Unfortunately there's no way I can leave them here. We'll be gone for 9
days, and anyone I'd ask to take care of them is also going home for the
holidays- I'm a grad student, and so is just about everyone else I know
here! Also, the pups will still need their twice daily antibiotic for the
clicking.
I guess I'll just have to do the best I can- my other pairs are very
well-traveled and don't mind the car at all now. They eat, sleep and chew
as though they were at home on their table!
Jill
----------
> From: Donna Anastasi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: Advice- traveling with expectant mother and litter
> Date: Saturday, November 11, 2000 11:07 PM
>
> Hi Jill,
>
> I think this would be a significant stressor on the mother and may cause
her to
> ignore the pups (or worse). The travel itself is stressful and then the
setting
> up the tank in the new location is stressful too. I've found my gerbils
take at
> least a week of being very box-bound and hyper vigilant before adjusting
to being
> in a new house.
>
> I know that Deb R. had a negative experience moving a mother and young
pups
> (they "disappeared"), but there were other factors there as well, I
think, such
> as many gerbils in one tank.
>
> If there is any way possible for you to leave the mother in place before
the
> birth of her pups and the couple weeks after -- having someone check them
at
> least once a day -- that would be your safest bet.
>
> Also, I've left 2, 3 and then 3 older pups with mom to raise the second
litters
> with my three different breeding females. It's worked out great in these
three
> cases.
>
> Good luck to you, Donna
>
>
> Jill wrote:
>
> > Hi list-
> > I'm going to be traveling with my zoo next weekend to go home
for
> > thanksgiving. The babies will be about 4 1/2 weeks and assuming the
> > after-birth mating took, the mother is expecting again. I'm concerned
that
> > the mother may give birth while traveling to go or come back. Would
this
> > put her litter at risk? Can the first litter stay in with her (except
> > father and son) after the birth of the 2nd litter until we get back?
I'm
> > not sure how the timing of all this is going to work so I want to be as
> > prepared as I can be.
> >
> > This will be the first time these gerbils have traveled in a
car- the
> > drive is about 7 hours and they stay in their own tanks for the trip.
> >
> > ***update- the clicking pup has started nursing again (she had stopped
for
> > several days) and is eating some solid food. While giving her medicine
> > tonight, she pooped all over me, which she never did before! Although
it's
> > not my idea of a good time, I guess it's a good sign :-)
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Jill
> >
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