pregnant again...

[givemescience]

Well the babies are at the store now, and their quarantine ends tomorrow.

Lucy is pregnant again, so I'm probably going to separate Darwin out when the babies are born. Does anyone know how long postpartum estrus lasts??
i don't want Lucy to get worn out, but i still want Darwin to be there to help with the babies.

[silverfox7]

my degu bubbles got pregnant 2 weeks after she had her first litter, so while she was pregnaqnt with her second litter.

i took squeaky the male to the vets to be done, as i didnt want bubbles to have another litter which would happened each time she give birth. i thought it wasn't fair to her

[givemescience]

Yeah, i thought about having Darwin fixed, but i would like to keep breeding them just not regularly.
I've read in many places that degus will only breed once or twice a year in the wild, is it possible to get them to do that in captivity if you separate the male during and immediately after birth? I do want Darwin to have an active parental role, especially since i know that Lucy would not be able to handle that all by herself. So, i was thinking of separating him just for a day or two so that Lucy was not so fertile and vulnerable when i reintroduce him.

Worst comes to worst and i will just house them separately, but i do want them to breed just not too often.

[jacky]

Sorry But I have to ask, Why do you want to keep breeding when there are so many Degus ending up in rescue or being put down because there are not enough good homes.?

[givemescience]

I work in an exotic pet store, and the degus are in very high demand here.
Also being an employee at the store that is selling them, i will have the opportunity to make sure that the babies are going to good homes. Where they will be taken care of properly and the owners know what they are getting in to, as well as how long they will have the degu based on average lifespan.

I don't plan on breeding them forever, but i am not planning on neutering Darwin just yet.

I know this is probably controversial to some, but i do have two cages so that i can separate them if necessary.

[jackdaniels]

Degus are not really breeding machines they should only really have one litter due to health problems etc (in captivity).

[givemescience]

I'm sorry if i upset anyone with my degus breeding, but i am a little insulted that you think i have anything less than the utmost concern for my pets.

i understand where you are coming from, but i really just have the best interest of my pets in mind.
I'm not doing this for profit. my wages are small, and considering what i spent to maintain the babies and a small vet fee i did not make more than $40 US. and again i don't care about the money, i just want my pets to be happy.

at first Darwin was lonely, so i got him a friend, and they bred. it wasn't intentional initially. and the second litter that is coming was DEFINITLY not supposed to happen, especially so soon after the first. I only wanted them to breed as degus would in the wild(once or twice a year at most). but i'm starting to see that they do not have such cycles in captivity.

[silverfox7]

no in captivity with them been in small space together, females will get pregnant 4 times a year.

in wild they can live in groups of 100, and they have a short life span so there maybe females only give birth twice there.

only reasone i had male and female, is my friend went to pet shop saw the male ,thought that would be nice birthday present for me.

next day they went back to pet shop, to get it a friend but there was only females left, so that how i end up with one of each


when i buy to pets for myself, i always get both of the same sex

because i never heard of degus, as soon i got home with them i went on internet to find out all about them.

[kmmg72]

As you have two cages why don't you keep some of the babies and have a male cage and female cage. That way they can't breed unexpectedly. Mum and dad will both have companions and mum will have a female helper when you do let them breed.
When you decide everything is right for another litter you can either put mum and dad together in a seperate cage or you can let mum and dad share playtimes.
I remember reading somewhere on one of the forums that each litter shortens the life of the female, not that we have a crystal ball to see the future but if you only keep the original two it is possible that dad will outlive mum.
You could also get a new female (new blood line) so that the same female doesn't have too many litters.
I am sure you have many things to consider to get the best option.
As I'm sure you are aware most of us have only had degu babies by accident and spend the next few weeks making sure it doesn't happen again.
Perhaps you should visit www.degutopia.co.uk for more reading as they actively breed and have a section on breeding with q&a.

[louwra]

Have to agree with the above posters re breeding. Far too many are looking for homes.

Pet shops should never sell animals , how can you be sure they get the best homes? Do they homecheck? Do they do a homevisit a couple of weeks later to see how they are getting on? If it fails, will the shop take the goos back? Of course not, a shop is there to make money, otherwise it wouldnt be a shop

I see you are in the States, do you realise how many states Degus are illegal? They are in high demand, so you are going to supply that demand, You also say you are not out to make money, you only made $40?!

Sorry to sound harsh, but your arguments dont hold true.

[givemescience]

Darwin is neutered now, but since the degus, male and female, can store sperm, Lucy is pregnant. this will be her last litter though.

[deguconvert]

I hope it will be a happy event for you. Babies are just so very cute. Do you think you will keep any of them?

[givemescience]

I am thinking about keeping a female, that will ensure no more breeding, and i will have a little degu family :-).

Darwin was very funny after the neuter...he kept looking down as if he knew what had happened. but he recovered very well from the surgery.

[deguconvert]

LOL! Maybe he felt kind of . . . empty . . . and couldn't figure out why. I'm glad he recovered so well!

[givemescience]

Thanks, they both seem very happy.

They made some new friends this past week as well. I am currently moving apartments, so a friend of mine is looking after them and she has two goos herself. Monty and Jack.

They were housed together when they were young, but fought as they matured. So, she separated them, and now they are both very friendly, but a little timid.

[givemescience]

Lucy had the babies yesterday!! yay!

6 healthy babies, and one stillborn :-(.

she kept trying to get the stillborn to nurse, i felt so bad. But the rest are healthy, and she looks great. Darwin is neutered so hopefully there are no more litters from stored sperm.

[deguconvert]

;D!!! Woo Hoo!!! Congratulations to you, Lucy, and to Darwin!!