Red bands in quills?

[jourdy]

Hi all. I have a hedgehog give birth, and I noticed that one of the hoglets have very narrow, red quills. What could this possibly be?

At first I thought it was blood, but I checked closely and saw that most of the quills in the rump/body area has those bands as well. I know very well that the colors wouldn't be permanent until 9 weeks, but this is really strange.

Here are a few pictures:

[Nancy]

Looks like blood to me.

[jourdy]

Thanks for the reply, but I've checked numerous times, it's not blood. It doesn't scrape off.
Checked the forehead and I see some quills with it too. They are near the top of the quill.

Eyes are black. I can see a little shade of mask markings.

[bryan]

These are likely stress marks in the quill. This can happen if the hoglet is ill or has suffered any amount of stress before or during the time the secondary quills emerge.

If the hoglet is healthy and happy (not squeaking constantly) then there's likely nothing to be concerned about.

Bryan

[Hedgiepets]

I have seen this. They lose those quills when they about 1 week old. They are easier to see on light colored hedgehogs. You would not normally see this because you should not be handling the babies under 1 week old.

[jourdy]

Thanks very much for your replies.
Stress marks.. that's new to me.
It was there since the first day. She is now 9 days old and it's still there. Hehe.

The baby doesn't look weak btw, in fact she's the biggest in the litter. The mom is very nice and lets me hold her babies ever since. Even at day 1.

[bryan]

As the quills are growing out, any stress on the body reduces the supply of materials needed for quill development. As a result, the quills can contain traces of the original blood that gorged the quill as it was forming. "Pinch" marks are also common - quills become much narrower in diameter in places that coincide with stress during development. This is also common in feather development in birds.

Bryan

[jourdy]

Now that you mention it, I remember this girl having deep marks on her skin.
Lemme check my pictures.

Here it is. That's her on the lower right.
That was just a few minutes after the mom delivered the 3rd baby (4 total)

[PixiesExoticHedgies]

Taking pics of the birth, handling the babies from day one......
you're very lucky the mom has not eat these babies.

The baby itself could be stressed from you handling it at such an early age.

[jourdy]

3 years experience only.
Yeah, I know I'm lucky that my hedgehog is very nice.
She's really tame. I do not endorse this act, so for the people out there wanting to try this out, please do not.

I just know my hedgehogs very well. I have not a single one eaten/die on me yet. Aside from that, all babies have been really good-tempered as well. I have not experienced a grumpy one in 3 years.