Hamsters are cuddly and affectionate which makes them wonderful pets. However, breeding them is not always an easy task; buying any two specimens and having them mate could be dangerous, both for the mother and for the puppies. While it is a challenging task, raising these little rodents is fun and a rewarding way to offer a few pets to friends and family. Once you have prepared the nest for the unborn, here's what you need to do.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Buying Hamsters for Breeding
Step 1. Determine what kind of hamsters you want
Syrian (or golden) ones are perfect as pets, but they are also quite difficult to breed, in part because they tend to be solitary. If the male or female is approached at the wrong time, they may even be fighting each other. Dwarf hamsters are more reluctant to humans, but they are more sociable with each other and this trait makes them more suitable for breeding and breeding.
There are also Russian, White Siberian hamsters and other varieties. If you buy them for the purpose of breeding, find out about the different breeds and try to figure out which ones are more sociable, so that you get an idea of the breeding process
Step 2. Get a boy and a girl
It is best to start your own breeding with another breeder, so that you can choose from a wide range of colors and breeds. In this way, you also have the opportunity to learn about the genealogy of the little animals.
You may find sibling or mixed-breed hamsters in pet stores and they are not suitable for starting a farm. Furthermore, salespeople are often unable to recognize the male from the female
Step 3. Check that the small rodents are in good health
Check that they have clear and bright eyes, a soft and shiny coat; Also make sure they appear active and interested in their surroundings.
Step 4. Purchase two large cages
A plastic container or aquarium offers a huge advantage when starting a farm. Place a hamster in each cage and fill the bottom with wood chips, absorbent pellets, or litter. Avoid sawdust as it could get into small rodents' eyes or cause breathing problems.
- Do not take metal cages. Hamsters, especially newborns, could get crushed in their shirts.
- Get a "hamster house" to put your new friends in - plastic or, better yet, wooden. Fill it with shavings similar to the ones you put in the cage.
- The wheel is an extra detail that allows hamsters to feel more comfortable. If you chose them as a dwarf breed, any size wheel is fine, as long as the rodents are able to use it; but if you have chosen the Syrian variety, the wheel should be larger than 20 cm in diameter and preferably be made of plastic, not wire mesh, because the spaces between the links could seriously injure the small animals. Also, make sure that when the hamster uses it he doesn't arch his back, not even a little, as he could suffer from serious health problems.
- Also provide him with a water container, food bowl, hamster food, treats, and whatever else you can think of that is suitable for him.
Step 5. When you bring your little rodents home, leave them alone for at least one day
Don't handle them or take them out of their cage, but put everything they need inside so they gradually get used to their new habitat. It is recommended to start picking them up the day after taking them home. If your new friends haven't been handled a lot, be prepared to tame them.
Part 2 of 3: Breeding the Hamsters
Step 1. Wait until the female has estrus
When it is 28 days old, it reaches sexual maturity. The female has estrus (goes into heat) about every four days. In this phase it behaves in a similar way to a cat in the same conditions, crouching on the ground and lifting the tail. In addition, it should emit a more intense odor than usual due to the secretion of pheromones.
- If the female is not in heat, a mating attempt is very dangerous and counterproductive. Females often attack and kill the male.
- When you decide to breed these rodents, place the two cages close together for a few days, so that the specimens can see each other and get used to each other's presence. Let the pheromones do their job.
Step 2. Place the female in the male's cage
Hamsters are nocturnal animals, so it is best to start the procedure in the late afternoon. Have them meet in neutral territory or in the male's cage. If you have a spare cage, this is a good solution - the female could attack the male if you move him to her cage. If they start to fight, remove a specimen from the cage and try again another day.
Keep making these attempts until they mate. If you are unable to take advantage of the heat period, wait a few days until the female is receptive again
Step 3. Isolate the female once mating is complete
Although some "dads" take care of the litter, others attack and eat the babies. It is best to be cautious and, even if you have a paternal and caring male, keep him away from the female for the entire time of gestation and delivery - about two weeks.
If you are mating two dwarf hamsters, the time it takes for them to reach sexual maturity is slightly longer, just like pregnancy. A rodent of this breed takes four to five weeks to become sexually mature, and gestation takes about three weeks. However, no hamster less than 5 months (if female) or 6 months (if male) should be mated, as young age increases the risk of pregnancy problems
Part 3 of 3: The Birth of the Hamsters
Step 1. Wait
At this stage you need to be patient and watch your progress. If the female is pregnant, she will begin to show symptoms within a few days and by the day of delivery she will have developed large abdominal bumps on her hips. You don't have to do anything special, just avoid rough manipulation and give her a lot of peace of mind.
- You will know that the birth is imminent when the expectant mother is particularly nervous. He will start wandering around the cage, gathering food and material to build the nest. As labor begins, her hips begin to rise and tiny pink bodies come to light. Babies are delivered one at a time, while the mother moves around in the cage. Afterward, he will take them one by one into his mouth and carefully move them to the nest.
- Do not intervene during childbirth and do not try to help the mother in any way. Childbirth, especially the first one, is often complicated, but right now there is nothing you can do. Don't interfere with the process and let nature take its course.
Step 2. Observe the newborns
In the following days, you need to be especially careful not to disturb the new mother. If you leave puppies here and there in the cage, you must not touch them. If you have to do this for some reason, rub a spoon into the substrate and then use it to pick up the baby and put it back in the nest.
Step 3. Let the mother feed the puppies for three weeks without disturbing her, not even to clean the cage
Leave it where it is and especially do not touch babies. Limit yourself to discreetly providing water and food supplies. This is especially important for early pregnancies, as it is known that stressed new mothers often kill and even eat their own puppies.
Don't assume she is eating them if the female takes them in her mouth. This happens if she is taken by surprise and fears that the litter is in danger
Step 4. Wait three and a half weeks
At this point, you can safely separate the puppies and divide them by gender. These rodents reach sexual maturity around the fifth or sixth week of life and the last thing you want is inbred mating, which would only lead to genetic diseases. Keep the females in one cage and the males in another for two to three weeks before giving them up for adoption.
Advice
- Do not bother the mother during the first few days, as she may bite or eat her own puppies.
- You can tell that the female is in heat by stroking her back along the entire length of her body. If she lies down or hunches her back slightly down, then she is ready to mate.
- Loud music makes hamsters nervous.
- Make sure your pets are ready before breeding them.
- Don't be alarmed if the hamster mom kills or eats several puppies in the first few weeks. It is normal behavior to eliminate the weakest who would not survive in nature.
- Do not take pictures using the flash while the mother is giving birth, because she needs peace of mind; Additionally, bright lights damage puppies' eyes.
- Consider the reasons you want to breed hamsters. This is not a profitable operation, as caring for these rodents is quite expensive.
- Set a fee of 15-35 euros to get one of your hamsters up for adoption. In this way, you will keep away those who do not intend to take care of them properly. Do not ask for a lower amount than the one charged in pet shops.
- You shouldn't try to breed hamsters or any animals if you are inexperienced, under 16 or know nothing about breeding. You could create problems for you and the small rodents. Also, be aware of the consequences of your actions, you may find yourself forced to take care of 20 rodents!
- Do not open the cage during childbirth; the mother may feel threatened.
- Remember to prepare more substrate and nest material before labor begins to allow the mother to set up the nest for the pups.
- Do not disturb your furry friends while they are eating, especially mothers and females in general, as well as male puppies.
- Remove the dominant male from the nest while the female gives birth, as it could kill the babies.
Warnings
- Remember that some information found online is not true. Contact an experienced and respected breeder for confirmation.
- Ask for advice and be guided by a capable breeder. If you make even one mistake, you could be responsible for the death of an entire litter.
- Do not mate Siberian hamsters with dwarf ones, otherwise you will get the same mestizos that are sold in pet stores under the name "Russian hamsters". Furthermore, you would cause the mother to die in excruciating suffering due to the different sizes, as well as health problems of the newborns.
- Make sure you can afford to keep 20 or more hamsters in case you can't find a family for them.
- Do not try to mate a female who is not in heat.
- Do not sell or give hamsters to pet stores. The chances are high that they will spend the rest of their life in a cage.
- Do not put stress on the mother, or you increase the chances that she can kill some puppies.
