breeding age

[CATELAN1989]

how old do male and female hedgehog need to be the first time you breed them? :winkgrin:

[hemi_mygirl]

are you considering breeding? do lots of research.

For females, I believe it's recommended that they wait until 6 months of age. For males, I'm not entirely sure, but I know they're capable of fathering a litter at 6 weeks or so. If it was me, I'd wait till the male was about 6 months old, as well.

Then again, don't quote me. I haven't been researching breeding, since it's not something I want to do.

[illinidairychic]

Usually 4 months for males and 6 months for females. Males can mate until they stop breathing and females are usually retired around 2-2 1/2 years.

[CATELAN1989]

Why do they have to be over 6 months old?
and what would happen if they were not that old?

[hemi_mygirl]

6 months is the age in which females mature, and it is safest for them to give birth and take care of a litter. I'm not exactly sure, but there's also medical reasons for breeding no earlier than 6 months.

If a female is bred before 6 months, there's a chance she could deliver healthy hoglets, but there's also a greater chance she cannibalizes them, can't nurse them, they're premature, or she has birthing problems. Her uterus could prolapse, she could even die during birthing.

Why? Did your female, Lady Velvet mate with your boy, Mr. Prickles?

[CATELAN1989]

Why? Did your female, Lady Velvet mate with your boy, Mr. Prickles?[/QUOTE]


They are in sepparet cages, I was just woundering cause I wan't to breed them and was woudndering what is a good age to start.

[Nancy]

Are Lady Velvet and Mr Prickles related? I ask because you questioned what happens if you breed siblings What would happen if you breed hedeghogs from the same litter? which is a rather random question to ask unless you are planning to.

Have you considered all the risks involved in breeding and are you financially and emotionally able to accept all risks involved.

To quote Kelly of HamorHollow
And while we are thinking about breeding, there are a lot of things that can go wrong. First of all, the male could kill the female while mating. Once the mating is complete, there is the pregnancy; potential problems include: ectopic pregnancy (fertilized egg matures in fallopian tube), burst uterus, and stress on liver causing fatty liver. After that is the birthing process: Mom could bleed out, a baby could get stuck, mom could need a c-section, or mom could have a prolapsed uterus. Then there are all the problems associated with caring for a litter (let's skip what could go wrong with the babies): a Mastitis (inflammation of one or more teets) infection that spreads through the body (I've seen mastitis twice and once the hh didn't survive even though she was being treated by the vet with several antibiotics), Stress on the liver causing fatty liver that results in a rapid death, and other issues that I'm too tired to think of right now
Are you prepared for the possible consequences of breeding. If/when something goes wrong, vet bills add up quickly and the moms don't always survive despite the best vet care possible.

[illinidairychic]

Breeding isn't for people that just got hedgehogs. You should be very familiar with their behavior and what is normal health wise before taking breeding on. There are plenty of breeders that can tell you when things go wrong they go VERY wrong. I can tell you I've had first hand experience with cannibalized hoglets and an enormous vet bill when a hoglet pushed through one of my females vaginal wall causing a hernia (emergency c section was needed) It is a HUGE commitment. So please please please before you breed this pair take time to just enjoy your pets.

[hedgehog69]

I wouldnt recommend breeding if you just got into hedgehogs there is so much that could go wrong and if you are thinking you might make a couple of bucks you will be dissapointed cause the money you make usually goes right back into the hedgehogs so your (profit) is very minimal if at all and it can be very time consuming and stressful for you and your hedgehogs, please consider all the pros and cons before you make a decision and do tons of research before you decide also.

[wyvernrider18]

I agree with everyone else on this one. My first experience with a litter of hoglets was not a good one. This one wasn't actually my fault, either. I had gotten an albino female hedgie for my fiance for Christmas one year, and we had NO idea she was pregnant at the time. The pet store i got her from didn't even know. Well, ultimately, we didn't realize anything until I opened the cage up one day to play with her and found a newborn baby in the cage with her. Because we disturbed her while the baby was too young, she tried to dispose of it and I took the baby under my own wing because I didn't want it to die that way. I didn't know the first thing about handraising hedghogs, so as soon as i got her home I was contacting as many knowledgable people I knew trying to get help. She survived the first night, and most of the week after, but on the 5th day the baby died and I was heartbroken. I was beating myself up trying to figure out what i did wrong. It was one of the hardest things to deal with and I am telling you to wait until you know exactly what you are doing because you do NOT want to deal with this situation because it hurts a lot. Trust me on this one.