Stillborns

[xdeus]

One of my fancy rat mothers is giving birth to a bunch of stillborns. I kind of suspected something was wrong this morning because she was due this weekend but didn't build a nest. She had one live one that she seems to be taking care of, but so far I've seen two stillborns. I'm not sure what they do with them once they're out (eat them? bury them?). She seems okay besides that, but I suspect she knew something was wrong which was why she never bothered to make a nest.

I'm not sure if it was just Mother Nature in a bad mood, or perhaps the heat we've had recently. <sigh>

[frankykeno]

You never know Lawrence sometimes it does just happen. It doesn't mean she'll deliver all dead young - sometimes the first couple get a bit stuck in the birth canal and don't make it. Is this a first litter for this female rat. Sometimes they just don't know how to nip the cord and stimulate those first couple of babies right. Alita that just delivered 18 for me today has a disaster of a first litter with stillborns and some that died later.

Not all rats build a nest either. Some of my females deliver on one side of the maternity tank just on the bedding then when they are all done they rush away, construct a nest and move the newly born pinks into it. Others build elaborate bunker nests and deliver in them.

Sorry it's not going well though. I hope the female and some of her young end up okay.

[xdeus]

Sorry it's not going well though. I hope the female and some of her young end up okay.

Thanks. So far there's just one that's alive. She has given me a number of healthy litters in the past, usually around 15 in the litter. I found a total of 5 stillborn so far, but fortunately they won't be going to waste. I'm hoping this is just a fluke, but I'll give her a few weeks off to recover before trying to mate her again.

[Ginevive]

I'm sorry; it is always a tough thing to go through. I had one that had the same thing happen as yours awhile ago; then, once, I had one who decided her babies should be her lunch.. hang in there, it'll get better.

[xdeus]

I'm sorry; it is always a tough thing to go through. I had one that had the same thing happen as yours awhile ago; then, once, I had one who decided her babies should be her lunch.. hang in there, it'll get better.

Thanks. They really are great mothers, so I'd be shocked if she decided to eat any that were healthy. Mice on the other hand... I guess I've been pretty luck so far. I've had at least 15 healthy litters and haven't seen one baby that died.

[frankykeno]

I've never had a female rat turn on her healthy young. Maybe I've been lucky but I wouldn't keep a female in my colony if she did that...blech! I've had a couple cull runts but that's a different matter.