Popple Watch...she's building the nest!

[Frecs]

Jumpp, one of my Silver Fox does, is busy today building a nest -- in the nestbox! This is her second litter. She lost her first due to giving birth on the wire.

This time, she has a wooden nestbox instead of the metal one. I lined it with cardboard (the nestbox bottom is wire). It had looked like she was going to ignore the box again and build outside the box so I made sure there was a good thick layer of hay throughout the cage. Last night, I covered her cage with an old quilted sleeping bag to give her extra warmth and some privacy. This seemed to really suit her, as this morning I found that she had begun building a nest inside the box. She had removed some of the cardboard and was shredding it and putting it back in so I gave her more cardboard. Hey, who am I to argue with a nesting building momma?!

Hoping for a nice big -- LIVE -- litter!! :bunnyhop: :bunnyhop: :bunnyhop: :bunnyhop: :bunnyhop: :bunnyhop: :bunnyhop: :bunnyhop: :bunnyhop:

 

[AmysMacdog]

Got my fingers crossed and said a little prayer. opcorn:

 

[Frecs]

Prayer is greatly appreciated!

 

[MamaSheepdog]

:cheerleader: Go, Jumpp, go! :cheerleader:

She had removed some of the cardboard and was shredding it and putting it back in so I gave her more cardboard.

Cut a piece of cardboard and place it under the box so she can't shred it.

 

[Frecs]

:cheerleader: Go, Jumpp, go! :cheerleader:

She had removed some of the cardboard and was shredding it and putting it back in so I gave her more cardboard.

Cut a piece of cardboard and place it under the box so she can't shred it.

Excellent idea! I will do that!

 

[Heritage Homestead]

Hoping for a wonderful and bouncy litter for you! :-D Keep us posted!

 

[Frecs]

We got popples!!

I don't know how many. It is dark and she is a nervous mommy so since they were well nested in the box with hay and fur, I'm leaving the counting until the morning. Am I right in this decision? or do I need to check for still births?<br /><br />__________ Mon Jan 07, 2013 11:18 pm __________<br /><br />Okay...I went back out to count as several breeders on a FB list suggested I should.... eight live kits warm and snug...no stillborns...!!!

 

[AmysMacdog]

:congratulations:

 

[Maxine]

How exciting! Congrats!!

 

[Peach]

Popples! Yay

 

[-HRanchito]

:thewave: congratulations!! :bunnyhop: :bunnyhop: Can't wait for baby pics

 

[Amy]

That is wonderful!!!!! Can't wait to see pic's!

 

[OneAcreFarm]

Hooray! If it was really hot outside, I would say yes you should check right away. In this case, I think you did fine.

 

[Frecs]

Thanks! I've very excited. Jumpp is showing all the signs of being a very good momma. She was not too pleased with me last night messing with her babies (and a chuck of banana did not appease her). This morning, she was more willing to accept a bribe and let me check on her babies but as soon as I was done, she was in the box checking her babies.

It may not have made a difference but I will always do it from now on anyway -- I covered her cage on Sunday with a blanket. That seemed to calm her down and got her focused on nest building instead of just jumping in and out of the nestbox.

I took pictures but there wasn't enough light for them to come out good.<br /><br />__________ Wed Jan 09, 2013 10:25 am __________<br /><br />Here is the first group picture of Jumpp's litter! As you will notice, she threw a blue one! (She is a pedigreed Silver Fox with all blacks in her family tree). All the babies appear to be getting fed although 4 of them seemed a little less plump than the other four but I'm not sure if I interrupted feeding time as she was in the nest when I came for morning rounds. I put those four on top when I put the back.

 

[Heritage Homestead]

:congratulations: :mbounce:

Yay! Lots of wiggly little popples!

 

[AmysMacdog]

They are so cute!