Nest Placement

[crazycritter]

Hey everyone,

One of my gerbils (asha) is going to be having pups soon and I'm kind of worried about where she chose to nest. She has built a nest up on the second level of her cage in a dog dish She spends a lot of time sleeping in it and building onto it, and I feel bad taking it away from her to have her pups...but I guess that's what I'll end up having to do. I'll put up some pictures so you can see what you think:

The nest:


The whole to the first level (looks sharp, but don't worry, it isnt):


The WHOLE thing:


The thing I am worried about is her kicking the pups and them falling down the hole. Should I make her move her nest by closing the secondlevel or should I Cover up the hole and leave them up there until the pups are older? I can cover the floor so that its not wire...but she really seems to prefer sleeping up there

[crazycritter]

Hmm...I just thought that if she had the pups up there, she might kick them threw the bars...so there goes that idea. Oh well... You can enjoy the pictures though

[queenofthenile]

Does she object if you put the dog dish on the basement level? Can you actually tell that she's pregnant yet? I've got her due date on my calendar ;D. I'm so excited for you!

[sweetie]

Hey Crazy,

Go with your gut!! I know it sounds stupid but if it's telling you it's not safe, then listen. Try to move the dish on the bottom and see if she nests on top again. Then it will tell you where she wants to nest. She might just prefer the bowl. If that's the case, then put it on the bottom. Also does she often (or do gerbils in general) kick the pups about?

Good luck with your decision.

[crazycritter]

queenofthenile said:

Does she object if you put the dog dish on the basement level? Can you actually tell that she's pregnant yet? I've got her due date on my calendar ;D. I'm so excited for you!

I put the dish on the bottom level, and she slept on the mesh floor of the second level. She obviously prefers to be up high

I can tell she's pregnant...she's very firm and she's even a little fatter then she used to be. I'm SOOOO excited to see the pups! ;D ;D

[queenofthenile]

I'm betting she'll go 25 days - just like her mom ;D. I guess she's at 17 days right now? I can't wait, I can't wait!! As soon as she gives birth you have to PM me, so I'll know the eye colour ;D. Gosh, what a geek I am, I feel that I must be more excited than you are .

[sweetie]

Not a geek!!! You are an anticipating aunt!! Asha's the prego right?? Wasn't she yours?

Crazy,
have you figured out what you are going to do with the nest?

[queenofthenile]

Yes Asha was mine. Maybe that's why I'm obsessing so much. (Actually I know that's why). I'm also just really excited that this pair will produce colourpoints for Crazycritter.

[crazycritter]

Yeah, I've decided that I'm just going to take away the second level a couple days before her due date so that she HAS to nest on the first level.

[sweetie]

Crazy, Great idea!! Safety is always best.

Queenie, You are brilliant. Do you have a speculation of what the color points will be?

[queenofthenile]

I'm hoping either 100% lcp agouti, or 50/50 lcp agouti and siamese. I'm just hoping that there are no white pups. I guess we'll know soon enough!

[sweetie]

I can't wait either. I love pup pictures!!!
I am still working on internalizing the genetics and color thing.'
I am trying to figure out what I have and what the possibilities could be!!