jd
member
need advice from experienced owners
Posts: 19
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Post by jd on Mar 18, 2023 15:54:54 GMT -8
Beside when menopause would occur, I'm worried if pregnacy at high age could be too much a health risk for the mother.
-> What would be the maximum age for safely giving birth ?
reaction only from owners experienced in this matter, please
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Post by betty on Mar 19, 2023 9:47:18 GMT -8
As with most mammals - the older the mother is - the more risk there is to her and her young - but there really isn't a precise age for this to quote you. It depends on the individual situation; the health of the mother as well as her previous breeding history also.
We know from accidental litters that a female gerbil can physically carry a litter and give birth to live young way into her 3s - but for each litter born how many have 'passed' during gestation will never be known. We also have no way of knowing if having a litter later in life can shorten the life of the mother due to the sheer exertion of having had to wean one or two litters so late in life.
Some breeders might posit that if they/you have 'a good line' and you really want to 'save' certain genes or characteristics that it might be 'worth' that gamble; but in reality that is only a human requirement so it would need real careful personal debate in each instance. Similarly, if you are trying to build up a population in a really sparse part of the world where it is 'now or never' then perhaps it might be the only option.
However, if there are gerbils all over the place really - and there is the opportunity to find a younger female more fit for the task within the next few weeks or months - then perhaps it would be the better option for the older female to be retired to enjoy her 3s and 4s (and maybe her early 5s).
What is your personal circumstances for the question - and perhaps we can comment more specifically on any of your further concerns? I am not sure if gerbils have a full menopause (I think there are only a few species that actually do have them) - so potentially a female gerbil could 'get pregnant' at any age.
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Post by Markpd on Mar 19, 2023 15:21:57 GMT -8
Gerbilwelfare.com recommends between 3-18 months old for both parents, I guess that's an optimal age, and a rule of thumb.
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jd
member
need advice from experienced owners
Posts: 19
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Post by jd on Mar 30, 2023 5:22:57 GMT -8
Both 2-yr-old mothers got only pregnant once when they were very young.
This happened as soon as possible because I didn't know that 1 of my 3 gerbils was a male.
(So, this next generation is only 3 mônths younger.)
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), late 70s