YEs, The pups are a bit young for the mother to be driving away from the nest in that fashion. But I don't think having her put down is the answer. If she is a good gerbil otherwise, then perhaps just stop breeding her and enjoy her for what else there is. It is sad, but mother gerbil sometimes don't handle the whole of motherhood as well as some other gerbils do.
I had one that failed to nurture a litter and we had to foster the pups to another mother. Lucky we had one to foster them to. I stopped allowing her to breed and she is a companion now to an older female gerbil I had. As for the pup, i have never had one as young be that severely injured except as a newborn, and so I may not be of much helop there. Hopefully somone else on one of the lists will. But it sounds as if you are doing all you can already, and I do hope it's condition improves. Jade --- Shelley and Don <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hello list, > I have a very sad situation here, the mother of 5 > pups, only 4 weeks old, > were being attacked by their mother :o( who is > ready to have another > litter any day!!!!! They have a very large tank (40 > gallon) with plenty of > room so that shouldn't be a problem. It's not the > first time it's happened > either, she did the same thing last litter to at 4 > weeks :o( But her first > 4 litters she was really a great mother and loved > all her pups the times > before. > > I'm really confused as to why she is doing this > ?????? We've taken them out > and they are all okay except for the one she > attacked :o( and as soon as > Shelley pulled the mother off and grabed the injured > pup, the mother went > after the first other pup she saw !!!!!! > > Why is this happening ???? and can anyone tell me > why I shouldn't have her > put down ???? she seems to have gone nuts for some > reason. > > The injured pup is in shock, I think, and we are > keeping it warm and keep > giving it water but seems a little too weak to eat > right now. It isn't > moving allot but tries to and is fighting so we are > giving it everything we > can so if it's will stays it will survive :o( > > Any and all suggestions are welcome to help us help > our baby pup :o( > > Don & Shelley > Wilderness Gerbils > Washington State USA __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Buy the perfect holiday gifts at Yahoo! Shopping. http://shopping.yahoo.com
