Handling Babies

[HedgieMama]

Hello everyone! My female hedgehog gave birth 12 days ago, and I am very much looking forward to handling the babies in two days time. I do however have some reservations about doing so and need a bit of advice.

Prior to her pregnancy, my hedgehog was extremely friendly and easy-going. Being a first time mother of twins, she has become extremely protective (for wonderful and obvious reasons). I am very thankful that she is such a good mother, but even the slightest disturbance in the room (e.g. a floor creak) results in a very unhappy, puffing, and charging little hedgie lady. For this reason, I am really scared to handle the babies for the first time for fear of hoglet rejection.

Does anyone have advice for first time handling? Lifting her igloo seems to be the only way to access the babies (which will dismember her nest completely). I'm very skeptical that distracting mommy with treats will work either, as any intrusion makes for a very puffy mom.

Help!

[CThogs]

Its okay to be nervous-its as stressful for us as it is for the moms sometimes. The easiest thing is if she will come out when you give her food or treats. If you can pick a time when she is not feeding babies she may be most likely to come out. If that is not happening, sometimes when babies are a couple of weeks old, mom will start sleeping outside her nest because the babies don't need to be fed as often and she needs a break. You do not have to stick to an exact 14 day time period-sometimes moms have destroyed babies who are older. Usually by 14 days it is fine, but if at any time, she starts carrying babies around, then back way off and wait longer. If you think the nest will not hold up, you could start by lifting one side of the igloo and see how she reacts before handling the babies.

[HedgieMama]

thank you so much! Great help!

[HamorHollow]

If mom is being extremely over protective, just back off. I know how anxious you are to play with the babies, but gauge mom's behavior. It is better to wait longer if you have to then to have mom destroy a baby.

Hedgehogs are intuitive and will pick up on your emotions. If you are really nervous, mom will get really nervous. If you are relaxed, mom will be more relaxed. So if you are really nervous now, I would hold off a little bit.

K