Nutmeg's first litter

[Jay_Bunny]

.....is a disaster. I checked on her this morning when I was feeding and watering all the rodents and heard squeaking. Sure enough I pull out the tub and there are little pink things. I move mom off the pile of babies to check on them (I've never had a problem with this) and find 6 dead and 5 alive. I removed the 6 dead and leave mom alone for a while with the 5 living ones. I checked her just now and another two had died, one with a very nice milk band. I checked the remaining 3 for milk bands. Two have ok milk bands and the other does not. Should I pull the remaining 3 and give Mom a short rest and try her again or wait and see if she raises them?

Noel is beginning to look pregnant so I hope when she drops her litter, her's is better than this one. She's not huge yet. Looks a little chubby so I suspect she's pregnant. Only time will tell though.

[kc261]

Since you are saying you are finding dead babies, rather than half-eaten ones, and that they have milk bands, it sounds to me like the mom is doing the best she can. She is feeding them, and she is not eating them.

Do the babies look healthy? Are they perhaps premature or have some other issues?

I've heard of people losing rat babies due to dusty substrate clogging the nostrils of the little ones. Do you see any sign of that?

I'd leave the babies in with the mom and see what happens. At the rate they are dying, it won't matter soon, anyway. But if mom is able to raise some of them, it may give her experience that will help with the next litter, if this is in some way her fault.

I might try a different male next time I bred her, just in case it is some weird genetic issue.

[Jay_Bunny]

The babies were around 5-6g each. I just checked on them again since I was up there anyway. Two have decent milk bands but one does not have a milk band at all. I'm going to leave her alone for a while before I check on them again.

[GoingPostal]

Why are you messing with her so much? Either she will kill them or feed them, there is nothing you can do if she decides to kill them all so leave her alone. I don't mess with moms for at least two days after birth. It might be that it's her first litter, she might be a bad mom. Breed her again and see what happens. If the babies die off again cull her. Mine get two chances.

[alohareptiles]

What is a milk band? Forgive the probably basic question...

[PyramidPythons]

Baby rats and mice are born without any hair and are called "Pinks" because their skin is usually a very rich pink color. When they feed from mom, this causes their bellies to turn a milky white...and it can be seen just under their skin, thus producing what is called the "milk band".

[bokuza]

Has she had a litter before? How close together? What is the Mom eating?

If she's had good litters before and all has been well and fine it might be that she is a worn out or the pups were born sickly. I've had the same happen.

[Elise.m]

Has she had a litter before? How close together? What is the Mom eating?

If she's had good litters before and all has been well and fine it might be that she is a worn out or the pups were born sickly. I've had the same happen.

The thread is titled "Nutmeg's first litter"

Hope you get her squared away!

[Jay_Bunny]

She has been eating a diet of lab block and dog kibble. I usually use Mazuri 6F but I've had a hard time getting a hold of some. I'm going today to pick up the 50lb bag I ordered in. This was her first litter.

Checked on her this morning and she has 2 left but both of these babies have nice milk bands and appear healthy. I'm hoping these two make it to weaning age.

On a happy note, Noel, my other female in with a male is definitely pregnant.