Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I had 3 litters about 2 weeks ago, all in about 3 days. I have 15 babies left. My 4th female looks like she is about to pop. Should I seperate her? I'm worried the newborns will have a hard time competing for milk. All 4 females have the 2 week old babies together in a big "nursery".
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JMHO, FWIW, YMMV.

>>I had 3 litters about 2 weeks ago, all in about 3 days. I have 15 babies left. My 4th female looks like she is about to pop. Should I seperate her? I'm worried the newborns will have a hard time competing for milk. All 4 females have the 2 week old babies together in a big "nursery".
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>>JMHO, FWIW, YMMV.
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I would leave them alone. I have had newborns tossed in (to foster) with 29 2 wk older pups with only two moms and they are fine. Check tummys for milk and don't worry about them. The moms may separate them into different piles to nurse or not. Let them raise 'em.
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Sonya

Failure is not an option. It comes bundled with the software.

It's even possible the fourth female who si near to popping is already helping out with teh nursing. I do have a mouse female who is doing that now with the two week old babys of the other two females housed in with her. Though there are differences between mice and rats, they both have strong maternal instincts, at least with my most of my mice.

The only time I have lost a whole litter was in just the kind of situation you describe. I would seperate them if they were mine and I had the space. I would include the male and the female, and I would leave them together for four or five days. That way she will be bred on the post partum heat and you will have more in three weeks!

DeMak