Just thought that I would share a good rejected joey story in hopes that it may help someone else.

I have leu twin sisters who are always amazing parents/aunts. They always have joeys oop within days of each other and do a great job helping raise each others' joeys. They both have joeys ip- almost oop. I hear joey cries a few nights ago, and look in the pouch to check on the little one. The little female joey has detached and looks very undercooked, and her tummy is empty. I find it very odd that the joey is crying and trying to nurse and the parents aren't responding. I give her a little pedialyte, but mom still will not let her nurse. I watch closely for the rest of the day and the joey doesn't get to nurse at all. I check at feeding time that evening and they have completely abandoned the joey in the sleeping pouch while they run the wheels, and will not respond to its cries any longer, so I decided it's time to pull her and hand feed her. I did not trust to suppliment her when the parents were totally abandoning her to freeze by herself. I realized that they were no longer nursing or caring for her.

She is only 9 grams, the smallest joey I've ever had. She is dehydrated. I hand feed her every hour for the next day. I am only offering her pedialyte since she is so dehydrated. She has a very big appetite.

I start thinking what kind of chances a joey this small has at survival with me hand feeding it. I've lost a joey before when trying to hand feed, so I know that my chances aren't good. So I decided to try to introduce the joey back in. By this time the joey is completely hydrated again and seems to be doing very well. They all accept her back in and Daddy starts cleaning her all over. At first she is not allowed to nurse. I kept them in a bonding pouch for a few hours around my neck, so that I know right away if something goes wrong. Then a few hours later I go to check on them and the joey was finally allowed to nurse! I can't believe that she was allowed back! I've kept an eye on everyone and they are still going strong. The joey actually went back ip and is currently cooking back up!

I know that it's still touch and go, but I was amazed that they were rejecting her, and after she became hydrated again that she was allowed back! I think that gives hope to some others that may have to pull joeys that maybe we don't have to separate the joey for good.

I hope it works, but like you said, it's still very touch and go. I'll pray for you all.

Good luck with this little one. I hope she stays with mommy/daddy/auntie! to you. I'm sure you will need it.

Try to give mom extra fluids... the joey may have become dehydrated because mom didn't have enough milk...

But... I hope the joey stays with the parents and does well!

I give Serendipity milk replacer all the time now, since she had no milk for her first joey. I think it helped her with the second baby and now she has twins IP.

One concern tho...Serendipity nursed her first joey. But as soon as she let go of the nipple, I checked her tummy and there was no milk in it. I had to hand feed her until she was weaned. I did put her back in with mom & dad between feedings, and they did all the rest of the parenting stuff, including letting her nurse (which I thought showed what an amazing mom Serendipity is). She just never had any milk.

Sending prayers and crossing all crossables for this to end well!

Every time I've checked on the joeys (she has twins) they have had milk in their bellys'. I've been giving the cage lots of extra protein and milk replacer too just in case.

It's been a couple of days now and things are still going well!

Good luck. I hope it goes well. My fingers and toes are crossed for you.

Also, Connie (suggiemom-1980) is the first I know of that fostered a joey not yet ready to be detached, into the pouch of another female when the joeys parents were killed in an accident.

So, there is a first for everything. Never say never.

So glad to hear how well things are going! The smallest joey I ever hand raised, was 7 grams and she did just fine.

Crossing my fingers for you and your babies!