I need help! (surprise litter)

[LadyOnslaught]

I moved the babies back into the big NIC cage and then the dad is in our kitchen. I don't have anything to put on the bottom and I didn't want him on the carpet making a mess.

I know some pics were posted earlier and I looked at two of them and one doesn't seem to have a full tummy? Should I do anything? Would it be that way if it's time for them to eat again maybe? I am going to see if I can borrow my mom's digital camera so I can get better pics.

One also seemed to have (I know I won't describe this right) a tan spot on it's back and it was like the tan spot had kinda dry skin where it was...the rest was a pinkish skin color. Would that mean anything? I will try to get a picture...I just checked on them and didn't notice it right away but I didn't want to bother them too much. I didn't know if maybe it meant it wasn't getting fed enough.

 

[aurora369]

The tan dot is probably just going to be a different colour of fur when it grows in. Shouldn't be anything bad.

If one baby is looking like it's not getting fed, you can try to get mom to give that baby and extra feeding. Is the baby's belling shrunken or wrinkled? If it's not getting any milk at all, it may be lethargic as well. If it's just smaller than the other one, but just not as round in the tummy, then it's probably okay. As long as the baby still has energy and wiggles when you touch it, the baby should be okay.

If you do feel the one baby needs a bit of an extra feed, then I would take the larger baby out of the nest and then encourage mom to get in the nest and feed the other baby. You can gently place her in the nest over the baby and feed her treats to distract her while the little one feeds. You should only have to do this once a day until the little one starts to catch up.

Pictures would definitely be good. Since your babies are still fairly young, they should look somewhat like the last pictures I post of the newborns.

--Dawn

 

[LadyOnslaught]

aurora369 wrote:

The tan dot is probably just going to be a different colour of fur when it grows in. Shouldn't be anything bad.

If one baby is looking like it's not getting fed, you can try to get mom to give that baby and extra feeding. Is the baby's belling shrunken or wrinkled? If it's not getting any milk at all, it may be lethargic as well. If it's just smaller than the other one, but just not as round in the tummy, then it's probably okay. As long as the baby still has energy and wiggles when you touch it, the baby should be okay.

If you do feel the one baby needs a bit of an extra feed, then I would take the larger baby out of the nest and then encourage mom to get in the nest and feed the other baby. You can gently place her in the nest over the baby and feed her treats to distract her while the little one feeds. You should only have to do this once a day until the little one starts to catch up.

Pictures would definitely be good. Since your babies are still fairly young, they should look somewhat like the last pictures I post of the newborns.

--Dawn

I am going to have my husband help me this evening compare all of the babies to the pictures. I noticed one is smaller and is in the one that looked skinner. Wrinkled skin...that's what I thought of last night after I posted. Loose skin too and the others look like their skin is tighter.

Also, what is the normal number of babies that are born? She had five...is that about average?

I'm hoping to borrow my mom's digital camera so I can get pics but I'm not sure if I can get it tonight or not. I may see if I can get some decent pics on my husband's camera phone but I doubt they would be very good.

 

[LadyOnslaught]

Before leaving for work I got the box of babies out. Four of them were huddled together and the little one was in the corner by himself very cold. He moved when I picked him up and I put him with his siblings and he was squirming around. I looked at him and I *think* he looked like he had a fuller tummy than before (I figure she fed them sometime during the night so I wanted to check this morning).

What about him (I call the little one a him butof course I don't know)being cold? Is it because he was away from the others I'm guessing? I read to cut a hole in the box so mom could get in but three times one has gotten out...should I tape the hole up and she can just hop into it (it's a showbox)?

 

[BlueGiants]

The little one was probably cold because he got away from his siblings. They do rely oneach other to keep warm.

Any hole in a nestbox should be a minimum of 4" above the nesting material in the nest box, to prevent the babies from leaving until they are ready. As long as the Momma can jump in and out, it's fine.

 

[LadyOnslaught]

BlueGiants wrote:

The little one was probably cold because he got away from his siblings. They do rely oneach other to keep warm.

Any hole in a nestbox should be a minimum of 4" above the nesting material in the nest box, to prevent the babies from leaving until they are ready. As long as the Momma can jump in and out, it's fine.

That's what I figured...he got cold becuase he was separated. The hole I have is too low then. I will fix it as soon as I get home. I did not see that requirement on the webpage I read.

 

[BlueGiants]

Umm... it's not a requirement... just what works for me. (Guess I should have added a IMHO...) The front of my nest boxes are 5" high, with 1-2" of shavings in the bottom, it keeps the babies secure. I do have straw bedding too, but the does usually push it to the back or crush it down. This "edge" will usually nudge the babies off her nipples on her way out of the box so they don't "hitch a ride" out.

When their eyes open, I clean out the box, and change the bedding,adding fresh straw to make it cozy and clean. At 3 weeks, I turn the nestbox on it's side so the babies can come and go as they please and Momma can sit on top to get away from the little ones for a few minutes.

 

[jcl_24]

Hi there,
How is your litter of buns and their Mum doing now?

Jo xx

 

[LadyOnslaught]

rabbit_on wrote:

Hi there,
How is your litter of buns and their Mum doing now?

Jo xx

Thanks for asking! On...Tuesday I think Riley pulled some of her fur and put it on her babies. I can't believe how much they've grown already. Looks like they're getting some fur too. I've never been around babies that tiny, well babies at all so it's neat to see them grow. Riley loves the eating part lol although this morning she was trying to get out. Awhile ago she was starting to jump out of her cage (I left an opening so it was my fault). She has stayed in there the past few days so today I had to make sure the top was down. I was feeding her and she jumped up the nic cage wall and tried to jump out.

I had mentioned one baby twitching although I'm not sure which it is (there are three light ones) and one was doing it last night but doesn't do it constantly.

 

[BlueGiants]

They do dream and I've seen babies "run" in their sleep... it does look like twitching...

 

[LadyOnslaught]

BlueGiants wrote:

They do dream and I've seen babies "run" in their sleep... it does look like twitching...

I had wondered if they might dream. I wasn't sure.

 

[jcl_24]

I'm glad Riley pulled some fur to help keep the babies warm and that they seem to be doing fine RE her trying to jump out of the cage-perhaps she was feeling a little restless after being in there with ther babies for a while?

Jo xx

 

[LadyOnslaught]

jcl_24 wrote:

I'm glad Riley pulled some fur to help keep the babies warm and that they seem to be doing fine RE her trying to jump out of the cage-perhaps she was feeling a little restless after being in there with ther babies for a while?

Jo xx

I'm sure she probably was . I'm wondering if she's missing Morgan too (the male). He's been in the kitchen so they don't see one another which I feel bad about but it's for the best. She used to jump out anyways so it's not something new but I would be feeling a little restless withfour babies too .