If you have decided to mate your hamsters and raise puppies, or if you thought you had a pair of same-sex hamsters and instead find yourself with a litter on the way, this article tells you how to properly raise hamsters. The good news is, if the hamster mom is willing, you won't have much to do. However, if the mother shows no interest in the babies, or if unfortunately she dies, it will be helpful to know what to do with the new babies.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Part 1: Prepare the Cage Before Birth
Step 1. Check that the cage is clean
You have to clean it before the puppies are born.
Remove all toys from the cage. The mother could hurt the puppies or accidentally kill them if she has too many objects on her feet
Step 2. Make sure the hamster has built a nest
When the mother is almost ready to give birth, she builds a nest for the babies. For this reason, it is not necessary to add houses or other accessories, nor to move the puppies to a safe place. (Read all tips before doing anything!)
Method 2 of 3: Part 2: Leave Mom and Baby Quiet
Step 1. During the first week, keep changing the hamster's water and food regularly, but don't disturb the mum and puppies
Keep the room in which you keep the cage quiet. (No pets, no curious children).
- Do not touch the young for at least 2 weeks after birth.
- Don't clean the cage in these two weeks.
Step 2. Lower the drinking bottle so the puppies can get to drink and place some food in a low-sided container
The young are born blind and hairless and remain so for the first two weeks of life, during which they almost always remain in the nest, to stay warm and safe. After the first week, however, they start crawling into the cage, even though their eyes are still closed. Eventually, they become large enough to eat and drink on their own.
- If the puppies aren't drinking, give them celery.
- Make sure there are treats in the cage that are suitable for puppies, which they can eat if they still can't eat solid food.
Step 3. Make sure the mother is well fed
You can give her fresh foods, such as mixed herb hay, carrots, and other vegetables, but you can also continue to give her hamster feed.
Method 3 of 3: Part 3: Separating the Cubs from the Mother
Step 1. If you have golden (or Syrian) hamsters, you will need to separate the cubs from their mother after about 3-4 months, otherwise they will start fighting
If you have dwarf hamsters it is easier for you to leave them together but, if you do not want to have more litters in a short time, you will have to separate the males and females. Even if you have golden hamsters, you can try separating males and females and keeping same-sex individuals together. Keep a journal and write down how they behave.
Advice
- If there is no mother to take care of the puppies, you can try raising the hamsters yourself by giving them powdered milk and using a dropper to nurse them. This is very challenging, as you will need to feed them often, every few hours, during the first few weeks or more. Also, you will need to keep them warm until their hair grows; to do this, a thermal pillow or similar device located under the nest could be useful.
- The hamster mom's diet needs to be high in protein to help her get strong before giving birth.
- If you have hamsters without mothers, you can try to find a foster mother (who has puppies of the same age) so that she can take care of them. It's difficult and doesn't always work. Start by cleaning the puppies so that they lose the smell of the old nest and scrub them with some litter from the new cage, so that they get the smell. Lure the female out of the nest with food and keep her busy. Center the cubs in the new mom's nest. The fewer puppies added, the higher the chances of success.
- Put toilet paper here and there in the cage so the female can build a soft and comfortable nest. This is especially recommended for dwarf hamsters.
