[Hedgiepets]

A female should NOT be bred under the age of 6 months, nor bred for the first time over the age of one year. The gestation period is about 35 days, but can be as long as 49 days. If you happen to find that your female has given birth, DO NOT disturb her for 2 weeks, with the exception of giving her food and water. How do you know there are babies in the nest? You will hear squeaks or chirps. Take out the wheel. Do not try to clean the cage until babies are weaned. Babies will start to eat out of mom’s food dish at about 4 weeks old. Babies will need to be weaned at about 6 weeks old. The males need to be separated from mom and sisters by 7 weeks of age.

How old should a male be before breeding? Males should be about 4 months old. But males and females alike, are capable of breeding at 7 weeks, but it is not healthy for them.

It only takes a couple of seconds for a male and female to breed, so never allow a male and female playtime together. Never house a male and female together. If they are housed together, the male will constantly be mating with the female. If they are together when she has babies, they will eat them.

Don’t breed your hedgehogs, because you want to experience babies, or you have friends that want a baby hedgehog. Breeding is not an easy, fast, money making proposition. You risk the life of your female, everytime you breed her.

 

[Timeskimmer]

This is absolutely important information and I would like to point out that ALWAYS take precautions when breeding, be it mice, hedgies or dogs.

 

[Albrecht]

How old should a male be before breeding? Males should be about 4 months old. But males and females alike, are capable of breeding at 7 weeks, but it is not healthy for them.

really? i thought males should be at least 5mo old.. thanks!

 

[Nancy]

How old should a male be before breeding? Males should be about 4 months old. But males and females alike, are capable of breeding at 7 weeks, but it is not healthy for them.

really? i thought males should be at least 5mo old.. thanks!

At 4 months, some males haven't quite reached fertility yet so may not be able to impregnate the girl. Usually it's not a problem but can happen on occasion.

 

[Albrecht]

How old should a male be before breeding? Males should be about 4 months old. But males and females alike, are capable of breeding at 7 weeks, but it is not healthy for them.

really? i thought males should be at least 5mo old.. thanks!

At 4 months, some males haven't quite reached fertility yet so may not be able to impregnate the girl. Usually it's not a problem but can happen on occasion.

but its okay to start the male breeding at least 4mo old right? umm what are the adverse effects of breeding the male too soon?

 

[Nancy]

As I've already mentioned, he might not be fully fertile enough to impregnate the girl at 4 months.

 

[Albrecht]

As I've already mentioned, he might not be fully fertile enough to impregnate the girl at 4 months.

ahhh i see.. so there would be no alterations on their growth and development..? somebdy told me that it could hinder the male hedgehog's growth if you're to make him mate to soon..

 

[Nancy]

It's the female that it can not only affect their growth but be risky for them if bred before 6 months. The males just might not be up to the task yet.

 

[Albrecht]

It's the female that it can not only affect their growth but be risky for them if bred before 6 months. The males just might not be up to the task yet.

wow thanks so much for the help.. learned a lot.. thanks!!!

 

[Badme]

I just want to ask:

What is the standard gap between the 1st breeding and the second breeding? or in a year how often can a female be pregnant (base to standard breeding)? and up until what age we need to stop breeding her?

Coz for me I only breed my female twice a year or every 6 months. And I'll stop breeding my female if they reach to 2 & 1/2 years old. Coz base to what I read breeding them more than that years is too risky for the hedgehogs.

 

[LizardGirl]

Standard is just as you are doing, 6 months. So you could pair a female on January first, and then again on June first, and that'd be the appropriate amount of time.

 

[Nancy]

I've always been told and have always followed, to breed again 6 months from the date of birth of the previous litter.

 

[nikki]

I have, on occasion, waited up to a year between litters because of going on holidays etc, and its never affected the success rate of the breedings.

 

[LarryT]

Alot of breeders will breed again 8-12 weeks from weaning depending on the litter size and how mom faired and such.

 

[Kobe]

So you guys wouldnt recommend breeding them for the first time after one year? Is that simply to get them used to breeding when they are kindof young (between 6-12 months) so it doesnt negatively affect them after they are 1 year old and relatively stable?

The reason why i ask is that I have a lot of stuff going on right now and will for the next while, but eventually would like to expand my litter by breeding my girl (I do not have a male but thats a whole seperate issue). This would probably be at around 1 year from her birth (currently 8 weeks old).

 

[Immortalia]

So you guys wouldnt recommend breeding them for the first time after one year? Is that simply to get them used to breeding when they are kindof young (between 6-12 months) so it doesnt negatively affect them after they are 1 year old and relatively stable?

The reason why i ask is that I have a lot of stuff going on right now and will for the next while, but eventually would like to expand my litter by breeding my girl (I do not have a male but thats a whole seperate issue). This would probably be at around 1 year from her birth (currently 8 weeks old).

The female's pelvis starts fusing as they grow older, so breeding after 1 year is dangerous and usually fatal, as her pelvis has pretty much fused.

Where did you get your girl from? Is this your first hedgehog? Why do you wish to breed? Are you planning just 1 litter? Do you have a mentor to help guide you? Does your girl have a pedigree?
Did you buy her from PapilionRu(on this board)? She is the only real reputable breeder in Toronto right now, and she's the only one with hedgehogs that would actually be considered breeding quality. So it may be wise to contact her directly and talk about whether your girl is actually breeding quality or not. Or perhaps just have her as just a pet for now, and then think about breeding by the time you are ready for a second hedgie.
And, as you can see from her post here http://hedgehogcentral.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=8958&p=76042#p76042 it gives a brief sum of how much it can all cost, obvious not nearly as much since you seem to only want 1 litter, but either way, still good to have a few thousand dollars on hand(or by credit) for emergencies if you wish to breed.

 

[Kobe]

I got her from a breeder that services pet shops in the GTA but lives in roughly Parry Sound. This is my second hedgehog and i would want to breed to have many hedgehogs (not for making money). I would plan for just one litter and do not have a mentor. I dont know much about my hedgehogs past but would that matter if i would have no intention on selling?

I am not locked into this idea and it would be a long time in the future. I was just toying with the idea and wanted to learn more about the 1 year limit. It makes sense! I could see how it could be fatal for an older hedgie to give birth for the first time. Thanks for the advice.

 

[susanaproenca]

I dont know much about my hedgehogs past but would that matter if i would have no intention on selling?

It would matter because, if your hedgehog has any one in her lineage within 5 generations that have developed Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome, then your hedgehog could still be carrying the genes for it -- therefore her litter would be at risk of having/developing this horrible disease. The only way you can be sure you are going to have healthy babies is by knowing her lineage back 5 generations.

 

[Kobe]

oh really, wow! okay well before i even think about it i will figure it out. thanks for the advice. (I most likely wont breed, i was just curious on some info. Just to put that out there)

 

[HodgepodgeHedgehog]

A female should NOT be bred under the age of 6 months, nor bred for the first time over the age of one year.

i'm not planning to ever breed, and i understand why they shouldn't be bred und the age of 6 months, but why not over the age of 1 year? (just curious)