Small Litters?

[Mitch21]

So I've been producing now for 2 full months. I've gone through 5 litters from 2 mothers. My first litters looked very promising as they birthed about 12-15 babies. But now it seems that I'm only getting about 6-9 babies. I can't tell for sure, but I would bet my money on the fact that the older babies are suffocating the pinkies.

The way the birthing occurs is with about a 2-3 week gap from the time mother1 has her babies till the time mother2 has her babies. So by the time mother2 is having babies, the fuzzy/hoppers are huge and seem to be suffocating the pile. Not all pinkies die, but it just seems that my litters are getting smaller and I have to believe that the hopper babies are the cause...

What do you guys think?? Should I start weaning the 3 week old babies sooner so that the pinkies have more of a chance at getting to the milk? The older babies dont quite have their eyes open, but they do walk around the tub and look for solid food.

Any input is greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[MDB]

I would say that you should seperate the hoppers into a bin with another female who is not currently taking care of her litter. I have heard of females helping take care of others litters, and also mothering them so this should work hope this helps. But Mike Macacaugh I think thats his last name or close to it should be able to tell you what to do for sure. so private message him

[Jeff Krupa]

I dont wean until they have their eyes open and are eating drinking on their own. I am also about on the same schedule as you with the 1.2 groups. Both moms are feeding both sets of babies.One mom will be feeding and the other will running on the wheel.Ive had as much as 18 babies of diff sizes under one mom. I havent lost any.

[Mitch21]

Jeff,
Since your colony is on the same schedule as mine, I'm guessing your bigger (hopper) sized babies are on top of the pinkies in the nest. Your babies still do fine with the bigger ones trampling the pinkies??

[Jeff Krupa]

yeah. The pinkies are under the hoppers and I havent had any loss due to suffocation.They always nurse under a half log hide,The moms always remove most of the aspen from inside the hide so most of the babies are on the glass.Ive even seen the babies under dad as well??? not sure what thats about.At times with 20 babies on the ground, Ive looked into the tank and see nobody. I look under the log hide and all 20 babies are under 2 moms and dad. Not sure whats happening in your case. what is your setup ?

[Mike Cavanaugh]

Litter sizes vary for MANY reasons... Mainly Genes, age, nutrition and setup. I have never had older babies suffocae or hurt babies. Babies are VERY difficult to suffocate, and it takes a VERY long time. That is why when putting them down, you are supposed to freeze babies under 3 weeks instead of using CO2...

[RandyRemington]

When my temps where dipping down into the low 70's (maybe high 60's) I lost some babies from each new litter for a week or so. I was finding them dead without a mark on them so if you aren't finding any evidence there where more then quite possibly not the same issue. I eventually felt confident that it was temp related in my case so I got insulated well enough to stay close to 80 and now I'm back to not finding any dead.

However, my main colony only seems to have about 12 - 15 max and some times a few less. I had another colony that wasn't as docile have 17 first litter but it was that cool spell and only 12 survived the first night. I'm not sure what was up with that colony though as the male looked old when I got him and after neither that mom or the other two looked pregnant in a couple months I just recently feed them off and used the cage to set up a new colony with three of the daughters from that one and only litter with a male from my other colony. They are still a ways off producing but I'm hoping to get the larger litters (they are also a little larger adults) and the nice temperament together eventually.

[littleindiangirl]

I regrettably did not wean quick enough and I lost 10 babies to suffocation the day after they were born by older siblings who were probably a week over the wean age. The parents didn't kick the dead ones out of the nest, so I had to get them.

I like to wean as soon as they are 21 days, or at least have that weaner look, to avoid any momma hoggers.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

well, I should also add that I never keep older babies in with the parents. as soon as their eyes are open they are relocated to the grow up tubs.