some advice, not sure how to explain in title! - Page 2

Bourne Valley Hams · 06-26-2008, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katzilla

Dead right! If I had a baby and my hubby disapeared for 8 hours I wouldn't be too happy either!!

Oh I don't know - one less child to look after in my case!!

internet_nobody · 06-26-2008, 07:42 AM

Matty kind of has a point...if you leave Pads in you'll get two litters, which is extra hams to find homes for.

Bunsey · 06-26-2008, 07:51 AM

i'd rather not have her have 2 litters, but i am worried about her no raising the babes very well as a first time mother and then i'd have no babies if she chomped them all or left them

nooboo · 06-26-2008, 05:52 PM

to be honest first litters tend to get chomped and leaving dad in doesnt stop this, in fact i had one mum who only raised her litters if the male was removed, if he was in they would be gone by day 3!

as you are new to breeding them i would suggest putting him in letting her catch and removing once she shows, if it doesnt work out then you can always try again! without putting her into the strain of two litters on the trot for her first experiance

PKK · 06-26-2008, 09:03 PM

Gerbils are very touchy about being separated. However, for the relatively short time they are separated for judging it doesn't bother them. But the pair are transported together to and from the show. I wouldn't think it any different for dwarfs.

Bunsey · 06-27-2008, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nooboo

to be honest first litters tend to get chomped and leaving dad in doesnt stop this, in fact i had one mum who only raised her litters if the male was removed, if he was in they would be gone by day 3!

as you are new to breeding them i would suggest putting him in letting her catch and removing once she shows, if it doesnt work out then you can always try again! without putting her into the strain of two litters on the trot for her first experiance

I'm starting to think that this might be a good idea. I won't have problems, as i think the moment she comes in heat, he'll be on her. That's what happened in the test intro. I'm very aware of Paddy's biological clock, but i guess a few weeks won't make a difference and i can always try again if i loose the first litter. You could be right that the stress of Paddy in there could make her chomp them more.

The other things i was thinking about was firstly, that Paddy is madly in love with her and i think he'd enjoy living with her for a bit and then when the male pups are ready i could move them out with Paddy. If Paddy has never met them, i'm guessing he won't live with them?

But on the other hand, i really wouldn't want Orchs to have 2 litters together. She's not the largest of hamsters.

Is there any way to tell if a WW will be a bad/good mother, even slightly? Orchid is very people orientated and begs for attention. i'm thinking i might put her in a different room when she has pups, cos i think there's a fair chance she'll leave them to beg, or run out to see me with dangling pups or something!

internet_nobody · 06-27-2008, 02:48 AM

Orna was an exellent mother, after the initial surprise of finding pups spilling out of her! Not sure how genetic "good motherhood" is though! Orchid was brilliant with Orna's second litter, her and Big Bit would round the babies up if they escaped, cuddle them if Orna was out of the nest etc, i'm not sure if already experienced with baby care will help her with her own but I can't see why it would hurt.

I found with Orna that she would come out and beg until picked up, if you then gave her a quick 30 second cuddle she'd go straight back to the pups. If you ignored her she'd stay begging. Paddy does seem very interested, which I don't think will go down well when she's trying to tend to her pups.

Not sure how easy a Dad-to-pup intro is, but I took Little Bit away from Mum and sisters at 3.5 weeks old and put him in with Mysteron and older brothers and they were all fine together.

Bunsey · 06-27-2008, 03:21 AM

oh that's great if she's already had that experience. That really influences my decision. You're right that Paddy could mither her, which he does do!

I think i'm going to do that then. I'll put them together for a week and then remove him. Poor laddy, but i want what's best for Orchid and i think this could be the way.

I can try some lads with Paddy and see how he goes. He was dominant with Max. I'd have more luck with Max i would imagine, as he's submissive and soppy! Even if they just went with Pads for a couple weeks, it's a bit of friendliness for them. It depends what males pop out. If there's 2 males then that's great, as i can have them with Paddy when they're young and then if i have to take Paddy out, the 2 blokes can stay together. Ladies will stay with Orchid for as long as possible. I'm not really holding hope of having anything together after about 4 months old though.

Foreverhamsters · 06-27-2008, 09:34 AM

Chinese males are extremely good with younger pups. in a lot of cases i have had older males who i have introduced pups to act like a mother. sometimes they even get all protective over them lol. one of the males started panicking when i took pups out of the cage to handle

nooboo · 06-28-2008, 03:33 AM

usually adult to pup intros go well, as long as you introduce the boys while they are still small there shouldnt be a problem, my dads often got there sons for company having never met them, or on one occasion the dad got someone elses sons! well he looked lonely! pairing an adult to a youngster rarely has problems and if there are issues they dont show till every one is fully grown

try not to over worry about it all, as if your nervous and keeping an eye on them i an sure they pick up on it