Thorny's Litter born 6th April

[souffle]

She may be eating the afterbirth not the pups. Leave the room, shut the blinds so she is in darkness, keep everyone quiet, cover her with a blanket and cross your fingers. I hope all goes well.

[Holly]

Oh no.

Put a towel over the cage and leave her completely alone in the dark. The babies she seems to be eating might already be dead or have something wrong with them - or she might just be cutting the cords and cleaning them or pouching them to move them. Either way do not stay to find out. Leave her completely alone.

I'm keeping everything crossed for you and her.

[agatecrystal]

Thanks for your help... I already shut the window and blinds and turned the room light and fish tank light off so she was in darkness. I have now taken your advice and covered her with a blanket..... does this have to stay on permenantly?
I had gone to the bathroom earlier and when I came back in she was eating one im pretty sure she was deffinetly eating it but I may be wrong. I'll soon learn whats normal and what not with more experience. Last time I went in she came out of the nest and there was 1 tiny pup in there and it squealed a couple of times. This is only one and she has been birthing since about quarter to 6, is this normal? She deffinetly has a fair good size litter since she looked like a snowball lol so I'm just keeping my fingers crossed.

[Holly]

If she's still having them then others might be hidden under bedding but that one might not have been moved yet. I hope what you saw was just her eating the afterbirth but if she was eating a baby it may well have been born dead or deformed.

I'd leave her alone for a few hours, leave the towel on, as long as some air is getting in - maybe leave it on the side the nest is - but don't disturb her.

It's more normal NOT to see babies at this stage as they usually hide them - it's been two days and I haven't even had a glimpse of Molly's yet, I'm assuming Smarts has left her nest open becasue she's incredibly tame and was born here but most mum's cover the babies at this stage. There may well be others that Thorny has hidden.

Good luck, I so hope they are alright.

[Basia]

She may have been eating the bag which surrounds it or, as souffle says, the afterbirth. I hope so.
She will hide the pups as soon as they are born so you may have seen one that had just been born.
I hope that all is well - *hugs*

[souffle]

I would leave the cover on at least 24hrs and not even feed her today. Leave her quiet. She will have plenty food in store. They can give birth for a few hours with rests. I think she may have been opening the sac and eating the afterbirth possibly. It may have been the first pup and the others will now be OK now she has the hang of it. A mother may accidentally kill the odd pup if she is a first time mum and it is normal to eat it or as Holly says if it was dead of not right in her opinion. You have one live pup so I think she will be OK with them. Fingers crossed and bide your time for two weeks if need be

[Holly]

Originally Posted by souffle

Fingers crossed and bide your time for two weeks if need be

Exactly - I didn't see my first litter for 10 days and she raised eleven beautifully. Try not to worry if you don't see anything and don't even try to look, they may well be there!
Good luck.

[agatecrystal]

She kept leaving the nest open last night and there were onli two then a couple of hours later two turned into one

[souffle]

Sorry to hear that. It happens and it is natures way. Mother always knows best and there is nothing you can do for such little ones. Keep giving her very strict peace and quiet and I hope she keeps the last pup though it is possible there are some still buried in the bedding.

[Holly]

I'm so sorry

As souffle says it is nature's way and sometimes it just happens for no reason that we can see. I'm keeping everything crossed for the little one who remains.