she tired to build a nest when I gave her hay.
Thanks for everyones help, Ill check out those links!
-Gina |
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Boden
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Re:Uh Oh. - 2007/09/25 17:45
Ranger wrote:
She also told me I can bring the hoglets back to the store when they are weaned. I told her If she is pregnant that I am going to find the babies good homes, not bring them back so they can make more money.
Then my mom suggested they sex them before housing them together, and the ladies response was "Oh, we like babies."
Wow...that sales lady sure isn't the brightest crayon in the box....
Atleast it's not as bad as my pet store, they have good prices on the Royal Canin that Baron eats but constantly houses male *anythings* together. They figure if females can live together, why can't males?
Ha...I'm sure the 6 year old who walks past the hamsters and finds one eviscerated is going to get a good chuckle out of that...
Best of luck with you and your maybe-soon-to-be mum! You'll make a good maybe-soon-to-be hedgie-grandparent
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Julie Pierce
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Re:Uh Oh. - 2007/09/25 18:37
Wow well I am happy that she was adopted by you. The lady at the petstore voiced what every pet store owner thinks......put them together and get free babies out of them. Its all about money to them. They really dont care at all about the animals they sell. Its all about making a buck.
Thank you for saving her and good luck. We are all here to help with any advice we can give so keep us updated!!!
Julie Pierce
Pierce's Pogs
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Ranger
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Re:Uh Oh. - 2007/09/25 21:15
Thanks everyone for your support!
I think she is preg, but again I may just be thinking I am seeing things. 
I don't have that accurate of a scale so it is hard to tell how much she is gaining. But I will keep an eye on her.
She could only at the most be 2 weeks pregnant, so I will keep everyone updated!
Oh one question, I plan on making her a wood nesting box soon. Should the hole be a inch or so up, or should I just cut it out at the bottom edge? I read somewhere that the babies shouldn't be able to get out.
Thanks so much!
-Gina |
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CThogs
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Re:Uh Oh. - 2007/09/26 06:15
Oh one question, I plan on making her a wood nesting box soon. Should the hole be a inch or so up, or should I just cut it out at the bottom edge? I read somewhere that the babies shouldn't be able to get out.
I would use plastic instead-easier to clean and disinfect. The hole can be at the bottom edge. Easier for mom to get in and out-during the first few days she will just sneak out for a few seconds at a time to get food and water.
Ann
Connecticut Hedgehogs
We had a great time at Hedgehog Fest 2008!!! |
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Ranger
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Re:Uh Oh. - 2007/09/26 08:06
Ok, should I make something where the top can come off? Or could I just use a large igloo?
And would I need to cover it if the plastic is see-through?
Thanks!
-Gina |
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Stasi
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Re:Uh Oh. - 2007/09/26 08:11
I use large igloos here. The moms all seem fine with the relatively clear plastic.
Stasi
Terrapin Hedgehogs
Joppa, MD
www.terrapinhedgehogs.com
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aislinsadia
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Re:Uh Oh. - 2007/09/26 09:17
Ranger wrote:
Ok, should I make something where the top can come off? Or could I just use a large igloo?
And would I need to cover it if the plastic is see-through?
Thanks!
I've never bred or had babies, but I've heard others say that something where the top can come off easily is a good idea- that way it's easier to check on mom and babies and it's less disturbing than lifting their whole place up off of them.
Just a thought Best of luck!
Post edited by: aislinsadia, at: 2007/09/26 09:18
*~*Steph*~*
Cotton, Noodles & Cocoa (hedgehogs), Kuruku & Kimiko (kittehs), Sushi & Lily (Ryukin Goldfish), Rosy & Ruby (beagle sisters), and Archie & Rocky (African Dwarf Frogs). |
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CThogs
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Re:Uh Oh. - 2007/09/26 09:19
I've used the large igloos and the moms seem to like them cause they can move them around easily to where they want their nest to be.
Ann
Connecticut Hedgehogs
We had a great time at Hedgehog Fest 2008!!! |
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Ranger
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Re:Uh Oh. - 2007/09/26 16:29
aislinsadia wrote:
Ranger wrote:
Ok, should I make something where the top can come off? Or could I just use a large igloo?
And would I need to cover it if the plastic is see-through?
Thanks!
I've never bred or had babies, but I've heard others say that something where the top can come off easily is a good idea- that way it's easier to check on mom and babies and it's less disturbing than lifting their whole place up off of them.
Just a thought Best of luck!<br><br>Post edited by: aislinsadia, at: 2007/09/26 09:18
I was thinking the same thing. Becuse Willow has a medium sized hedgie igloo, and when I give her hay she makes a big nest in it and when I pick it up it all falls apart.
I was thinking about buying a plastic container at Big Lots or Target that is the right size and cutting a hole in the bottom edge. Then if for any reason I need to check up on her and the babies then I can just pop the lid of and look in.
Thanks everyone for your help!
Oh, I weighed her last night and she gained about 3 ounces(Im using a kitchen scale  ) since I got her. It might be a combo of her growing and being preg!
-Gina |
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Ranger
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Re:Uh Oh. - 2007/09/27 20:10
Update:
Last night I gave her a bath with Vitamin E becuase her skin was alittle dry, and I thought if she is having hoglets then it would probably be her last bath for awhile.
After I took her out of the bath I looked at her tummy, and I noticed it is purple-ish right under her ribs. I read one of the articles on here, and it said some females show this after three weeks into pregnancy.
But the original timeline I thought from talking to the pet store lady was more like:
Sept 11th- Bred by male albino
Sept 18th- Purchased, 1 week preg
Oct 9th- 28days, clean cage out well, place nest box in, and wait.
But if the purpleness means she is atleast three weeks, she could have them next week even!
Does the purple always mean they are about 3 weeks along into their pregnancy?
-Gina |
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CThogs
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Re:Uh Oh. - 2007/09/28 06:24
I would not necessarily rely on anything the pet store told you as far as timing goes. The best thing to do would be to assume that she will give birth at any time and get everything set up as soon as you can.
Ann
Connecticut Hedgehogs
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hokubahedgie
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Re:Uh Oh. - 2007/10/04 10:56
ahhh good luck!
glad ur taking such good care of her =)
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smhufflepuff
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Re:Uh Oh. - 2007/11/06 15:29
Hi Ranger, I've been all curious about your hedgie and how she's doing.
How's it going?
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HedgeHogHut
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Re:Uh Oh. - 2007/11/12 19:50
Hmm..Just read through this and I'm curious if she had babies, or maybe she wasn't pregnant. Let us know!
-Jacob Cole-
http://HedgeofThorns.com
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