New Joeys :)!

[suitcasey]

Hey everyone!! Sorry I havn't been around for a while! I havn't had the need to post as everytime I have a question I just use the search here and someone has already given the answer !

I'd like to report the WONDERFUL news that Donnie and Gretchen have had two little baby boys!! I am soooooooo chuffed and excited !
They've been out of pouch for about a week now, and they're just adorable. And they are being such good parents, I'm so proud of them! They're both constantly cuddling them and cleaning them, I'm just so pleased. And judging by the happy sounds the parents are constantly making, so are they!

I havn't really changed what I've been doing since they came along. I've just been giving them a little extra calcium and a little extra protein, is this good?

And is it alright for me to be touching the babies? The mum and dad are showing no objection to it, but I just don't want them to end up getting hurt cos of me or anything?
Should I maybe leave them completely alone for the next few weeks to make sure the babies are alright? It's just a bit nerve racking cos you want to be able to see the little miracles but you're scared to do anything wrong!

Are there any extra measures I could take now to make sure I have well bonded babies?
I'd just like to start the bonding as early as I can, and avoid the situation I had with the parents who were very wild at the start. (Although after several months of patience on both sides, they now trust me a lot and they've both turned into extremely sweet little animals !)

Anyway, I think I've got everything all under control. (Who am I kidding, I've done nothing, it's all down to the hard work of the two glider parents!!) But yeah, any other advice you can give me to ensure the babies do well would be much appreciated !

Thanks!!
Casey

[tillie]

Ah congratulations

A lot of people wait until the joeys eyes are open or 2 weeks before they handle them.  Mine dont mind though and they are happy for me to baby sit from day 1.  If the parents arnt acting stressed and you are only holding the joeys for a couple of minutes then I would say its ok, you know your gliders better then anyone.  I gradually build my time up with the joeys starting from literally a minute infront of the parents.  I weigh them every few days as well just to make sure they are gaining weight. The more you hold the joeys hopefully the tamer they will be.  Will you be keeping them?  I love boys they seem to be a lot more uncrabby than girls!!

Yes up the protein, I dont change anything else apart from my female usually want breakfast when she is feeding joeys so I give her some Mornflake oats if she is hungry in the mornings.  Shes funny, she will tap on the cage door if she want some when she sees me of a morning.

[suitcasey]

Thank you !

Yes, I will be keeping these two ! These are obviously my first babies, so I think it's only right that I keep them . Any more that come along though, I shall be selling/giving them only to people who I know will give them a good home. If I don't think I'll be able to find homes though I'll stop breeding and get the male neutered .

Hmmm. I assume that when these little bambinos get to breeding age, they might be at risk of mating with their own mother? That wouldn't be good. Would it be better to give them their own cage, or would they be happier staying with the parents and being neutered? If the second option, how early should I get them neutered and is it expensive?
Sorry about all these questions ! Flip, where would I be without this forum!

The mum and dad are just so sweet. And they've done such a great job. They show no problems at all with me picking up the babies. Just whenever I do, they both watch me like a hawk to make sure I don't run away with it. Whenever I give the baby back they both give it a thorough licking and let it go suckle again.
I was just worried that maybe after I held the baby, it wouldn't smell sugar glidery enough, and the parents might decide to... eat it. God forbid ! It would be so sad if something like that happened, so you're probably right I should wait until their eyes are opened and there will maybe be less chance of that happening.
I know it's early days though, anything could happen. I'm gonna look for some of that special milk to feed them just in case the worst happens and one of them gets abbandoned!

Thanks for the help, if you have any more tips for a glider grandfather I'd love to hear

[tillie]

You could get them both neutered around 10 weeks and keep them together.  I pay under £40 at my vets.
They will usually rescent the joeys when you put them back, you could take a blankie out of the pouch and rub them with it before you put them back.  Make sure you wash your hands before handling them just incase of any strange smells.

[Marie]

Congratulations Casey. 

[Amalthea]

Congrats!!! Pics?

[suitcasey]

Hey there!! First of all thanks so much for all the advice and the congratulations !!

I will try to get some pics up in the next few days. I cannot belieeeeeeeeeeeeeve how fast they've grown!! Both the little boys have had their eyes open for about a week now, and they seem to be doing great.

They are called Aero and Pilot !!

One thing I wanted to ask though. I'm sure it's quite common for one baby to feed a lot more than the other and therefore be a lot bigger. However, the smallest one, Pilot, is a LOT smaller than Aero. He seems healthy enough, but maybe a little bit weaker. And I havn't seen him feeding in the last week or so (that doesn't mean that he hasn't though, just everytime I look in the momma always has the other one feeding and the smaller boy is off cuddling his dad somewhere).

I in no way think that the baby has been abbandoned or anything, but just to keep him healthy and strong, should I maybe hand feed him once a day or so?

He's just so sweet and cute, but his brother is a lot more boisterous. I would hate sooooo much for him to not be getting enough milk and for him to suffer.

Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated .

[Marie]

I'd hand feed him a couple of times a day to be honest.  I normally have fairly evenly sized joeys.

[tillie]

Id agree with Marie, my joeys are always the same weight roughly so I would take the smallest one out twice a day and hand feed.

[suitcasey]

Thank you very much for the replies !

I'm taking your advice. I got some puppy milk from the vets today . It's not Lactol, but I told them what it was for and they said it will do the job.

I also have all the ingredients for the leadbeater mix aswel. Would it be a good idea to use it? Or would the milk do on it's own?

And do I prepare the milk exactly to the instructions, as if I were doing it for a puppy or do I do anything different??

Thanks very much for the help, I'd be lost without this place!!

[Marie]

Make it up as per the instructions.  I personally wouldn't give leadbeater mix, I don't feed it to my adults so I won't feed it to any joeys.  If s/he is still suckling from mum then s/he will still benefit from mum's diet.

[suitcasey]

Okay cool yes I wasn't going to use the leadbeater mix, just thought I would check as it mentioned it in the hand rearing thread .

It's sod's law though, just prepared the milk and went to go feed him and they're now both suckling happily on the mother!! So i'll leave them for now, maybe later if I notice him not getting any food I'll take him out and handfeed him .

Thank you very much for your advice and time. I'm so happy with the little fellas .