New babies!! Sarah1984 please read!!!

[huggable_zoe]

Oh my god, I woke up this morning and went to go and see my hedgie Noel and was shocked that she had already had her babies! She was not due until the end of the week but we were already ready. They are soo cute. I have never had a hedgie have babies before so it is quite exciting. Right now she has four but I don't know if she's done yet because she had them through the night. Well Sarah your baby is a mommy again! I will post pics as soon as I can but it probably won't be until they are old enough to move them because my web cam is at my moms :(

[placebo]

Congrats! :lovies:

[Super Chin]

Yay! Everyone loves hedgehog babies. Let us know what happens!

[huggable_zoe]

I checked her again when I came home from school yesterday and noticed 2 dead little bodies. They were the last 2 that she had and she ate them :( What should I do with them? I know your not supposed to bother the mother so do I leave them in her cage or take them out? I just left them there for now until I know for sure. THe other 4 baby's are doing great! They are soo cute. Noel is such a good mom, she nurses them all the time and doesn't come out of her nest unless she is realy hungery. Is that normal? Since she had them yesterday she has only eaten once but has drank 2 bowls of water. Other than that everything seems fine! :D

[Hollys Mom]

Use a long handled spoon to take the deceased babies out of the cage while Mom is busy with the live babies. Mothers usually don't eat right after birth (since they get nourishment from the placenta) but make sure there is food available for when they are ready to eat. Water is also VERY important. Moms can be very skittish for at least the first week. Avoid the urge to peek, clean the cage or introduce new sounds to the cage area. After the first week, mom will come out to eat, usually burying the babies in the bedding to hide them. If you can hold her and give her treats, it would be safe to peek, but do not touch the babies. Again, use a spoon, if necessary to look at them. Remember - it is not worth jeopardizing the little ones for a peek. By the second week, mom will be looking forward to some time out of the nest at night. Good luck...and congratulations. - Barbara

[huggable_zoe]

Thanks alot for the info. I will take the babies out when I go home from school. All the other babies are still doing great. Im soo happy that they are doing well and can't wait to be able to play with them.

[sarah1984]

2 dead babies she had! WOW.

I only EVER looked at the babies when noel was out drinking. The first 4 days she doesn't come out much.

Are the babies dead because they were born dead or did she kill them? do you see bite marks ect. I just fear it's a little to soon for her AGAIN...Poor thing this will be her 3rd litter in a year... try not to bread her again for QUITE some time, like maybe even give her 6-7 months off to be a regular hedgie.

but besides my concern (she was my pretty baby and all) that's wonderful that the 4 are still doing good.

Don't look unless she is far away from them, and then even try not to, let nature take it's course, Noel is an excelent mommy.

Keep me updated, you know my e-mail.

[sarah1984]

oops I ment to say WOW to the fact that she had SIX babies int he first place

[huggable_zoe]

The only time I have been peeking is when she is out eating or drinking. Even then she doesn't like us looking at them so we don't unless we have too. She is still doing great. Ive read on here and the question came up of how many times you should breed a hedgie and alot of people said that there is no set time of how long you have to wait before you breed them again. Correct me if I am wrong but when we breed her we made sure she was at a good weight and happy and healthy so I see nothing wrong with it. But either way mom and babies are doing great and that remains the most important thing right now.

[Nancy]

I have to agree with Sarah. I remember when she got Noel. She can't be more than just a year old. Three litters already by her age is too much.