How soon?

[Pollyblue]

Hi all,
I know my momma gerbil is pregnant and I can see her starting to look bigger, (not quite pear shaped yet). We adopted a family of gerbils a couple weeks ago, so I have not gone through this process before.
Her first litter is approaching 4 weeks and is eating a lot of food and drinking water so they are obviously into the weaning process, how long do I have to get my 2nd tank ready for dad and boy pups?
I still need a water bottle holder, the store was out today and ordered one. I am hoping it is here in time...

Any of you who have ended up with a pregnant gerbil, what are the signs of impending labor, and approximate time frame?

[fysha]

I would say it really does depend on the gerbil, but as they can have there next litter as soon as five weeks from the first litter I would think about splitting them soon.

My female just gave birth to her second litter two days ago, six and a half weeks from her first. I wasn't taking chances on a third litter so moved dad and the boys at four and a half weeks when I noticed mom getting plump. I was hoping for a slightly earlier and smaller litter, but nope, she waited and had eight.

[betty]

Yeah, the second litter shouldn't really come before 4 weeks, but then you are starting to cut it fine. I have had one take up to 6 weeks to have her pups, but others tend to be around the 4.5/5 week slot. I would take out the dad in the next few days if possible, just to avoid any close calls - as once you find out she has had then - he may already have worked his magic!

I often find the only sign I see around the birthing period is dad sitting up on a shelf on his own somewhere looking grumpy.

[Pollyblue]

The bottle holder should be here later this week, hopefully it comes quickly!

[Shooting Star]

What kind of bottle do you have? I would make a DIY holder and move dad out ASAP. It's more common these days, but not all females will delay a postpartum litter! I have had pairs that would give birth every 4 weeks on the dot.

[Pollyblue]

Update, momma looked even bigger this afternoon and I noticed that her vulva area was swollen and more pinkish looking and daddy was trying to sniff/lick and mount her. So we rigged up the second water bottle in the other tank with duct tape for now and separated them. It seems there are 4 boys and 3 girls. I think she could be close, I am glad I caught on quickly...
Will it be ok to have 3 older girls with her and the new litter, should we put two in with the dad? I have always read to just leave one. It is late afternoon here now, so maybe she will be giving birth tonight!

[t1gg3er]

Can't offer any advice as we're completely new to having babies (we were told Gizzy & Sparky were both boys so finding 4 babies was a bit of a shock!). But I'm really excited for you! We keep looking at Gizzy & wondering if/when her 2nd litter will come. And how on earth have you managed to sex your babies at less than 4 weeks?! Ours are 29 days & we think we may have a boy & a girl but really have no idea what the other 2 are (or even if we've got those 2 right). Hope all goes well for your mummy.

[Pollyblue]

The 4 we put in with dad were obvious boys, their anus and penis were far apart. The other three seemed closer together and we decided were girls. Maybe we will do a re-check in a week or so

[betty]

Yeah, sometimes that is the best way - get a gist of the most obvious ones and then revisit the 'not sures'.

The number of times a 'girl' changes into a boy.... I've nver had it the other way though.

[Pollyblue]

No new babies this morning, but momma is avidly nesting and she looks a bit rounder.
I bought a wooden bird nesting box and was going to widen the hole and add a PVC pipe tunnel like I have seen on a couple sites (search gerbil nest box). But I didn't finish it yet, so she is making her nest in an empty Kleenex box. If I finish the other before she has the babies, would it be too disruptive to her if I move her nesting material to the new box? Do you think she would accept that?

[betty]

They make their nest wherever THEY want sometimes - no matter how lovely you make their nest.

By all means stick in the new box and she may use it - either straight away or later. My female recently changed her nest after 2 weeks when I tried to spy on the new pups!

[Pollyblue]

No babies yet, but she is looking rounder everyday! Good I got everyone separated and settled early anyway

[t1gg3er]

Any news on Rosa yet? I keep checking & expecting to see a post saying she's had her babies

I think Gizzy is starting to show so she's bound to give birth whilst we're away next week. I've given our son strict instructions to listen for squeaking but not to disturb them other than to put food & water in the tank & then the odd half toilet roll holder after the 1st couple of days.

[Pollyblue]

No babies yet, but she is noticeably rounder every day. When we got the gerbils 2 weeks ago, the owner said they were about 2.5 weeks old. That calculates out to about 32 days. I have read the second litter arrives anywhere from 26-48 days, so who knows! But I think it will be really soon for miss Rosa...

[Pollyblue]

We just moved the 3 girls in with dad and brothers, Rosa was chasing them and attacking them all day today and I read that some mothers do this around 4.5 weeks, trying to drive them off before the next litter comes... Hopefully she does fine on her own with the new litter. Lots of activity in the other tank with dad and all 7 pups! He was welcoming of the girls after not seeing them for 4 days. We will be letting them go to their new homes at 6 weeks, that should be well before the girls are sexually mature...