[demojine]

I need some help, if anyone is willing. I've been taking care of male hedgies for the past 7 years.
That being said, I recently purchased a hedgehog from a girl who was trying to find a home for her little one. She told me that she had recently bought two males from some family, but one of them died a few days before I picked the other one up(I thought it was possibly from fighting because she told me they were housed in the same cage), Only I discovered that one I had in possession is a female!
I called her back and asked how long they were together, she replied a month. She said the one I had was gaining weight really fast and hogging all of the food.
So, I have a problem on my hands. I have an appointment scheduled at my vet's office for Monday, but I am concerned that she might have the babies over the weekend. If even then, how am I supposed to know if she is in fact pregnant or she was just overfed in the girl's care? I read about the pregnancy basics thread as well as skimmed through a few others, but really I know nothing about hog pregnancies. I know ultrasounds are an option, but I also know that could stress her out even more than she is from the move! Is there any other way to tell without really disturbing her, or am I just going to have to wait? I am really scared, because I am not prepared for this. Please help!

 

[demojine]

recently meaning in the last few days, by the way.

 

[Mika]

You can't be 100% sure if a female is pregante or not.

So do as she was. Prepare a place that she will be alone and calm. Remove everything in the cage as the wheel, toys... only the bowls for fod and water is supposed to be in the cage with her.

Don't disturb her and wait. Try to calculate how many time she's supposed to be pregnante if she is.

 

[LarryT]

If she was housed with a male for that long I would say she is pregnaut.
Nancy is a master breeder you could try to send her a Private message.

 

[Mika]

If she was housed with a male for that long I would say she is pregnaut.

Maybe she's not. We never know. I can let Kiara with Élliott for an year and they would do the "thing". Maybe one is sterile. (is it a word in english "strerile" ?? )

Sterile: Can't have babies.

 

[smhufflepuff]

Remove everything in the cage as the wheel, toys... only the bowls for fod and water is supposed to be in the cage with her.

...and a nesting place. If she does have babies, she'll want a place where she can keep them covered.

 

[Hedgiepets]

She is most likely pregnant. Quiet place for the cage, no wheel, give her something to nest in/with. Feel free to PM Nancy or myself. Please read http://www.hedgehogcentral.com/forums/v ... p?f=25&t=3

 

[FiaSpice]

(is it a word in english "strerile" ?? )

yes it is

 

[Immortalia]

This thread made by Ana awhile ago, is a pretty good "crash" course for this waiting period. She too had to play the waiting game.

http://www.hedgehogcentral.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1467

 

[demojine]

Ok. I was sitting here watching tv and I was hearing a soft squealing sound. (It's 1 am here) I thought it might have been the tv, because I am watching whale wars and they are at sea, (sounded vaguely similar to a seagull) , but just in case, I turned the tv down, and it was coming from her cage. I think she is having the babies!!! (I think two? maybe she hasn't had them all yet) How long does a mother go through labor?

I have a blanket covering her cage, so I don't know for sure, and I certainly am not going to take a peek, but I am concerned she will eat them. (I tend to imagine worse case scenarios in every situation.) I would hear the crunching noise if she were to eat them ,right? I haven't heard them since the initial squeals. (do they constantly whine?) I know that sounds grotesque, but she has been so grumpy, that it would really break my heart if she ate them...

I'm praying to hear the squeaks for the next 4 weeks...

 

[demojine]

Oh, one more question. I was wondering why it was necessary to take the exercise wheel out of the cage for her pregnancy/post-pregnancy? I have it out, but is it just because the chance she might have the babies in the wheel? Or is there a bigger problem that I am overlooking? Just curious.

She is eating something...I really hope it's just the dry cat food... I am going to pretend it is.

 

[Lilysmommy]

I'm not a breeder at all, but as far as I know, taking the wheel out is so the mother won't run on the wheel and neglect the babies, or try running on the wheel with a baby in her mouth and possibly hurting/killing the baby.
I don't know how long they can go through labor, but I wouldn't bug her at all tonight, just keep an ear out. Hopefully one of the breeders on here will get on tonight and be able to help you out more. Good luck!

 

[demojine]

Woke up this morning to squeakage! So things are hopefully going well. My dog Scout LOVES hedgies (sniffing them). I've had to keep her away because she gets too curious and is NOSEY, but ever since we got this one, she has guarded the cage and won't let anyone near it. She is my only female dog, lol. Maybe she knew the hedgie was pregnant.

 

[Hedgiepets]

Congrats and good luck! Just give mom her food, water and privacy for the next 10 days.

 

[demojine]

Congrats and good luck! Just give mom her food, water and privacy for the next 10 days.

Ok, so it's almost been one week (tonight at midnight, but we actually think she had them earlier than we thought, because we were out for the weekend.), and I can still hear the babies. Things should be going well.

Now as of the 10 day thing... I read on hedgehog central that they need to be checked after 4 or 5 days everyday until three week mark when I start socializing them? I am really hesitant to do this, because the hedgie didn't know me but for a week before she gave birth.
How to breeders handle socialization? Should I wait a few more days before I start checking on them, or should I have already started? Is it safe?

 

[LarryT]

Congrats and good luck! Just give mom her food, water and privacy for the next 10 days.

Ok, so it's almost been one week (tonight at midnight, but we actually think she had them earlier than we thought, because we were out for the weekend.), and I can still hear the babies. Things should be going well.

Now as of the 10 day thing... I read on hedgehog central that they need to be checked after 4 or 5 days everyday until three week mark when I start socializing them? I am really hesitant to do this, because the hedgie didn't know me but for a week before she gave birth.
How to breeders handle socialization? Should I wait a few more days before I start checking on them, or should I have already started? Is it safe?

You should send nancy or hedgiepets(deneen) a PM they r the best

 

[demojine]

Update!!!

There are five or six hoglets! (I don't fully know which one, because I only quickly counted from the corner of my eye.) Momma seems to be softening up a bit. She doesn't immediately pop or hiss at me when I change out her food and water dishes. I wonder if that is a good or a bad thing...

Because there are so many, I don't think they could all fit in the shoebox that she is using as a nesting box, so I was wondering if it is safe to change them to a different cage and bigger nesting box at the four week stage, or should I just add another nesting box?

 

[Mika]

Everything seems perfect!!

And DON'T CHANGE ANYTHING!!

 

[anna m]

Congratulations on your new babies

 

[demojine]

Is there a certain age that hoglets start squeaking less? I haven't heard them that much over the past two days... (they are still there) and before I would hear them at least every other hour.