Litter expected 22/01/08!

[Spuds Mum]

hmmm Arti and I are wondering whether Yeti is now a Mummy Big Foot?? So exciting - but I am sure that Claire (Yaffle) is doing something more interesting tonight than browsing the net!
Hope everything is going okay.

[Yaffle]

Morning everyone,

As you know I was expecting Yeti to have her pups last night, I woke up this morning and nothing yet, although I'm still convinced that she's pregnant! Today is day 17 so I'm hoping there'll be a nice surprise waiting for me when I get home from work, if not I'll start to worry! Is it common for pregnancies to last into the 17th day?

[Holly]

Well I've only had one litter so I'm no expert but I wasn't sure Caramel had had hers the morning after they were expected - obviously you can't look in the nest at all at this stage and when I saw her come out for a drink she still looked quite round from all the extra food and had covered them completely with bedding. I didn't hear any squeaks until the next day. So are you sure she hasn't had them?

I don't know if it's normal for them to go any longer - I'm sure someone here will though.

[souffle]

They can go into the 17th day and even into the middle of the night especially if it was a very late evening mating. If she does not deliver the pups by day 18 and still looks very rounded I would take her to the vets in case there is a stuck pup preventing her giving birth. If she is not round anymore and you see or hear no pups she may have culled them but I hope this is not the case. If she seems well and not rounded and keeps returning to the nest I would say all is well and she is nursing them. They may just be quiet content little babies and the chirps are quite infrequent and quiet at first so if she has buried them deep they are likely muffled. They tend to reach a crescendo when mum has been out and goes back in the nest and the all clamour for milk! I hope you get your surprise when you come in and look forward to the good news.

[Yaffle]

The babies are here!!!!!
Panic over phew!
Yeti must have given birth some time this morning between 8am and 9am as nothing had happened when I left for work at 8am (she was just having a bite to eat) and Neil (that's my boyfriend) checked before he left at 9am and thought he heard a squeak! He emailed me in work and got me all excited. Luckily I had the afternoon off for a dentist appointment (a filling and it hurt but I'm sure if Yeti can give birth I can cope with a filling!). I got home about 1pm and she was asleep on top of her nest. There was a small amount of blood on the bedding (nothing to worry about) and then I heard a squeak! Yeti was half asleep and didn't seem to mind me being there at all so I stayed for a couple of minutes and caught a glimpse of one of the pups suckling...so cute!
I then left for the dentist and Neil came home (who incidentally also had the afternoon off to get his car fixed - expensive month!) and Yeti was awake when he checked on her. Again she was really calm (possibly because she isn't a first time Mum, she had a litter with Sheryl at Carrington Hams before she came to me) and when she lifted herself up Neil actually saw the pups! He said on a very quick count there seemed to be at least 6 but probably more. I'm really excited, although a bit gutted she showed her pups to Neil and not me!
Planning to just leave her to it tonight now she must be so tired, but looks like she's doing an excellent job and nothing to worry about so I'm really pleased.
Will keep you all posted x

[Basia]

Aw congratulations, that's really good news.
Look forward to regular updates!

[souffle]

Aww fantastic news. Welcome to the world little hammies. She sounds like she is doing great at I look forward to hearing a new baby diary start up

[Holly]

Brilliant news! Many congratulations - hope you'll keep us posted with their progress

[Spuds Mum]

Congratulations! Fantastic news.
It sounds as though Yeti is doing wonderfully and is being a very laid back Mum.
I'm sure that you will see and hear more in the days to come, though you will probably find that Yeti is only interested in leaving her brood for good food and a drink. She'll need all those extra calories with at least 6 extra mouths to feed.
Keep us posted. Arti and I will also want a full update on Saturday!

[Mollz]

Congratulations - how exciting