Help - surprise babies!

[lahindaha]

Our recently adopted hedgehog, Winnie, just had babies yesterday - much to our surprise. We peeked into the cage just to confirm that there were, in fact, babies in there. We were not prepared for this, so we did not create a welping box. We use a fleece liner at the bottom of the cage (which is 28" x 54"), so she and her hoglets are under it. My worry is that she will lose one or more of them, because there is no way to contain them. We hear them squealing, so we know they are still under the fleece, but she keeps running around like she is looking for a baby. Should we try to block her when she runs to the other side to see if there are any babies that have strayed from the others? From everything I have read, we should just stay out. We thought we saw three when we peeked yesterday. I just hope they are all ok. If anyone has advice, please.....

[Hedgiepets]

There is not much you can do but leave everything as is. You may try adding a "blankie" to the top and maybe she will move them under it. "Blankie" should be familiar to her.

Do not try to peek or handle until the babies are at least 10 days. Just give mom space. When did you get her from? Feel free to email me if you have other questions.

[nikki]

make sure her wheel is removed as well...then all you can do is as hedgiepets said..leave her completely alone, except to feed and water her...and hope for the best...good luck

[Hedgiepets]

Nikki, Thanks for the reminder on the wheel, sometimes I forget that one.

[nikki]

its easy to forget it here, since we don't actually see it here...lol...but I had just finished cleaning wheels and that reminded me

[Ahava]

another thing is refrain from doing a big clean up of the cage. it might get a little messy, but really the only thing you should be doing is putting food and water inside.
Just one more thing to remember

[lahindaha]

Thanks for the info. Part of the problem is that the hedgie cage is in our living room, which is a very busy area of the house, and it is the type made with cubes and coroplast. It is too big to move, so we covered it with a blanket to try to give her some privacy. We could lift the whole cage and put it downstairs where it is a bit quieter - less people traffic, but will that move disturb her? (It is kinda tricky moving it as a whole - a bit bumpy). Last night she seemed a bit frantic - running around looking for her babies, but she is much calmer this morning and I think she rounded them up. I can hear them squeaking right now.

Should I put some shredded newspaper or paper towels in there for her?

[Hedgiepets]

How high is the coroplast? When babies start getting mobile they can climb through the cubes. Is it possible to add taller coroplast?

[lahindaha]

The coroplast is 6" all around. They should be fine. I am more concerned that she is not in a nesting box, so the babies can wander away. But she rounded them up last night. Is it a bad idea to add some kind of nesting box now - or just let her be?

[Hedgiepets]

You can try!