Best time to handle babies?

[Karen]

Hello....  This is my first litter and I've tried to keep well away.  Our chips are outside.  Their nest boxes are tall and deep to simulate goind 'down' into their burrow - on hind sight this is no use as I can't see the babies very well.  Anyway, through cunning I've managed to remove the straw and snatch a glimpse periodically over the last 4 weeks.  Their mum gets agitated so I don't hang around them too long, but I'm so desperate to get them used to me - even just talking to them.  Oh there are 6 !!!  go Toffee.

Question:   Can I take them out, or do I need to wait for mum to bring them out?  They are now 4 weeks old, two appear to have their eyes open.  It's quite a jump up to the opening of the nest, I've got an assault course on this side so they can make their way down to the ground.  Do they wander far from the nest, will mum bring them out or can I bring them out onto the ground and let them wander?

I'm thinking I should just bite the bullet and WAIT

[judyw]

Hi Karen

I have handled my babies after week one so they got used to me so your babies are going to be a bit surprised as they are 4 weeks old.
In your case I would wait till they come out as they are not used to human touch and it would freak them out a bit. Some chipmunk keepers on here would think probably differently.


Judy

[jane]

hi karen i started to get mine out when they were 2wks and mum was out of site (inside my armchair as mine are indoors) mine are now nearly 6wks and i still have to wait for mum to be out of the way lol i now distract her with meal worms, she's not to fussed about me doing it but i have to be the last one to handle them

[Karen]

Okay, Toffee caught me the other day so the last two days i've been taking a couple out at a time!  today I had backup with my daughter coming in with me.  We took all 6 out without their mum coming anywhere near!   They are adorable.  After a few mins squirming they fell asleep with the warmth of our hands!  They certainly didn't appear to be bothered.    thank you for the encouragement.   Have some photos which I'll up load when I've got them on the pc.

[Sarah-Jane]

  All I would say is too be very careful! Alot of handling can become stressful for a 1st time mum! She will be extra aware of ur movements!  xx good luck and enjoy!

[Karen]

Things are going great!   I spend time with mum first then go back to where the next boxes are - she can still hear me and can pop in anytime she feels she needs to.

I've had all six out and mum still doesn't suspect anything.  I do rub my hands with the bark first.  Jings they are fast for their size!  I'm glad our next box is a deep one, as I think they'd have been out a few days ago.  Does mum bring them out or will she wait till they start jumping for the hole?  How on earth does she round them up?

Will they all go back into the same nest box when they do come out, or will I need to make up somewhere else for them now?

They can climb up skin - vertically!   oh yeah - what started off as a wee lick (you haz flavour!) - then a wee nibble - turned into a full on - OW that hurt - thankfully no blood! (mine)    Take it that's them on solids now?

Loving them so much! 

[Sarah-Jane]

  Mum will be in charge of all that they will all stay together until the time.... normally i would say 6 to 8 weeks when they have teeth and start feeding with mum or others, I take them away from mum for a rest for her and let the little ones explore there new world! if you only have one nest box i would get a couple of others! just spread them up high all my babies at now 13 weeks still all sleep together well the boys in one cage and girls (sisters in other) 

  well done for washing hands and rubbing bark onto when handling  very good idea! you dont want end up like me and suddenly for no apparent reason end up hand rearing them! Sounds like your mummy chip is very relaxed!

[jane]

mine tumbled out on top of suzie when she went to check in lol it was a dog pile at 31dys lol she went into panic mode n started to buddle them into balls to put back but gave up as they weren't gonna stay in the nest, since then she's let them get on with it lol they bagan feeding from the dishes at 32dys and drinking from the water bottles at 33dys, i think their advanced for their age lol but it's my first litter so am not sure lol

[Karen]

Hi all  ,  Thanks for the replies.   

Not much of an update at the moment as we've been away for a few days. 

On Friday (when they were all out) I had a rope going through the opening down into their nest and they ALL climbed out that way, but I made sure they were all back in bed and took the rope out - so they still couldn't get out themselves.

Saturday morning Toffee was chirping so I popped out to say good bye (already been out to feed) only for her to run into her box, 'chip' then come out and sit on the branch infront of the box - she did this twice as if to tell the wee ones to try it!   Anyway, I couldn't stay around any longer and had to leave.

Hubby thought I was daft leaving them at this stage - maybe I was, but anyone ever watched their kids going too high on the swings, or holding dad's hand whilst looking over the edge of the pier, knowing their in no danger but at the same time terrified and not able to watch?   I would have been like that with the babies... hands under them incase they fell, or taking them off the wall, incase they couldn't get down - a nervous wreck! 

My dad was popping in to feed the chipees (outside) and the cat (in the house!) Says he's seen 3 babies out and about!  Tonight I had a quick peek when we got home, there were 3 left in the next but mum was nowhere to be seen!  I'm assuming she's in one of the other boxes with the other 3 but I'll need to wait till the morning to confirm as I didn't want to disturb them when their sleeping, incase they are all in with the other two adults -  I'm telling you, all this bed sharing would make for a good novel!

Anyway,  I'm so excited now I'll have all these chippies to play with!  Will need to decide how many to keep though  - boo hoo.

Sarah-Jane, I meant to ask if you discovered why your mum rejected her babies?  is she happy with them in the cage now that you've done the hard work?     

Jane - They are really clever, and to think that it's mostly instinct!

[Karen]

    Everyone is in and out, out and in, up and down and under and over.  They are everywhere.  It's such a pleasure to watch all the antics.  I've taken loads of pictures - will see about loading them onto the picture section. 

Best of all Nutella - the other female (still showing no signs of having any herself despite turning 2 last month! - any thoughts?  she does sleep in Thorntons box most times) is so tolerant of these 6 bundles running around.  Thornton has even been out more than usual, maybe because his box isn't his own anymore.  The babies seem to jump into the nearest box and no one seems too bothered!

Thank you all for the advise.  So glad I waited a couple of weeks.

The babies are fine to be picked up, handled, hand fed and played with and don't think twice about taking a leak on my shoulder - glad our shower water's not metered yet . 

Wishing everyone else all the best for their new additions and praying that all goes well for the wee ones that are without mums for whatever reason .