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Post by cleocat on Aug 15, 2011 14:11:39 GMT
Ok this is urgent, after months of thinking one of my "males" was ill, this morning two baby degus have appeared in the cage. I have NO idea what to do. Need experienced owners to tell me exactly what to do with this situation ASAP"! Thanks in advance
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Post by Jaiye on Aug 15, 2011 16:56:04 GMT
Not had this happen to me, but from reading things on here you need to find out who is the mum and who is the dad. Should be easy enough as one will be fatter and have nipples, but you need to separate the adults ASAP or mum will get pregnant again!
Anything further than that someone with more experience will hopefully come and post soon!
Good luck with the new arrivals!
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 15, 2011 18:36:26 GMT
If you are able to separate them, then do . . . but you will see them both looking very sad at being parted. Degus have a post partum estrus, so they are very fertile immediately following the delivery of pups. There is a strong potential that in about 90 days you will again find pups in the nest. So . . . it is up to you, whether or not you choose to separate them now. What you also need to know is that Daddy degus are exceptionally gifted at caring for pups and he will be a huge help to Mum in the whole process. There is no fear that he will harm the pups or anything.
You will need to be aware that the pups are very active and within days you will see them exploring the whole cage, and even walking right through the bars. For your peace of mind, if you can use cardboard strips to line the outside of the cage, everywhere that you have a shelf or resting surface, this will help prevent them from escaping through the bars on you.
You will also see them starting to nibble on solid foods by the time they are between 4-6 days of age. They will continue suckling from Mum up to 4-5 weeks of age, and by six weeks will be eating only solid foods, drinking from the water bottle, eating hay, and displaying a full range of degu behaviors. You will likely need to be putting more food in than you usually do, as Mum will need additional nutrition to support her milk supply, and once the pups start eating they will need lots too.
At six weeks you need to make sure they are separated from Daddy goo, as any young females are potentially mature enough to be impregnated. They are also old enough to be rehomed at this time, if this is your desire. Keeping them up to eight weeks of age is totally fine, too.
If anyone else has more to add, they will. Congratulations on your pups!!!
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Post by cleocat on Aug 15, 2011 20:50:21 GMT
Firstly, thanks guys for taking the time to reply. Here is what happened: I adopted a "male" from his previous home about 9 months ago and they told me he was a boy, and it looked like he had a penis (now i know about the spacing between the "cone" and anus but before I had no idea) so I never questioned it. About 4 months ago we bought him a male friend and they have been happy together, but for the last couple of months Charlie (now female!) had had health problems (bleeding down there and a vitamin deficiency - pale teeth, generally being tired and feeling tense when I held her) and today I found two pups in the goos' nest! I literally could not believe my eyes but everything just clicked when I thought about it.
Here is what I am doing:
I went to the pet shop and bought a new temporary cage for mum and babies (I bought a smaller cage so that it is safer as mum kept carrying the babies all up the ladders etc and it looked pretty dangerous), removed the ladders and levels etc. and kept dad in the old large cage to avoid back to back breeding. I am planning to keep the pups as there are only 2 and the cage can definitely house all 4 of them, but I am going to get dad neutered to prevent any more pregnancies and because I am reluctant to split him from mum as they have a very close bond. Once the babies are old enough to sex, if I have males I am planning to get them snipped too when they hit puberty (discussed this with the vet).
Does this all sound like I'm doing ok? Is there anything else?
Thanks guyssss
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 15, 2011 20:53:51 GMT
Yeah, sounds like you have it all covered! As we have been learning of late, vets feel that degus over 5-6 months of age are old enough to be neutered, so that sounds good as well.
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Post by fuzzymum1 on Aug 16, 2011 7:27:39 GMT
I'm glad you've got the help you needed - I was in your position a few weeks ago. I bought 4 female goos in february, and in the last 6 weeks have had three litters - fortunately small litters with 10 babies in total. TBH as long as you provide plenty of food and bedding the parents will do a fantastic job. Enjoy them, babies are a lot of fun  |
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Post by cleocat on Aug 16, 2011 10:37:53 GMT
Oh god I don't think I would have been able to hack what you've been through with 3 litters, that must have been crazy! I am very very thankful that mine only had 2 pups as it's less stress for her (and me) and it means we can keep everyone in one cage etc. But I was wondering, is it ok that she's just had 2? I'm worried that because I was unaware of the pregnancy that I didn't give her the special care she needed or something, I do look after them very well but I guess I'm just paranoid I didn't give her something she needed and that's caused her to have a small litter or something..what do you guys think?
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Post by fuzzymum1 on Aug 16, 2011 11:11:06 GMT
As long as they've had access to food and hay etc then they'll be fine I'm sure. I had no idea I had a male until I discovered the first three babies. Degus are excellent parents and I'm sure everything will be fine. My litters were 3, 3 and 4 babies and only one of them really looked pregnant.
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Post by cleocat on Aug 16, 2011 18:34:09 GMT
Update: Charlie has had a third, a stillbirth today  We noticed it protruding and rushed her to the vet, where they removed it. Charlie is doing well so far and the vet proclaimed the two babies healthy. I was a complete wreck whilst waiting at the vets but I am so relieved that Charlie is ok, although it is very sad about the little one that didn't make it The vet said that it was probably because Charlie got too tired after the first two and couldn't push it out herself, possibly due to a calcium deficiency. So anyway that answers my question about whether there should be more babies. Thanks for all your help and advice lovely people. |
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 16, 2011 18:38:10 GMT
That is so sad, and I am sure it was terribly distressing! What a wonderful thing that you were watching her and could help her out as you did. I'm sure you've helped to save her life!! The third baby needed to come out, otherwise she would have died for sure. Well done, Cleocat!!
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Post by malteser60 on Aug 16, 2011 21:57:08 GMT
That is sad when it happens cleocat. Good and fast thinking on your part though. Plus it sounds like you have everything sorted with what's happening. Also your vet sounds like he or she is experienced with degus. That's very good to know.
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Post by cleocat on Aug 17, 2011 9:52:51 GMT
Thanks everyone for your support  It's so lucky I found that vet, it's the nearest exotics vet and it's about a half hour drive but definitely worth it, they really know their stuff there and the staff were very supportive and lovely. We've decided to give the little one a name anyway just for memory's sake as we think he or she deserves it anyway, not sure what yet. As for the two healthy babies they are looking brighter every day and mum is completely smitten with them and looking better herself, for now anyway, fingers crossed! |
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Post by fuzzymum1 on Aug 18, 2011 14:43:44 GMT
As for the two healthy babies they are looking brighter every day and mum is completely smitten with them and looking better herself, for now anyway, fingers crossed! That's great news, I'm glad mum and babies are doing well, it's amazing just how fast they grow and change |
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We noticed it protruding and rushed her to the vet, where they removed it. Charlie is doing well so far and the vet proclaimed the two babies healthy. I was a complete wreck whilst waiting at the vets but I am so relieved that Charlie is ok, although it is very sad about the little one that didn't make it 
It's so lucky I found that vet, it's the nearest exotics vet and it's about a half hour drive but definitely worth it, they really know their stuff there and the staff were very supportive and lovely.