"Virgil" just had puppies!

[ra]

Imagine my surprise! I'm home sick with a miserable head and chest cold. Was checking email when I heard Virgil making funny noises in his little cardboard box. He was singing and warbling. I called to "him" and got him to come out on the deck for a pumpkin seed. He returned to the box and made more funny noises. Some loud squeeks had me concern. I could see him with his eyes squeezed shut. I thought something awful was wrong so I opened the top of his box to find a puppy!!!

A week ago I had been feeding Virgil some wheat grass. I noticed him seemingly getting larger and was worried I was overfeeding him. I felt the puppies moving back and forth in his belly while I was holding her one evening. I thought this Degus was really a male so I said to the guys if I didn't know better I'd think Virgil was expecting. I was concerned about giving him gas feeding him green grass so I quit feeding the grass yesterday.

Thankgoodness it was cage cleaning day yesterday. I won't have to disturb them at all until next week. Ironically, I bought some cotton fluff bedding for Virgil on Saturday. Thought he'd like something soft to sleep in! WOW! I'm still very shocked. As I sit here typing I hear the chirpings and cooing in the box.

I called the pet store to see if there was anything special I should do. They said no. The owner was not in. I will call her after five. Virgil had to be older than eight weeks when I bought "him". Must have been left over from the first litter! Don't know but would like some more accurate information.

[ra]

No real answer to how "Virgil" became pregnant and had puppies just 3mo after she was supposedly born!!!

One site said the Degus are sexually mature at 7mo but can become pregnant as early as 6wks.

Any breeders out there? HELP!

This morning I was able to take a quick peak and get a head count of 7 maybe 8 babies. Virgil is spastic. Running hither and thither. She does sit on her babies & keep them warm. I guess we'll all get used to this as time goes on.

[ra]

Rats! I just hit a random key and lost my post.


I have an official count of eight babies.

Virgil's name has been changed to Mocha

I am keeping a baby girl naming her Latte.

The other seven:

Kona
Kenya
Jamaica Blue
Sambuca
Antigua
Tanzania Peaberry
Cameroon

[taz13]

Congrats, on the new bundles of joy.

Later Cheryl

[northernstar40]

My oh My Ra..... Im gone a couple of days and look what happens. Congrats GRANDMA!! how are things going now? have they setteled down and have you been able to take a closer look? Let us know how it is all going.
Peg

[ra]

Thanks Taz & Northernstar.

Mocha (formerly know as Virgil)isn't quite sure what to do when the babies are out and about . She doesn't pick them up and put them back in the nesting box. I was doing that until I read the babies will squeel loudly when they need her. The chirp alot but haven't squeeled for help. When one leaves the box, it travels around the back of the box and back to the front just nosing around. You can see the baby listening and following the sounds of the other babies to find the opening in the box again.

One of the members on the Yahoo Degu group said it is unusual for them to be leaving the nest so young but it seems like they all go out and about at one time or another. In fact the runt, who I worry about, likes to venture forth more than the rest.

Mocha seems to be feeding and grooming them often.
All eight are getting along fine at this point.

Grandma to Degus.......sounds strange.......never thought I'd be a Grandma to anything!

[Sunshinemeg]

Hi Ra,

I'm only gone a few days, and I come back to all this! WOW! Congratulations. I bt you are pleased!
What are your plans with keeping the babies? You can certainly stop worrying about Virgil/Mocha being lonely, cause keeping one/some of the females will make her very happy. But be sure to remove the males in a few weeks time!

To make life easier for Viril/Mocha (got to say I think you should stick with callin her Virgil) Move the food bowl and drink bottle to close to the bed, so she can feed and keep an eye on babies.

Rangler is demanding pictures, and I have to agree with him! Its the virgin birth!!!!

SUNSHINEMEG ;D

[ra]

Pictures on our picture page under (what else?) the "virgin"birth!