How do you know when a rat is ready to give birth?

Answer 1

Nest BuildingAs the pregnancy becomes near to term there are increases, and also decreases, of certain hormones that raise maternal behavior in rats. When these changes occur the female begins to build her nest; you can rest assured that babies will be arriving within a few days. Some females make very simple nests while some make elaborate nests that completely hide any view of the babies.

Late in the pregnancy it is a good idea to provide nesting material for the doe. Try to avoid cloth with holes and strings, as these can strangle or injure the babies. You may also want to consider removing hammocks or moving the doe to a one-level cage so as not to cause injury to babies who might fall. (Occasionally females will make their nests and give birth on ledges, in hammocks, or in hanging tubes.)

Enlarged Lower AbdomenIn the final stage of pregnancy, the doe will usually become pear shaped. Her lower abdomen will enlarge significantly and become very firm. This change in her body shape is usually rather dramatic unless her litter is very small. Spotting Blood

When birth is impending there will be a bloody vaginal discharge. This occurs a day before, or the day of birth. Often, with spotting, a litter can be expected to arrive within a few hours. Excessive bleeding is not normal. If your doe shows heavy bleeding call your veterinarian immediately.

Answer 2

A ferrets gestation or length of pregnancy is 40 to 44 days (average 42 days). The female hormones will start to change about 2 weeks before and she will either be quite motherly to others, or the opposite, she may appear grumpy and nippy. She will start preparing a nest, so it is important to provide her with a secure, secluded quiet place on her own away from other ferrets. As the birth nears, gradually reduce her time away from her nest to avoid her giving birth in an unwanted area.

The Jill needs a quiet dark secure area for her nest which she will start to prepare about 10 days prior to birth. The signs of impending birth are - she will prepare her nest, her mammary glands swell, with the nipples becoming obvious. She will start grooming her nipples to lose her fur.

A first time mother may not realize what is happening or become frightened by her own babies as they are being born. It is possible that she may reject or even cannibalize her babies. Is it important that she is not stressed by owner interference or any unusual activities in the area around her.

If the female ferret giving birth is stressed or appears nervous, it may cause a delay in the time the babies are all born. If she appears to be having problems in the birth process, contact a veterinarian for advice.

The female ferret gives birth after six weeks pregnancy. The baby ferrets - kits are born deaf and blind with a short covering of fur.

Some breeders will try to have two female ferret giving birth around the same time. In case one Jill is unable to raise or nurse her kits due to illness or injury, the other female can be used as a foster mother

After they are born, it is important not to disturb the mother because she might eat the babies, in order to protect them if she feels threatened. Even if she is very trusting of her owner.

from another contributor:

Ferrets are usually pregnant for around 6 weeks and they can leave there mum about 6 weeks after that when there weaned. When the ferret is actually pregnant you just need to feed them a lot of milk and meat to keep there strength up.You should not look at the ferrets after they have been born until they start coming out of there bed because the mother may kill the babies due to your scent being on them or she may protect them and bite you!!!

Answer 3

Prevent Birthing problems - It is most important to make sure the Dam (mother ferret)l is fed very well during the pregnancy so she will be able to deliver the kits and nurse. She needs to have a high quality protein (35%), high fat (30 - 40%) food along with plenty of liquids available at all times, letting her eat as much as she wants. A couple of weeks before the due date, prepare a separate quiet area for her to nest and each day confine her in increasing increments each day so she will feel secure and comfortable.

Mother Ferret Reactions - Each ferret is different in personality and if this is her first litter, the reaction to birth might be acceptance. rejection, confusion or even cannibalizing the kits.

The Amniotic Sac - When the kits are born, they are enclosed in a fluid filled membranous sac called the amniotic sac, that the mother must wash from the kits face so it can breathe. If she is inexperienced and does not do this within 15 seconds after the kit is born, you can help her by gently tearing the membrane, or using the corner of a clean, damp wash cloth gently wipe the membrane from the kit's face. Within a few minutes the kit should began to cry for the mother to take over.

The Cord - Also, if the Dam fails to bite through the cord that served as a life line from the kit to the placenta, this could strangle the kit. It should be severed a short distance from the navel. A small amount of blood will be extruded, after which it should dry and shrivel up. Monitoring the Nest - It is important not to disturb the nest for five to seven days, although a mature ferret with breeding experience may not object. Or the Dam may be very protective and may bite, or faced with a threat, she might kill and eat her young. Check the nest every day, but be cautious when approaching.

Length of birth - The kits may be born anywhere from five to ten minutes apart to several hours apart, If the Dam is nervous or upset, it may cause an increase in the time between births. The last kit may appear as late as a day later after the rest of the litter are born. If she shows any signs of distress or inability to deliver the kits, contact your veterinarian immediately. After she gives birth, do not remove the afterbirth, the Dam should eat for vital hormones and lactation.

Observe that the kits are nursing - The kits should start nursing within several hours of birth. If there is no nursing activity after a few hours, it may be possible the Dam has not produced any milk. If she is unable to nurse, it is suggested to have another ferret available that has recently given birth or is going to as a foster mother.

Help for the nursing mother - To relieve the Dam, offer the kits moist food at about 3 weeks of age. Her diet needs to be supplemented beside her kibble food, offer her a moist diet one or twice a day to increase fluid intake and stimulate milk production, She will also need 2 to 3 times more water than usual, she will drink more from a dish than a water bottle.

Answer 4

Her vulva will be enlarged. It is important that females are bred once they go into heat, otherwise they are at risk for developing aplastic anemia, a life threatening condition.