In need of advice ASAP- handfeeding?

[Helen]

My hedgie Landry had 3 babies on the 16th. She is in a two-room sterilite cage, with pvc tubes connecting a big clear sterilite, to a smaller opaque gray one. The babies are in the gray one.

Last night, she caught me peeking at the babies. :( oops. She saw me with the lid up for a second, and as soon as she came back in, I closed it and left her alone. She huffed at me a little, but didn't seem all that concerned. Well, this morning I just found one of the babies in the other "room" of the cage. I picked her up with a spoon, and put her back in the other room with Mom and the other babies. Mom huffed at me, but not too much. I just peeked (about 5 min between when I put it back, and when I peeked) and she's nursing her.

The question... should I be doing more? How do I know if I should pull the baby and handfeed? She had no injuries or anything, but she was cold. There is a heating pad under the babies' room, so that might be why. I am very nervous since this is our first (and only!) time for breeding the hedgies.

If I do need to handfeed- I have kitten powder here. Do I need the pre-mixed formula instead? Do I just mix the powder to the same as for a kitten? How much should she eat, and how often?

I hope it all goes okay, and I really have high hopes it will, but I would much rather ask!

[Nancy]

I think you should leave them alone and quit peeking. If she is nursing them they should be fine. The more you bother her and peek, the more chance she will abandon or kill them.
They have a far better chance staying with mom than you handfeeding them. :)

[who00knows]

Leave them alone! Give her atleast another week or so. Just listen for her nursing. Are you giving her esbilac? How old is the momma?

[Helen]

Esbilac is puppy milk, everything I have found says to use kitten milk. I have not found a single place that says to use puppy milk. So, no I'm not giving it to her.

Mom is a little over 8 months old.

I honestly don't think this is a problem, the mom is an extremely friendly hedgie that is really bonded to me. Last night when she came out to eat she was begging to be held, so I held her for about 30 seconds and then she decided to head back in to her babies. I am just a worry wart, and I'd rather be prepared by asking questions before I have a more serious problem. I also think I was thrown off this morning, because it wasn't me that found the baby in the wrong "room"- it was my USDA inspector (uuugh).

I'll try to refrain from asking any more questions. Obviously I won't get a real answer, just insulted.

[Nancy]

I don't know how you figure you were insulted. You asked for advice ASAP and you got advice. What is a "real answer" supposed to be?

[PrincessHedge]

Helen do not worry, you are doing the best you can. I will keep your hedgies in my prayers this morning. And as far as answers I am afraid I have none you can send me a private message if you would Like I have a few friends who breed hedgies and would help you if the time arises. I just wanted to let you know that I am here to support you.

Many Blessings to you all

[who00knows]

I think all the responses had good intentions! I have been using esbilac puppy milk. Search for Esbilac on here and you will see how many people with nursing mothers use it. (http://www.chins-n-quills.com/forums/search.php?searchid=471243) You can use what you wish. I dont see where anyone insulted you. If it came off that way I am very very sorry. Good luck.

[Helen]

I don't know how you figure you were insulted. You asked for advice ASAP and you got advice. What is a "real answer" supposed to be?

I asked when to know when it's out of control and I need to pull and handfeed, and how much they eat and how often. I found some vague answers for how often and how much, but nothing says anything about how to know if I need to pull. Logically, if that baby keeps coming out and being left in the other room, if I just keep shoving it back in with mom, it will die. It will slowly starve to death and suffer. Yes it would be wonderful if mom takes it back and keeps it. But if she won't/doesn't, I want to be prepared.

I did not ask "can I peek, can I hold them" etc. I did not ask if she's the right age. I did not ask if they would be better with me handfeeding. I know the answers to those! I'm not an idiot.

PrincessHedge- thank you so much! I just want what is best for my babies (lol mom is my baby too). I am heartbroken that this has happened, but I have high hopes for a happy ending. :D

[Helen]

I think all the responses had good intentions! I have been using esbilac puppy milk. Search for Esbilac on here and you will see how many people with nursing mothers use it. (http://www.chins-n-quills.com/forums/search.php?searchid=471243) You can use what you wish. I dont see where anyone insulted you. If it came off that way I am very very sorry. Good luck.

I did do a search, and I saw one person mention it for hedgehogs, and all the rest were chins. I have only ever seen kitten milk recommended for hedgehogs.

[who00knows]

Im sorry I responded.

*edit*
I doubt anyones intentions were an insult. I know mine werent, and I can almost guarantee Nancys werent either. I wish you werent so defensive. We were just trying to help. I hope everything works out for you.