When to change bedding...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by llovelace

It is not uncommon for rodents to eat their young, consider yourself fortunate that it has not happened to you...yet

---

I didn't say it hadn't happened to me, it just hasn't happened because of handling babies.
I felt it was a fairly dramatic claim that handling babies causes moms to eat their young.

didnt read the thread, but i seperate my momma's to their own bin and give them fresh bedding, usually dont change the bedding for 10-14 days, and it doesnt smell

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ImBooBy

I usually change the bedding the week before she gives birth that way I wont have to change again til babies are atleast a week old. I would remove the male. He will try to breed with her and end up trampling the babies. I usually remove my males once i can tell females are pregnant. Dont touch her babies though, she will likely eat them if you do.

---

not even close, iv never had males trample babies, and never had momma rats eat babies from me touching them. sounds like youre thinking of birds, as some of them will kill/neglect babies if humans touch them.

Just an update:
I did change the bedding a day later, and I did touch all the babies just to debunk the "Mother killing her babies if touched by humans".......the results were (drum roll)...........She didnt kill them she just cleaned them and went about making her nest again. Although there were 2 more dead babies looked squished to me, prob just the runts. Not too worried about it she had plenty of pups. Removed papa put him in with the other female to get her ready to go.
Thanks to everyone who helped me with this post.
:gj: BP.net rules because of all you!! :gj:
- Jeff :snake:

My two cents...
I had instances where I would throw a pup in to feed a young snake. If that snake didnn't eat that night then the next morning I would take that pup back out and put it back with the momma and she just nursed it back to feed another day.

I just had a rat give birth about 7 days ago, 17 pinks. I have had some bad luck recently with litters so Im a little hesitant to change the bedding. It does look pretty horrible, but it doesnt smell at all. I usually change my beddings on a 5 day rotation. Im going to give her at least 7 more days until I change it. I dont want to risk her eating these babies. They are a hairless/dumbo line, and I want these to replace some of my older breeders. I will let you know how it turns out when I do change the bedding.