Hullo!

Hi, I'm new in this world of hedgehogs! Just recently got a female hedgehog who was pregnant, without my knowing it of course! Kimu is my girl's name and she had 5 babies, unfortunately one didn't make it!
However, right now she is in her (tomorrow) fifth week nursing her babies! I have so many questions and worries!
There is an albino, three salt and pepper, two with chocolate brown muzzles! They are so beautiful!
So I hope I can make it!

Welcome Davespongy. This is a great site to educate yourself. If babies are 5 weeks old it is time to find out the sex of them and think about separating the boys from the girls due to they can be sexually mature at that age. But wow such a big surprise from a little prickley package. Good luck and ask questions away or check out the post it at the top of the different sections.

Lisa

Thanks for the welcome! There are two boys and two girls! I read somewhere else that I should wait till they were 6 weeks old to separate them from mom, when they are fully weaned and are eating on their own! Any ideas or suggestions? Right now I'm crushing Kimu's kibbles a little bit just in case the babies want to start nibbling away! So, any recommendations?

At that age they are usually starting to eat the kibbles and crushing is a good idea, yes would separate in the next little bit after you are sure they are eating kibble and drinking water. If you go to the sticky notes at the top of the different subjects here on the forum it gives great information. Sounds like they are doing well and you too for them being a surprise litter. Lisa

Hey and welcome to the forum .

The babies are more likely to be greys as we don't have an salt and peppers in the uk if you post a pictures can colour ID them for you ..

At 5 weeks babies will be feeding themselves boys need to be removed from mom at 6 weeks and housed separately from any males ... As they have a risk of fighting as they get older .. Girls can remain with mom for a week or so longer
It's advisable if you don't no the history of the parents to make sure they go to pet only homes so there is no risk of in breeding .

Well done for looking after her so well any questions please feel fee to ask away and we will do our best to answer

Enjoy the forum x,

Thanks! I have very few pics of the babies as I don't want to disturb mother or babies! I had only had Kimu for two weeks before she delivered the babies so we hadn't had a chance to properly bond! So I try to handle the babies everyday but most of the time they are inside their igloo!
I can't upload photos just yet but as soon as I can I will upload them!

Thanks!

Hey again babies are safe enough to handle you need to try and socialise them as soon as possible as a breeder I hanle my babies from 10/12 days old depending on mom ... Take mom out pop her in a playpen and put babies out with her you will be then free to hold them .. If they are 5 weeks you may have to work a little to get them use to,you good luck x

hello dave welcome to the forum im gaga aka jake, must have been a big shock to discover she was pregnant when you got her, just make sure you are socialising with tham as lou said they are old enough to be handled, good luck xx

hiya dave...welcome to the forum...and congrats on the surprise litter!

dave your not from the UK are you? mexico? love to go there one day...(sorry day dreaming, of a nice hot place....all we have in the UK is damn rain)...

Do you no i never noticed that .. ha ha .. so your maybe salt and peppers lol x

Hi and welcome to the forum - looking forward to pictures x

Yes pictures if you can. I can not upload from the states. I have to send them to a U.K. forum member to be uploaded. Lisa

hello and welcome to the forum.x

Jajaja, yeah, I forgot to mention that I am from Mexico City. Now, a question about weather, I have placed my hedgies in a room with a space heater at 75º F, (23-24º C) 24/7. How do you manage to keep your hedgehogs warm? Do you have central heating?

This is an image of my Kimu a day before she had her babies (remember I didn't know she was pregnant so I didn't know I had to leave her alone and not disturb her)!

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

yeah we use heaters and central heating to keep ours nice and toasty, used more in winter months though! xx

I have a purpose building that is heated they also have heat mats .. the hog house has air con for the summer months ..

no picture ... Dave .x

also it doesnt matter about handling them upto the day they give birth, its best to handle till they ahve given birth cant see the picture? xx

Sorry, I will send the images again!

can see mom .... no babies on this shot .x

There is full instructions in the announcements ... Dave how to upload with step by step pictures .x

Sorry, I'm having problems uploading the pictures, I'll try once more to upload the picture of Kimu feeding her babies!

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Yeah! That's the one! Hope to get better pictures later on!

Thank you very much to all for welcoming me!

I'll keep on exploring!

And I'm glad to inform you that I spotted at least two of the babies eating some crushed kibbles I gave them this morning! I put the kibbles in the same dish as their mom's and they are already munching them!

aww lovely pictures glad they are weaning too xx

ahhhhh how cute the pics...