Julie Pierce
User
| Posts: 1028 |   |
|
Winter litters - 2006/12/23 14:20
Just wondering how everyone is doing with Fall/winter litters? I am having no luck with pregnancies here.
Julie Pierce
Pierce's Pogs
http://www.piercespogs.com |
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
CThogs
Admin
| Posts: 1558 | |
|
Re:Winter litters - 2006/12/23 15:05
Time will tell-right now the females are acting nuts. but so are the humans, the computer and everything that has a "mind" of its own.
Ann
Connecticut Hedgehogs
We had a great time at Hedgehog Fest 2008!!! |
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
Stasi
Admin
| Posts: 629 | |
|
Re:Winter litters - 2006/12/23 15:52
Lots of babies here! Then again, my hhs are used to dark and cold - coming from Alaska n all.
Stasi
Terrapin Hedgehogs
Joppa, MD
www.terrapinhedgehogs.com
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
dzmeadows
Admin
| Posts: 976 | |
|
Re:Winter litters - 2006/12/24 16:12
Litters??? What are litters??
My girls are certain that pregnancy is a horrid thing, and are refusing to cooperate at ALL. And I have oodles of customers wanting babies, which is always the way it seems to happen. No babies, tons of customers. No customers, tons of babies. :-P
Becca
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
TCSKelly
User
| Posts: 137 | |
|
Re:Winter litters - 2006/12/24 20:49
dzmeadows wrote:
Litters??? What are litters??
My girls are certain that pregnancy is a horrid thing, and are refusing to cooperate at ALL. And I have oodles of customers wanting babies, which is always the way it seems to happen. No babies, tons of customers. No customers, tons of babies. :-P
Becca
 I know the feeling!
Kelly B.
The Critter Shack
-Kelly
The Critter Shack
www.tcshedgehogs.blogspot.com |
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
HamorHollow
Admin
| Posts: 2169 | |
|
Re:Winter litters - 2006/12/24 22:35
I'm having about a 1 in 3 chance of pregnancy, and of those another 1-2 in 3 that actually has a live birth, doesn't eat of fillet the young, and then actually has milk AND is willing to care for her babies!
Props to (little) Becca who has a first time litter of 6 a few days ago. She lost one out of the batch and appears to be doing well with the other 5.
-K
Kelly Sosik-Hamor
Hamor Hollow Hedgehogs - a New Hampshire breeder, serving Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and any where else hedgehogs are legal. |
Do you want to buy a baby Hedgehog? Please fill out out questionnaire. |
Hedgehog World - A Community for African Pygmy Hedgehog Owners and Breeders
Join us for Hedgehog Fest 2008
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
deltadawn758
User
| Posts: 42 | |
|
Re:Winter litters - 2007/01/25 14:16
I bred both my females in early December and they both had babies early this month--8 babies in all with no casualties. I didn't leave my male and females together for extended periods of time like I've read you're supposed to do (like seven days and the like). I could tell, by having experience breeding other animals, whether the females were receptive right off and my past experience in this regard paid off. Good luck!~~Tree
http://mainstreetmallonline.com/household/store.php?ref=6
~~Tree
Black's Hedgehog Plantation
http://www.mainstreetmallonline.com/household/store.php?ref=6
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
HamorHollow
Admin
| Posts: 2169 | |
|
Re:Winter litters - 2007/01/25 15:31
deltadawn758 wrote:
......... I could tell, by having experience breeding other animals, whether the females were receptive right off and my past experience in this regard paid off.
I am glad things have worked out for you, but you should know that just because a hedgehog is receptive and mates, it does not guarentee a litter. I've have several hedgehogs that I know mated (more then once) that falsed out.
If it were as easy as the females being receptive and the male doing his job, I would be up to my eyeballs in babies.
-K
Kelly Sosik-Hamor
Hamor Hollow Hedgehogs - a New Hampshire breeder, serving Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and any where else hedgehogs are legal. |
Do you want to buy a baby Hedgehog? Please fill out out questionnaire. |
Hedgehog World - A Community for African Pygmy Hedgehog Owners and Breeders
Join us for Hedgehog Fest 2008
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
deltadawn758
User
| Posts: 42 | |
|
Re:Winter litters - 2007/01/25 15:40
This I know. That is why you reintroduce the female to the male after x amount of days (x depending on how often you wish to do this after the initial introduction.) It's all part of breeding animals.  Sorry you haven't had luck recently and hope that luck changes soon! ~~Tree
http://mainstreetmallonline.com/household/store.php?ref=6
~~Tree
Black's Hedgehog Plantation
http://www.mainstreetmallonline.com/household/store.php?ref=6
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
Stasi
Admin
| Posts: 629 | |
|
Re:Winter litters - 2007/01/25 16:28
Tree, you might wanna knock it back a notch, and listen to what the more experienced breeders are trying to share with you. You certainly don't HAVE to do what you're being advised to do, just listen and respect anothers opinion.
That being said, your methodology is reasonable, however, I hope you also understand that these are hedgehogs, and are quite likely to do the exact opposite of what you're desiring.
Many of us have tried the methods you're using, but have found over the years that the conception rate is no different between leaving them together, and doing the repeated introductions. Fertility differs based on a huge number of factors.
There really isn't a right or wrong answer here.
Kelly was posting (I believe) basically to point out that it's not THAT simple.
I'm glad your first experiences have been good, but keep listening and learning, and understand that chances are good, things won't always go as smoothly.
Stasi
Terrapin Hedgehogs
Joppa, MD
www.terrapinhedgehogs.com
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
deltadawn758
User
| Posts: 42 | |
|
Re:Winter litters - 2007/01/25 17:33
Whoa! I think my comments were a little misinterpreted and blown out of proportion. I apologize if I sounded somewhat flippant, but I assure you, I've done my homework and these aren't my first hedgehogs. I replied to a post asking how everyone was doing with winter breeding and I replied that I did quite well and now have two litters. And as far as knocking it back a notch, if I wasn't listening to what all "the more experienced breeders are trying to share" with me then I wouldn't be posting on this site and I wouldn't have asked Becca to be my mentor!
And true, "there really isn't a right or wrong answer here. And a right or wrong answer to the original post was never implied in my answering post(s). Everyone has their own methods. I have mine and it happened that this time it worked but next time it might not. It might so happen that somewhere along the line I change methods maybe a dozen or so times. It's whatever works at any given time and that holds true for everyone no matter what they are doing. That's why we're all here correct? To listen and learn about each other's methods on doing various things with hedgies?
I have a lot of respect for those who have been breeding hedgehogs for so long, however, my post that you addressed was misinterpreted. Thanks everyone for all the great advice and info you've given me so far! ~~Tree
http://www.mainstreetmallonline.com/household/store.php?ref=6
~~Tree
Black's Hedgehog Plantation
http://www.mainstreetmallonline.com/household/store.php?ref=6
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
dzmeadows
Admin
| Posts: 976 | |
|
Re:Winter litters - 2007/01/25 20:49
It is definately true that hedgehogs love throwing us all for loops as often as possible.
I am very glad (and quite jealous) that you got 100% conception on your breeding. I have tried extended period breedings, 2 days on 2 off 2 on, 3-4 days together then repeat a week later, and haven't seen any evidence that any of them worked better or worse for me. In fact, it seems that my hedgehogs seem to enjoy teasing me... I will have a high conception rate with a breeding or feeding or something experiment, then the next time, I do everything exactly the same, and they point and laugh and refuse to get pregnant.
I have had experience with other breeding critters in my lifetime, I grew up on a ranch dealing with cattle and horses mostly, and hedgehogs have taught me that I knew absolutely nothing useful to breeding hedgehogs.
My conception rate has continued to be crappy over the winter, but hopefully the hedgehogs will start cooperating better soon. :-P
Becca
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
Julie Pierce
User
| Posts: 1028 | |
|
Re:Winter litters - 2007/01/26 06:23
Yeah there is not much you can do but wait and see. I got pretty lucky and have 10 beautiful babies getting ready to go. I honestly didn't think either of the moms would get pregnant just based on past experience trying to breed in the winter. I have witnessed the mating of a couple and still ended up with no pregnancies in the past. Its all a crap shoot!
Ah but folks remember, spring is right around the corner
Julie Pierce
Pierce's Pogs
http://www.piercespogs.com |
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
deltadawn758
User
| Posts: 42 | |
|
Re:Winter litters - 2007/01/26 06:33
Thanks, Becca. However, don't be jealous of my 100% conception rate as it could have just been beginners luck and/or maybe the atmosphere!  Maybe the stars were aligned just right or maybe I held my hands just right. One thing's for sure, though. Hedgehogs are definitely NOT like rabbits, rats and mice!!!! I grew up on an animal farm with everything from chickens to goats, rabbits to exotic birds and animals aren't always predictible, especially certain species. One thing that has come in useful for me having been brought up in breeding all different kinds of animals is some of the husbantry that goes along with breeding and dealing with a bred female and litters. I'm referring to small animals. It helped me right off the bat when my hedgies got pregnant and then had their litters. Of course, I had already read a ton of stuff of what you should and shouldn't do when your hedgehogs have babies and it's been an enlightened experience since I broke quite a few of the rules (on purpose) and have been sucessfull despite it. However, things like that all have to do with certain factors, I think, like atmosphere and what was done around the animal before and so on.
For instance, my herd has been raised right up under us from the very start. Not much room in a 32 foot camper trailer! So they're used to being moved around all the time, petted throughout the day, loud noises and so forth. Maybe this helped to account for my luck this time or maybe not. Too soon to tell since this is their first litters. "smile." Only time will tell and all I've said above are from my experience only. Some animals are more tolerant than others and I have always been blessed in that way and these animals are no exception.
As time goes along, and if I continue to have good breeding conceptions, it will only make me try to figre out why when technically breeding hedgehogs is iffy because they AREN'T like rabbits, rats, and mice. But, that's how it's like in the breeding world, even concerning hedgehogs. What works one time, or a bunch of times even, may not work the next time or for many times after that.
I hope your hedgies show mercy on you soon and present you with more grandchildren! My mom's chomping at the bit because she lives 200 miles away and hasn't seen them yet. She told me yesterday she wants pictures so she can show everyone her great grandchildren. "laugh." If your little ones keep being stubborn, surely spring fever will hit them. One can hope anyway!! Keep me updated and thanks for posting your experience to share with me and others. ~~Tree
http://www.mainstreetmallonline.com/household/store.php?ref=6
~~Tree
Black's Hedgehog Plantation
http://www.mainstreetmallonline.com/household/store.php?ref=6
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
dzmeadows
Admin
| Posts: 976 | |
|
Re:Winter litters - 2007/01/26 07:54
Hedgehogs love to confuse us! When I started breeding, it was passed on very adamantly that you do NOT invade the nest box for a minimum of two weeks, and that the baby area must be kept completely silent and peaceful. Now, more and more moms seem to be thriving in a higher activity area, and will allow handling of the babies at a much younger age. I base my nestbox invasion schedule on the mom's behavior, because I have had enough experience to understand the hints when the mom is actually likely to take a dislike to her babies being disturbed. I have some moms who allow me to invade within the first day, as long as I don't disturb things too much, while others are a danger to their babies if disturbed even up in the 10 day to 2 week range. For new breeders, or people with unexpected litters, I still recommend the no invasion for the first 10 days at least, because I can't predict how their female will react.
Crazy hedgehogs anyway. *rolls eyes*
Becca
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
deltadawn758
User
| Posts: 42 | |
|
Re:Winter litters - 2007/01/26 09:06
Becca,
What you describe proved exactly true in my case. I based my "invasion" on the reactions of the mothers and got them used to my hand being in their pen near them and their babies. Also, they both relate my plastic yellow tongs with food! They are so funny. My hedgie, Sweetsea, acts just like a dog begging for mealworms and crickets whenever I treat them. And I can tell when SHE thinks I should give her these treats by the way she acts when she hears my voice! "laugh." One comparison I can make between chickens and hedgies is this: They each and every one have their own personality and this has proved true for all the many differnt kinds of animals I've had throughout my life. Animals are like humans in that they each have their own personality and character. "grin." No wonder I'm such an animal lover!! ~~Tree
~~Tree
Black's Hedgehog Plantation
http://www.mainstreetmallonline.com/household/store.php?ref=6
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
RobinLee06
User
| Posts: 46 | |
|
Re:Winter litters - 2007/01/26 16:34
It's pretty much like humans - I tried and worried for 6 months to have my son, sure that there was something wrong, but when I had my daughter it only took once! - What a Carribean vacation will do to you! Maybe you can play a little soft music and some wine? - err, spiked mealworms! - lol.
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
amjon
User
| Posts: 26 | |
|
Re:Winter litters - 2007/07/03 21:06
When I had my first pair of hedgehogs years ago, my female was a very good mother. I would start playing with them the day they were born and she never once ate a baby. They were the sweetest babies, I think because they were handled so much. I wish I still had her today.
dzmeadows wrote:
Hedgehogs love to confuse us! When I started breeding, it was passed on very adamantly that you do NOT invade the nest box for a minimum of two weeks, and that the baby area must be kept completely silent and peaceful. Now, more and more moms seem to be thriving in a higher activity area, and will allow handling of the babies at a much younger age. I base my nestbox invasion schedule on the mom's behavior, because I have had enough experience to understand the hints when the mom is actually likely to take a dislike to her babies being disturbed. I have some moms who allow me to invade within the first day, as long as I don't disturb things too much, while others are a danger to their babies if disturbed even up in the 10 day to 2 week range. For new breeders, or people with unexpected litters, I still recommend the no invasion for the first 10 days at least, because I can't predict how their female will react.
Crazy hedgehogs anyway. *rolls eyes*
Becca
Amanda
Carling Chinese Cresteds (and More)
http://www.carlingchinesecrested.com |
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
|
Hedgehog Forums 