Problems after handling hedgehog babies!!!

[rm.lydon08]

It hit the two week mark, so me and my fiance decided to handle the babies last night and the momma seemed okay with it, but now, she is very active way past when she normally would be in her box. She is frantically trying to escape and climbing on the box, in her efforts to escape, she is stepping on them like she doesn't care about them at all. I am really worried. Is this normal? What should I do?

[LarryT]

I would say give her more time before handling them again, may have been a smell on your hands that got on the babies and freaked her out, I dunno. Nancy and Nikki are our breeding experts and i'm sure they will be around soon to offer some helpful advice.

[Nancy]

Just because babies are two weeks old, it doesn't necessarily mean it's safe yet to handle the babies. Two weeks is just a general guideline. Some moms need longer, others are fine with it sooner.

You say you both handled "babies". Being the first time handling, you should not have handled them all. I always started slowly by rubbing my finger down the back of one baby and if mom was okay with that, the next night I picked one baby up for less than a minute. If all is well, the next night, handle another baby or maybe two babies and slowly work up from there. Only one of you should be doing this until mom is comfortable with her babies being handled.

Mom is overwhelmed and stressed. Leave her completely alone and let her calm down. Don't try touching the babies for at least another few days and only if she is completely calm and back to normal. When you do try again, start very slow.

Hopefully babies will be okay. Is she feeding them?

[rm.lydon08]

About 10 minutes after posting this, she calmed down and went in and nursed, and has been nursing on and off, maybe I just overreacted, but I've never seen her with so much pent up energy.I am just a college student and am really in no way set up for breeding, but this little surprise has been going well so far. She is a good momma and the information on this forum has played a huge part in ensuring the survival of all 5 babies. Thanks for the advice Nancy, I will give her a few days and start off slower.

[Nancy]

YAY. That's great news. She sounds like a good mom but just remember that even good moms have their overload point.