Mother of six

[Melody]

I went to the local exotic store and what a surprise. They had acquired a hedgie with an "unplanned pregnancy." She gave birth to six babies and is taking great care of all of them! With people coming and going all the time, tapping on the glass, etc. She is the perfect mom and all six are doing fine.

I am not condoning this - she should have been moved to seclusion, etc. But with all that we try on here - not peeking at newborns, dealing with cannibalism etc -- what congrats to this "homeless" mom for being such a good mom!

Edited to add - oops, I meant to post this in the breeding section but don't know how to move it there!

[herbiesmom]

I would be the new owner of a mommy and six babies! I could not stand to see a mommy trying to raise kids in that environment. But good for her that she has not eaten them. :applause:

[Melody]

Trust me, that was my first instinct. But on second consideration -- for whatever reason, she is doing just fine as she is. To buy her and babies, move them into a carrier, bring them back to my house, put her in an entirely new environment with other critters wall-to-wall including some pretty raucous parrots -- well, I wasn't so sure "rescuing" her at this point is such a good idea. She is content as she is. Moving her might freak her out! Will consider it after babies are weaned so she can retire! Don't you agree?

[Nancy]

Wow she is a good mom. They could at least block the cage so people can't poke on the glass. Is it an aquarium, maybe they could move it to a back room.

She deserves the mother of the year award. Poor thing.

[LunaMidnight]

Awww, poor mom. :( Glad to hear they're all doing ok though! If I saw them I'd end up taking them all home with me hehe.

[Melody]

Quit sending me on a guilt trip - lol! Seriously, I would take her in a heartbeat but don't you really think it best to leave well enough alone for now? She seems quite content with her lifestyle as it is and all 6 are doing well. She even has them all outside her hidie hut, not in it and seems very relaxed about it all. I would really feel terrible if I "rescued" her now and that move and change resulted in so much stress to her that it would affect her or the babies! I don't think it would be such a great idea to move her into a new environment in the middle of all this! Do you, really?

[herbiesmom]

If they are ok where they are, I would not want to stress her or the babies either. But oh would I be tempted. I hope they know when to touch the babies and when to remove them.

[Nancy]

I don't think it would be such a great idea to move her into a new environment in the middle of all this! Do you, really?
I agree. If she is fine where she is then moving her is not a good idea but making it that people can't tap on the glass or bug her is a good idea. Rope the area off at least.

[Melody]

I go and check on her every couple of days -- things are still going great and all six are growing like weeds. She is one smart mama. One time she had three on either side of her. She would roll over to one side, nurse those three. After a while she would roll over the other way and nurse the other three. Today she stuck all six in the hidey house and was snoozing by herself outside. What a great mom!

[herbiesmom]

She sounds like a wonderful hog. I think I would wait until the babies are weaned and buy her. LOL