Separating the prego moms

[amon]

I finally been able to tell which is prego so I put them in a new tub. I put 4 in one 15" x 22" tub and now at least 3 has given birth and they seem to be doing fine.

However, there is another tub where I moved in the mom and her pups after ther were born. At the same time, moved in a prego from the same group. Then few days later moved in another prego from another group. I heard they had some minor fighting for a little while, then quite down. I thought only one was showing authority.

A couple days later another mom gave birth, I don't know which one. Then I found that all the babies were moved together (by the first mom I think). The next day, all but one of the new borns were dead.

Did the first mom do this on purpose?

Am I not supposed to put mom from different groups into the same nursing tub? (but the tub with 4 are all from different groups)

Or is it because of the timing of giving birth?

[marmie]

I've had terrible luck keeping more then one mom in a tub at a time.

I know others have had success but I don't really know why it works sometimes and other times it doesn't.

Good luck and I hope you don't lose any more babies.

[amon]

Do most of you only put ONE prego per tub for nursing?

[marmie]

Do most of you only put ONE prego per tub for nursing?

I only put one mom per tub. Once their eyes are open I'm a little more comfortable putting the moms together to nurse.

[Jay_Bunny]

I put one mom per tub. This way I know where the babies came from and it gives the mom a sense of privacy. Not to mention, it gives the babies room to grow. I already think once they hit 3 weeks the tub starts too look to small for them. I don't even want to know what it would be like with 2 or more.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

When I used to do communal breeding which I was very successful at the females would stay in the same tub at all time (the male was the one moving as he would rotate between tubs)

If the females were not together prior to this it could have been stressful and lead to this

It can also be because the tub was over crowded

One of the moms might not be a good mom.

The babies might not have made it and they cleaned up.

Can be many things.

Since you had that issue I would encourage you to separate the females next time and let them birth individually and observe them, this will tell you what kind of mother they are, if you have a bad mother you will need to remove her from your colony.

I would also encourage you to keep the females together at all time if you want to do communal birthing and avoid introducing females to each other during that time.

[SlitherinSisters]

Do most of you only put ONE prego per tub for nursing?

I do. It's much safer that way. Personally I haven't put moms together, because I know how they fight without babies even after living together for quite some time. I bought 16 qt tubs, cut a big hole out of the lid, replaced it with wire, made a wire box to hold the food and water, and put one momma in each tub. It works great for me, and it's inexpensive. Thus far I haven't had any troubles with them chewing on the plastic. I've done it this way since June. Oh, and I only put them in the tub the last week of pregnancy so they don't have to be couped up in a little box, so maybe that cuts down on the chewing

Here are some pictures (excuse the cat and dog )

[onebreitgirl]

I've had no problems doing 2 or 3 nursing females per tub IF they were together for several weeks prior to delivering.

I've just started separating them into birthing tubs so I can keep track of which moms are good and which need to be replaced.

[amon]

Thanks very much for all your info. I think I know what the problem is now and how to take care of it ---- simply: more more more tubs...

[onebreitgirl]

simply: more more more tubs...

LOL! I know the feeling...I spent $100 on tubs last weekend and still need more. But at least they last a long time.