Hand Rearing - what's your opinion?

[jungleflockmom]

I doubt it's slowed down, I just don't usually see it although someone on Animal Craze pointed out an ad for gliders w/a "tiny" dad just today. sheesh.

[Marie]

Whatever happened to trying to breed for big, healthy animals?  Sheesh!   

[jungleflockmom]

No kidding. Big healthy animals should be what everyone strives for.

[Marie]

It's certainly what I strive for.  I'm proud of my big healthy joeys.

[Amalthea]

Very true... People see a niche in the market and grab it, whether it's ethical or not!

[KrazyKritter]

My personal opinion on hand rearing joeys is, from a breeder's standpoint, unethical to do to make them "better" pets.. but I would personally never let a joey get killed or die because mom isn't taking care of it properly.  If anything.. I'd hand raise that baby, and pull mom out of my breeding colonies and put her with the group of non-breeding females I have.. as she appearanlty isn't fit to be a mom.  Now I say that, but I have let a couple of females that rejected joeys breed again to be perfectly wonderful mothers.  Sometimes there are stressful things going on that may cause rejection that we as humans don't see.. but do it twice, and they don't breed again.  At least not here.