|
Post by arc83089 on Mar 22, 2017 6:43:26 GMT
Hello, I just got 2 female degus on Jan 21. We got them from a small local pet store. They were the only 2 in the cage. About a week ago we were surprised by 4 babies but had no idea either female was pregnant. Both of the ladies aren't fully trusting yet so we were unable to hold them much. After we found the babies I started doing research both online and in my small animal books from vet tech school. I verified both were females and discovered the other one is pregnant as well. Abigail is the one who had the babies. Both her and all 4 babies are doing well. Halsey is the other mama and she still hasn't delivered I have read online that their nipples normally become large during the last 2 weeks of pregnancy. So I have been expecting her to deliver any time. Tonight I noticed that she is lactating. Is this normal? Should I be expecting the babies very soon? She is acting normal, still eating and drinking and is active for the most part. I can't find any information about them lactating before delivering. I assume it's normal like in other animals but am just wondering if anyone has any experience with this?
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Mar 22, 2017 10:05:57 GMT
Welcome to the forum I haven't heard or seen anything on the forum about females lactating before delivery. I wonder if it is possible that she would start lactating early due to the presence of the other pups, it doesn't really make sense to favour other pups when her own are due, but you never know. The nipples do usually become more noticeable in the last couple of weeks, but genererally it can be quite difficult to tell if a female is pregnant until the last 2 or 3 weeks. Do you have plans for the babies? Boys from the first litter should be about ready to be separated, we have found on the forum they can be fertile sooner than other sources say and generally recommend separation by 8 weeks. Do you have them on a nutrient rich forage diet with extra oil seeds and nuts to help them cope with the babies?
|
|
|
Post by randomname on Mar 22, 2017 10:53:28 GMT
well, I KNOW it's normal in humans.... (weird fact - some women can lactate a little even without being pregnant & sometimes in the very beginning of pregnancy - it's how I knew I was pregnant!!) not sure in degus though. I would be asking the pet store to provide food & cages for the babies, it's their fault after all.
|
|
|
Post by arc83089 on Mar 25, 2017 5:36:29 GMT
Welcome to the forum I haven't heard or seen anything on the forum about females lactating before delivery. I wonder if it is possible that she would start lactating early due to the presence of the other pups, it doesn't really make sense to favour other pups when her own are due, but you never know. The nipples do usually become more noticeable in the last couple of weeks, but genererally it can be quite difficult to tell if a female is pregnant until the last 2 or 3 weeks. Do you have plans for the babies? Boys from the first litter should be about ready to be separated, we have found on the forum they can be fertile sooner than other sources say and generally recommend separation by 8 weeks. Do you have them on a nutrient rich forage diet with extra oil seeds and nuts to help them cope with the babies? The babies from the other litter will be 2 weeks on Sunday. We have a home for the 2 boys from that litter we are just waiting till they are at least 6 week. We are keeping the 2 girls.
|
|
|
Post by arc83089 on Mar 25, 2017 5:37:50 GMT
well, I KNOW it's normal in humans.... (weird fact - some women can lactate a little even without being pregnant & sometimes in the very beginning of pregnancy - it's how I knew I was pregnant!!) not sure in degus though. I would be asking the pet store to provide food & cages for the babies, it's their fault after all. When I called the pet store they didn't know anything about the degus and when I told them one had 4 pups and the other was pregnant they laughed.
|
|
|
Post by randomname on Mar 25, 2017 7:30:12 GMT
Cheeky b%$$£&s!!! Shows how much they value their "stock". I'd be taking my custom elsewhere if it was me. Not really surprising though - in the small animal rescue/welfare world, we see a majority of problems are caused by pet stores one way or another. Makes me so mad, because they could be at the forefront of welfare, giving good advice & really making a huge difference to these critters.
Aaaanyway, glad you've managed to find homes already, must be a weight off for you? Sounds like you've got things under control.
& BONUS FUN FACT (that I found out yesterday) Men can lactate too!! odd but true. (Not enough to feed a baby, but enough that it's a thing!) Am now wondering if all male mammals can do that....
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Mar 25, 2017 12:13:43 GMT
Sorry, I must have got confused over the baby ages, I thought they were 6 or 7 weeks already.
What country are you in?
Have you got the mums on plenty of forage and extra oil seeds (including high calcium ones) and maybe extra nuts?
|
|
|
Post by arc83089 on Mar 25, 2017 15:46:47 GMT
Sorry, I must have got confused over the baby ages, I thought they were 6 or 7 weeks already. What country are you in? Have you got the mums on plenty of forage and extra oil seeds (including high calcium ones) and maybe extra nuts? We are in the US. We had them in chinchilla food because it's hard to find any degu food. However, I just ordered them degu food off of amazon, should be here Monday. They get Timothy hay everyday, oats occasionally, and I just ordered some seeds that should be coming in today. What type of seeds that are extra oil would you recommend?
|
|
|
Post by arc83089 on Mar 25, 2017 16:16:40 GMT
Thankfully we have homes for the 4 pups we have now. I'm pretty sure the pregnant mama Halsey is going to have more then 4. My boyfriend already said he wants to keep all girls and if we can't find good homes for the boys he wants to keep them as well.
|
|
|
Post by arc83089 on Mar 25, 2017 16:37:54 GMT
|
|
|
Post by arc83089 on Mar 26, 2017 6:41:57 GMT
Well mama number 2 has had 4 pups so far and still looks like she is working on more. :0)
|
|
|
Post by randomname on Mar 26, 2017 10:28:40 GMT
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Mar 26, 2017 12:03:52 GMT
Hope mom2 and pups had a safe birth and are doing well. I have to admit natural feeding is easier in the UK, but still possible in the US. You can use our nutrition charts to help you put together some safe, high calcium seeds, I can recommend a mix of nigella, celery (tiny), fennel, coriander, sesame, flax/linseed, hemp, make sure you feed plenty from the top of the chart. You should find them in wholefood shops or asian supermarkets or online. deguworld.proboards.com/thread/15602/vegetable-seed-nut-nutrition-chartsThe mums will appreciate some nuts while they are nursing, preferably anything but peanuts. You might need to do some reading and thinking to figure out some forage that will work for you. Herbs,grasses, tree leaves, meadow plants, flowers, some leafy veg are all options. Here are some links to help you find things that are safe: deguworld.proboards.com/thread/15335/edible-plants-listdeguworld.proboards.com/thread/8772/safe-plants-herbs-leaves-consumption?page=1And here is a USA specific food thread: deguworld.proboards.com/thread/16569/links-herb-supplies-american-threads?page=1
|
|
|
Post by arc83089 on Mar 27, 2017 19:10:15 GMT
Thank you. :0) Both mama and new babies are doing well. 3 girls and 1 boy.
|
|
|
Post by savvy on Mar 27, 2017 19:32:19 GMT
Oh bless! Well done mum!
So glad they are all doing well. Pics please, we love pics.
|
|
|
Post by bouncy on Mar 28, 2017 23:40:30 GMT
well, I KNOW it's normal in humans.... (weird fact - some women can lactate a little even without being pregnant & sometimes in the very beginning of pregnancy - it's how I knew I was pregnant!!) not sure in degus though. That’s why wet nurses were possible!
|
|
|
Post by bouncy on Mar 28, 2017 23:41:53 GMT
Those little pups are adorable! They're beautiful!
|
|
|
Post by arc83089 on Apr 18, 2017 6:02:04 GMT
So both set of babies are doing well and growing fast. I have a home for the 3 boys and 2 of the girls. I am planning on bringing them to their new homes on may 1st. This would make the first set a little over 7weeks and the 2nd set almost 6 weeks. My question is would this be ok for both sets of babies. I don't want any more babies and want to make sure that the boys don't need to be separated before this? And that the younger ones will be ok leaving mom at this time?
|
|
|
Post by arc83089 on Apr 18, 2017 6:07:28 GMT
The boys
|
|
|
Post by arc83089 on Apr 18, 2017 6:09:31 GMT
The girls
|
|