My decidion...

[oXo_HogMom_oXo]

Ok... alot of you have seen me asking questions about breeding and such and I have finally made up my mind. ;)

Am I going to breed?: No! :eek:

Why you ask... :confused:

1.) I have enough animals as it is... I mean... I love the little buggers to death, I really do. But it's getting a little crowded! I wake up in the morning and I'm smothered with cats... I trip over the dog, I got gliders just begging for attention (attention pigs, :laugh: )...

2.) I have one perfect little hog already. Who could ask for any more than that? I don't really want to divide my attention between him and another animal. Not very fair... :(

3.) I'm not ready. I don't think I can deal with taking the smallest little risk of my hedgie or even the babies, dying from any cause. Nope... I'd rather have one healthy little guy then 7 unhappy, unhealthy or dead hedgies. :(

Thanks for answering ALL my questions, and I have stored the knowledge away for maybe later on in my life, and if someone else needs help. :)

[Ododad]

You just grew up.
Why do I say that? It's not because I wanted you to never breed hedgies. My point was always that I felt you didn't show the maturity or knowledge needed to be able to handle a breeding disaster which unfortunately could happen. Disasters happen to all breeders. The difference that the knowledge gained by owning a hedgie for a while and learning much more about them through actually hands on experience coupled with tons of researching could very easily be the difference of life or death to a mom and/or babies. There is just so much that can go wrong with breeding hedgies.

3.) "I'm not ready. I don't think I can deal with taking the smallest little risk of my hedgie or even the babies, dying from any cause. Nope... I'd rather have one healthy little guy then 7 unhappy, unhealthy or dead hedgies"
This is the smartest thing I have seen you post yet. This right here shows the responsibilty, intelligence and maturity that has been lacking before.
Your dedication to your animals has always been apparent, as well as your love for them. I never had any doubts about that. It was mainly the situation you were in, what was going on in the enviroment around you and the fact that you seemed determined to bring more animals into it.
Enjoy the little one that you have now for awhile. Learn all about him through actual day by day experience. Then, armed with that experience and lots of researching maybe in the future, somewhere down the line, you will be ready to make a mature, responsible decision about this.
Just like the one you just made.
All of this is of course, JMO

[Nancy]

I commend you. I think you have made a very wise decision. Hopefully others will make as smart a decision also. :)

[oXo_HogMom_oXo]

I hope so too Teasel :) . And Odo... I've had the recomended hands on and research experience that these guys suggest... It's not that I can't handle it... I just feel that right now I have enough on my plate.

I also know my own emotions... I would get so attached to that little girl, and if anything happend to her because I wanted babies, I'd feel horrible. It would be like... my fault :( .

Oh well, maybe down the line I will get another hedgie but I'm not to keen on the breeding aspect. I'll leave that up to the good breeders ;) !

Thanks again for all the great information! - I gotta go, tackle my dog and give her, her monthly flea treatment... (Which means I have to chase her around the house a few times because she knows it's coming... :rolleyes: )

:laugh: :love:

[Bob]

Wonderful! You are certainly on the right track! Congrads :applause:

Bob

[teela1342]

Ok... alot of you have seen me asking questions about breeding and such and I have finally made up my mind. ;)

Am I going to breed?: No! :eek:

Rock on with your smart, logical, well thought out, adult decisions! Thanks for helping us discourage backyard breeding.

[oXo_HogMom_oXo]

Rock on with your smart, logical, well thought out, adult decisions! Thanks for helping us discourage backyard breeding.

Well I'm glad that I decided not to breed if I was going to be considered just a throw off backyard breeder. I would have gone and gotten my lic. if I would have decided to get into it.

I was hopping people would understand that it's not something I would have done just because I could have because of the new laws. I was actually really seriously considering it and doing my research first...

I don't think alot of the people on here who have e-mailed or PM'd me realized that. I have my hands on research, and I had done internet research before I even joined here, and then was on to asking questions...

I did all of that before making up my mind. Unlike some people who already have it in their head that they are going to breed no matter what and are just here for quick answers to help them along.

I don't know. I hope this helps everyone come to realize that hedgie breeding isn't easy. Through personal experience, I wouldn't know but after doing the research and asking questions, watching videos and what not... I believe it's a little to much for me to handle...

I won't put my hedgie in danger just because I want some babies. PETS first, BREEDING second... That's all there is to it... and if people are willing to put their PETS LIVES on the line because they want babies, they shouldn't be breeding.

It's great that alot of you are breeding because you are doing it to improve the species, and you have taken the time to learn your facts, and learn your hedgie, and had your experience, and you have a mentor beside you and you have your USDA... great, I cheer you all on...

But for those of you who are doing it without the listed above, without the proper motivations and you are missing your USDA and you are only breeding for money/babies... recondsider... :(