Surprise litter

[kbbeale]

I apparently was sold a bred female...and the other day, 3 babies were in the cage with the mama. Two are doing really great and are healthy babies, one baby doesnt look like its doing as well.

I read online that sometimes this happens and the smaller baby eventually dies...but I dont want that to happen - so can someone please tell me what we need to do in regards to saving this baby? Or is the baby savable? I really hate to lose one. It appears to be huddled up with mom like the other babies, but doesnt seem to be as nice and robust as the other two. Ideas/suggestions asap, please! Thanks!

 

[Sdo9396]

Hi there congrats on the babies. I was in the same situation as you. I was sold a pregnant female and she had two kits 3 weeks after I got her. I heard with litters of 3 or more, you might have to rotate the kits to make sure they have enough time to nurse. If a baby ends up getting rejected, you might have you handfeed them every 2 hours around the clock for 2 or 3 months straight. I would read through the breeding and babies faq http://www.chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=864 and it gives you lots of good information. If any of your questions aren't answered in there, I would just ask on here and someone knowledgeable will help you out. )

 

[tunes]

Whether you want it to happen or not doesn't figure into the equation. You can try to save him/her, but that doesn't mean he/she will survive. It's possible there was injury during birth, not enough nutrition in the womb, etc.

Go to the FAQ's and read through the FAQ regarding caring for kits. It will give you all the information you'll need, but you still may need to brace yourself for losing the kit. I never give up trying until the kit does. But, that doesn't mean it always works. Do the best you can, but realize that sometimes it just doesn't work. I hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

 

[Jenn]

congrats on the surprise litter, and I ditto what tunes said. I sure hope they all thrive for you, but that is one of the painful lessons of breeding...that sometimes kits will die, even with your constant attention and best intentions. Good luck, and please keep us informed as to how this kit does. I'm rooting for him!

 

[Laurie]

Are you weighing the kits? You say the other two are healthy, but what are all the weights of the babies? It's possible the smallest one is not getting milk from the mom because with a litter of 3 this can sometimes happen. You may need to rotate the two bigger babies out and give the smaller one more one on one time with mom so they can get more milk.

 

[kbbeale]

Thanks everyone. Kits were born 4/15, sometime in the early morning...and so far, today all is well. Small baby is still smaller....we havent handled him/her much, because I want him to be with the mom as much as possible, so my kids and I take the other two out for short periods of time.

As for weighing them, I dont have a gram scale (as obviously we werent expecting this since I bought two female chins that were not supposed to be bred!!!!) I have since found my mom has a gram scale and I will weigh them tomorrow and post an update.

Little one is not secluded, stays with the other kits and with mom...so Im hoping all is good, but as I said, I will weigh tomorrow morning and go from there.

I received a PM from someone here and now the PM is not in my PM folder and it wont let me respond - They asked where I live and maybe someone can help me that's close by. I live in Adkins, Tx which is SE of San Antonio a bit. The breeder lives relatively close by but only offered to "take" the kits if I didnt want them, and that is not the case.