HanneysCorn
Canadian Cornaholic
There have been a couple of threads lately about problem feeders and methods to jumpstart hatchlings and non-feeders.
When I first heard about the 'washed pinky' technique, I thought...well it's worth a try. Several of my non-feeders immediately took to the w/p (washed pink) method and were easily cajoled into simply accepting f/t after 1 or 2 w/p successes.
I still had a couple of non-feeders...one being a very beautiful little female bloodred, which another breeder had fostered and tried to get started feeding. I also had 3 other non-feeders and 2 hatchlings who had eaten voluntarily 2 meals and then stopped completely. With all but the female blood, I had tried every technique.
Although it isn't pleasant to think about, I do believe there are hatchlings which just aren't meant to thrive. Whether that be visual deformities we can see or something genetically inherent which displays itself in ways we can't see with their inner organs, some hatchlings don't thrive from the start. I had decided that these particular non-feeders would be given every chance possible to eat...I would try and adjust to them in my schedule and give a final effort to get them to feed. I would try feeding during the daylight hours, during the night, brained, live, anole scented, washed pink...hey, I was willing to try my darndest. When 2 months of trying resulted in zero advances with these guys I had basically decided, one last attempt and then I will cry 'uncle'.
I noticed this morning one of my pregnant mice had had her litter. Since I wanted to check the 'quantity' of pinks, I began to dig in the nest. There were 6 live pinks and 3 stillborns in the nest. I was about to toss the stillborns when I thought...hmmm...let's see. Now these stillborns were only several hours old, not pink, but slightly purple, freshly discoloured. I took 3 of the six non-feeders and tossed a still born pink in each container. Hmmm...I noted an interest in all 3, but I had before too with no successful results. I checked about 10 minutes later on the progress. Unbelievable, so unbelievable I called Jeff to come see as well. All 3 non-feeders had halfway devoured their stillborn pink.
My folly...the blood female wasn't one of the 3 I randomly grabbed...but she will be next litter of pinkies. Now, I'm just hoping live and eventually f/t will also stimualte the now established feeding response.
Sometimes persistence can pay off. I know this doesn't help those without access to a fresh litter of pinks, but just thought I'd share my 'unbelievable' feeding experience today.
Ruth
When I first heard about the 'washed pinky' technique, I thought...well it's worth a try. Several of my non-feeders immediately took to the w/p (washed pink) method and were easily cajoled into simply accepting f/t after 1 or 2 w/p successes.
I still had a couple of non-feeders...one being a very beautiful little female bloodred, which another breeder had fostered and tried to get started feeding. I also had 3 other non-feeders and 2 hatchlings who had eaten voluntarily 2 meals and then stopped completely. With all but the female blood, I had tried every technique.
Although it isn't pleasant to think about, I do believe there are hatchlings which just aren't meant to thrive. Whether that be visual deformities we can see or something genetically inherent which displays itself in ways we can't see with their inner organs, some hatchlings don't thrive from the start. I had decided that these particular non-feeders would be given every chance possible to eat...I would try and adjust to them in my schedule and give a final effort to get them to feed. I would try feeding during the daylight hours, during the night, brained, live, anole scented, washed pink...hey, I was willing to try my darndest. When 2 months of trying resulted in zero advances with these guys I had basically decided, one last attempt and then I will cry 'uncle'.
I noticed this morning one of my pregnant mice had had her litter. Since I wanted to check the 'quantity' of pinks, I began to dig in the nest. There were 6 live pinks and 3 stillborns in the nest. I was about to toss the stillborns when I thought...hmmm...let's see. Now these stillborns were only several hours old, not pink, but slightly purple, freshly discoloured. I took 3 of the six non-feeders and tossed a still born pink in each container. Hmmm...I noted an interest in all 3, but I had before too with no successful results. I checked about 10 minutes later on the progress. Unbelievable, so unbelievable I called Jeff to come see as well. All 3 non-feeders had halfway devoured their stillborn pink.
My folly...the blood female wasn't one of the 3 I randomly grabbed...but she will be next litter of pinkies. Now, I'm just hoping live and eventually f/t will also stimualte the now established feeding response.
Sometimes persistence can pay off. I know this doesn't help those without access to a fresh litter of pinks, but just thought I'd share my 'unbelievable' feeding experience today.
Ruth
