too many pups

[dreamcatcher]

hi all.
I just have a question about breeding when there is more than one female in the cage.

I have 7 girls in one cage and I read that after two degus mate they should be left together as the father is a great deal of help to the mother.
What if there are other females in the cage? what do you do then?
I was thinking of breeding one of my girls as I have a few friends who would like to own some degus, but I don't want all my girls pregnant. That would be WAYYYYYY too many pups!!
Can someone explain how that works for me please...........

Thanks

[Sunshinemeg]

keep the females together, they will help each other raise the pups. But to allow a mating you would first need to get the male and female together, its not like with dogs when they dont need to know each other, if your females are a happy unit i wouldnt risk upsetting it to get pups, if you already have a pregnant female, thats a different matter. Whats the current situation?

[dreamcatcher]

Well, the situation is that all my girls seem pretty happy. They all get along and everything in that cage seems to be fine and dandy. I guess for now, I will leave well enough alone and let everyone be happy. I wouldn't want to upset them or distance one of them just for pups.
Thanks for the advice.

[Aimeelou]

Yeah i would leave them a little while longer till all is settled, but have you thought about the couple you decide to breed arnt going to be happy when you plit them up? degus aperently mate for life!
Ask tigerlilly about how she deals with breeding hers, shes been breeding them for a long while now.

[dreamcatcher]

thanks Aimee,
I am really in no hurry. It's my girlfriend who keeps trying to talk me out of a couple of the ones I have that I thought it would benefit. There's no way that I am giving up ANY of mine. Even my troublesome boys. Even though they are new to me, they are part of my family now and I will do what I have to, to keep them happy. Little buggers!!