4 yo is really a bit old for a female to have a first litter...at least without increased risks of complications. At that age, her skeletal structure will be "too set" to accomodate easily for the litter as it grows.
For future reference, skipping 3 days in between ties is too long. I personally prefer 3 ties, one per day, within a 4 day period. The key is knowing when that appropriate time for her to be bred is. When in question, have progesterone testing done. If you can assure you are breeding her on her most fertile days, only a few ties should be needed. Also, the goal should be to produce a healthy litter, which is not necessarily related to the number of pups in the litter, if you catch my drift. |