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01-10-2010 12:08 PM

Hedgiepets

Re: breeding

Only the Additional Information is about European Hedgehogs. The rest is about Africans.

01-10-2010 08:55 AM

sunshinequill

Re: breeding

I find it interesting that the link to the hedgehog information provided above is about European Hedgehogs, and yet the pictures are all Africay Pygmy Hedgehogs. hmmm....

All hedgehogs are not alike!

01-09-2010 03:59 AM

Zerobyte

Re: breeding

Quote:

REPRODUCTION:
Hedgehogs reach sexual maturity almost immediately after being weaned, when they are still little hoglets. However, breeding may be stressful for females if it occurs prior to 6 months of age. The gestation period is about 35 days. Hedgehogs are polyestrus, meaning they may have multiple litters per year, but in nature a female’s peak breeding times will be in summer. During these periods the days are longer and the weather is warmer therefore providing the sow with adequate nutrients supplies. The female hedgehog is an induced ovulate, therefore simply being in the presence of a male, during her estrus phase, will cause her eggs to be dropped. If the female is not in estrus she will forcefully refuse the males advances, which tend to be very persistent. Studies have shown that repeated mating, within 24 hours of each, can cause the sow to have larger litter sizes. However there is a limit at which the repeated mating will cause litter fitness to decrease. When the female finally is ready to mate the defensive spines will lay flat on her back so that the male can mount her. The male will hold unto the spines on her neck during the 2-3 minute copulation. period. Mating usually occurs at night, since hedgehogs are nocturnal. After the 35-day gestation period a litter of 1 to 10 hoglets may be born, although the average size is 4-5 per litter. The most serious concern with larger litters is the higher post-natal death due to lack of sustenance and attention. In captivity, it has been found, that sows are very edgy around the time of their delivery. If a new mother is disturbed she may eat the entire litter of hoglets. Also a sow may confuse one or more of the babies for an afterbirth and consume them to reabsorb nutrition. When the babies are born there is a thin membrane which covers their small white spines. This membrane will fall off within a couple of hours and the hoglets spines will grow quickly and get darker in color. After 3-weeks the babies will begin to stray from their mothers side. Hedgehogs are solitary animals; therefore the male will not be present during the birth and growth period.

taken from : http://www2.mcdaniel.edu/Biology/labani ... gehog.html

01-08-2010 11:46 PM

nikki

Re: breeding

I'm thinking that if you don't know that hedgies don't have an "estrous phase" that you really need to do alot more research and learn alot more breeding before you get into it. Also be prepared for the possibility that you could lose the mom in childbirth. I lost one girl that was due with her first litter. She was fine at midnight when I last checked her before going to bed, no signs of labour. At 6 am when my husband checked she was dead. She had tried to give birth during the night, something went wrong and she bled out and died. Also if your female is already 10 months old she doesn't have much time left to have her first litter. Hedgies need to have thier first litter before they are a year old or thier pelvis fuses and they can't deliver. If she doesn't catch this time she will be to old by the time you know to safely try breeding her again.

01-08-2010 11:04 PM

Hedgiepets

Re: breeding

When you plan on breeding, be sure you are prepared for the possibility of birthing emergencies and lots of money to pay the vets. I have C-sections, stuck babies, ruptured uteruses, retained babies and mothers dying.

Yesterday, I had to make 2 trips to the vets for 2 different females with problems. One mom had 2 day old babies, but was not caring for them. They were scattered around the cage and she was running all over. I had the vet check her, but she found nothing wrong. She gave her pain meds. $123

Back to the vet's with 2nd mom, who had a baby stuck in the birth canal at closing time. Vet got the baby out and felt another one inside. Dr. gave her a dose of oxytocin and took her home with her. That baby also died. $190 plus I have retired this mom.

01-08-2010 06:11 PM

Nancy

Re: breeding

I put them together for 4 or 5 days and that is it. Usually there will be some indication of mating but not always. I've had ones that will not go near each other when I am watching or if the light is on. They obviously prefer privacy and darkness. There are some that seemingly do not like each other. I had one boy that I tried with 5 different girls and only the last one took. Obviously he was a particular guy and hadn't met the right woman.

01-08-2010 03:27 PM

LizardGirl

Re: breeding

Females are induced ovulators, they don't "go into heat".

How long have you had hedgies? Do you have a good vet nearby that can help with emergencies?

01-08-2010 12:50 PM

meylomel

Re: breeding

my female is almost 10 month old and my male almost 7 month, I tried in november and she was "due" around christmas, so right know I am trying again, it's been a week since last together, Maybe I have to be more patient, but what I have obsereved is not much, she won't let him near her, is she maybe not in her "esterous phase'?

01-08-2010 12:26 PM

Nancy

Re: breeding

How old in months are both male and female? How many days has it been since the first day they were together.

I'm moving this to Breeding Help.

01-08-2010 12:24 PM

harasblas

Re: breeding

there is a whole breeding section of the forum. Go back to the main forum screen and choose breeding help under breeding. Maybe your questions are already answered.

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