madhoose
Foraging Degu
Pumpkin & Pipsqueak...
Posts: 85
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Post by madhoose on Oct 21, 2011 11:45:14 GMT
We had 5 babies.. I have found 2 that didn't make it.. not sure what's going on mum doesn't seem to be bothering with last 3 they cry for her but she hardly gives them a second look.. I'm not even sure if she's feeding them.. how long do mothers leave babies unattended for.. I'm worried they getting cold but not sure if I should step in.. everything seemed fine till this morning... please give me some advice ..
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Post by Ady on Oct 21, 2011 13:00:39 GMT
Hi, not sure if I can help. All I know is that my degu mum fed her pups about every 2 hours but otherwise didn't spent too much time with them except when she took her nap with them. She would only quickly check on them when they squeaked althought mine didn't squeak a lot. Are yours squeaking continualy or just here and there? I think if u checked their tummy u should be able to see if they've been fed.
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madhoose
Foraging Degu
Pumpkin & Pipsqueak...
Posts: 85
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Post by madhoose on Oct 21, 2011 13:39:56 GMT
Thanks ady.. you've put my mind at rest, after finding the two babies that didn't make it i started watching her and as she isn't spending much time with them i started to worry that maybe there was something wrong.. but i now know she is feeding them.. they squeak now and again but only now and then she pops her head in.. glad to hear this is normal... i thought they had to stay with them almost all the time to keep them warm.. i was that worried i was seriously thinking of putting dad back in to help.. thank goodness i didn't .. i will still keep a watch over them to make sure all is ok.. thanks again  |
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Post by nuttz on Oct 21, 2011 13:58:39 GMT
now im not telling you not to worry, just keep an eye on them but...you sound exactly like myself on day one... on that saturday willow strangely just done her own thing, i was worried silly and the babies were all running up to her for cuddles but she just ignored them, well that was what i thought! i wasnt happy and i too worried like crazy but it was my daughters birthday and we had promised to take her out for the day clothes shopping so i had to leave them in hope that i would have live babies when i arrived back home............................................. yep, you guessed right, all the babies were fine, when i picked them up they felt warm so i knew that she had been feeding them and i had been worrying unnecessarily! its weird youve experienced the same on your first day too! im not sure the reasons why you ost two pups? did they look smaller than the others? and, were they all ok last night? maybe they were just the runts? im very sorry you lost these two!!! have you picked any of the babies up? if so, do they feel warm? mine all have lovely warm feet and tummies. im not to sure what to suggest but i have the feeling that your mummy is doing her job as well as she can, she, like willow probably just needed a little space and stretch her legs as the day my pups were born she stayed in the nest all day! just keep an close eye on them and hopefully you will be reassured that all is good. again, sorry to hear about the loss of the two pups  |
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Post by Ady on Oct 21, 2011 14:20:14 GMT
When i moved the dad back in, he would stay with babies all the time. While mum rather slept outside the nest. I wonder if it's because the babies were trying to suckle on her every time she was around even if they've been just fed, so she rather stay away to get some peace |
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madhoose
Foraging Degu
Pumpkin & Pipsqueak...
Posts: 85
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Post by madhoose on Oct 24, 2011 7:19:54 GMT
Sorry i've not replied sooner but it's been an exhausting couple of days.. We lost another baby.. Saturday morning all seamed well all wee ones calling for mummy and moving about so we popped out for a couple of hours when we got back one of the wee ones was lifeless in the nest.. So i started checking them every 20 mins.. As pumpkin only went to them to feed them, the poor wee things were shivering so i put my hand in they quickly crawled on and snuggled down to sleep,pumpkin wasn't bothered one way or the other, she didn't come near the nest to see what i was doing, i only took my hand out when they started looking for mummy i assumed it was feeding time .. i did this off and on the rest of the day and through the night, by Sunday morning i was shattered but glad we still had two.. Much as i was helping her i couldn't keep that up 24/7 i decided rightly or wrongly i really don't know.. but i put daddy back in. At first he ignored them he was only interested in trying to hump mummy though she was for having none of it, i lifted the babies to show him and he was all over them... I kept a close eye all day and i don't know why but pumpkin is now spending a lot more time with them in the nest.. Though pipsqueak will only go in if she's in but most of the time he will just sit and watch them.. and i'm happy to report this morning we still have 2 cosy warm baby goos...
Nuttz replying to your questions.. all seemed the same size.. though only one had his eyes opened and was scooting about a few hours after birth ( i say he because we have named him speedy gonzales as he's all over the place at super speed) ...
and yes they all seemed fine the night before though i only had a quick peek.. i didn't want to disturb her and risk stressing her.. but maybe i should have had a proper look i might have been able to do something to help... i just don't know.. I'm thinking perhaps they were premature but not so sure because she was huge like a balloon ready to pop.. or maybe it's because they are from the same litter or so p@h told us but they also said they were 2 boys.. I just hope these 2 wee ones make it they are so helpless it breaks my heart when i think of the other 3.. Thanks for the advice and support from you both.. x
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Post by fred on Oct 24, 2011 7:49:17 GMT
So sorry to hear that another baby hasn't made it. You did the right thing putting dad back in. Degus bring up their pups in small social groups and not as individuals, and I am sure having dad around will be beneficial for them. For the next fortnight there is no risk that mum could get pregnant again. I hope it will turn out well for the two pups, please keep us updated.
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madhoose
Foraging Degu
Pumpkin & Pipsqueak...
Posts: 85
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Post by madhoose on Oct 24, 2011 9:31:56 GMT
Thanks Fred... I can't help but think if I had left him with her from the start things might have been ok for them but that would have been totally irresponsible I know.. last thing we want are more baby goos not to mention the strain it would put on her.... oh and really glad you said they need to be separated in two weeks as I though it was ok for them to stay together until around six weeks or as long as she was feeding them... looks like I've got a lot more reading up to do .....  |
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Post by fred on Oct 24, 2011 10:21:09 GMT
Unfortunately reproduction in our captive degus has become so unregulated, so “unnatural” that we have to make “unnatural” decisions. You simply had to separate dad for the first 3-4 days, otherwise another pregnancy would have been all but guaranteed. Until very recently we believed it was safe to keep dad with his family until the pups are weaned. There have now been two cases reported on this forum where the parents mated again about three weeks after birth ( deguworld.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=breeding&thread=8789&page=1#68987 ). Despite intensive searches and also asking on the German forum, I couldn't find any further cases. It definitely doesn't - yet - seem a regular occurrence. I think you may have to consider in two weeks time just how beneficial it would be for the pups to have dad with them for longer. |
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Post by fuzzymum1 on Oct 24, 2011 17:41:32 GMT
Nancy had pups towards the end of July - I kept her and Norman separate until 5 days after the birth then put him in with her. 21 days after she birthed I witnessed them mating and now she is gaining weight and I'm fairly sure I've seen tiny movements under her skin indicative of her being pregnant. I too believed she was 'safe' until weaning but I won't be taking that chance again - she and her sisters can raise these pups without dad's help!
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Post by fred on Oct 24, 2011 18:55:38 GMT
I too believed she was 'safe' until weaning but I won't be taking that chance again - she and her sisters can raise these pups without dad's help! There is a difference here in that Pumpkin doesn't have sisters that can help with raising the pups. Personally, if I thought that the pups would strongly benefit from the presence of dad, I would weigh that higher than a small risk of another pregnancy. |
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Post by fuzzymum1 on Oct 24, 2011 20:42:30 GMT
I too believed she was 'safe' until weaning but I won't be taking that chance again - she and her sisters can raise these pups without dad's help! There is a difference here in that Pumpkin doesn't have sisters that can help with raising the pups. Personally, if I thought that the pups would strongly benefit from the presence of dad, I would weigh that higher than a small risk of another pregnancy. I agree Fred, there is only a small chance of pregnancy and in this case I think that leaving dad in with mum is probably a good idea - I might consider removing him for a day or so around day 21 but as I'm now on my 5th litter I would be extra cautious! |
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madhoose
Foraging Degu
Pumpkin & Pipsqueak...
Posts: 85
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Post by madhoose on Oct 25, 2011 10:15:08 GMT
Thanks Fred and Fuzzymum for your advice it is greatly appreciated. Looks like i have a big decision to make in two weeks time... The babies are doing fine, a little more active this morn although wee speedy has been since a few hours after birth. The other one at the moment we have named hope ( thats all we've done for days now, hope it makes it ) has been a lot weaker and not been out and about chasing mum until this morn that is.. So fingers crossed all will be well now. I had thought they would have been a lot more active at 5 days old than they are although pumpkin is looking after them really well since i put pipsqueak back in and has really settled down with them in fact nine times out of ten she kicks poor pipsqueak out of the nest, but then he does get his knickers in a right twist when the babies try to get milk from him and normally bolts up to the highest shelf trampling and baby goo or goo in his way.. I will take it day by day and make the decision about removing dad even for a couple of days when the time comes.. I had planned to get him neutered. Now i will need to wait until i know what sex the babies are not sure when i can tell this.. Plans just seem to be changing constantly.... First we had 2 boys, then a boy and a girl, then a might be pregnant girl, then a definitely pregnant girl, then 5 babies, now 2 babies... just hope they are one of each or better still 2 girls. If it's 2 boys i don't know how i'm going to work it.. Thanks again for the help and advice x |
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