The gestation period for hamsters varies widely by breed. Syrian hamsters typically gestate for 16 days, while many dwarf breeds gestate for 18-21 days. [3] X Research source Roborovski hamsters may gestate for up to 30 days. [4] X Research source Females capable of reproduction will want to mate every four days. [5] X Research source A couple days before your hamster is going to give birth, her stomach will swell to a very large size. However, this may also be an indication of a more serious condition. Swollen abdomens may indicate the presence of a tumor, impending heart failure, liver cysts, or in rare cases Cushing’s Disease. [6] X Research source If your hamster’s belly is swollen, it’s best to have her examined by a veterinarian to determine whether it’s pregnancy weight or something more serious.
Offer your pregnant hamster nutritious treats like carrots, nuts, hard boiled eggs, cheese and greens. You should also put extra food in her cage, as she will begin stockpiling the food for her babies (and will be eating more than normal herself). However, take care with foods that will go bad, since if she stocks piles them the food may go mouldy in her store. It is best to give plenty of dry food, and offer perishable items as treats, in order to increase the chances of her eating it all, rather than storing it.
Some hamster enthusiasts claim that Dwarf hamster fathers are actually very helpful in raising the litter. Consult with a vet or pet store hamster specialist if you are considering leaving your hamster dad in the cage.
Clean facial tissue or toilet paper works best for nest building. It is soft to the touch and very absorbent, and your hamster will be able to tear and arrange it easily. Avoid any long or heavy materials that the baby hamsters may become tangled or smothered in.
Never breed hamsters unless you want baby hamsters and ready to take care of them. Find them a home or provide for them in your own home.
If you do need to move a baby for some reason, use a spoon. This will ensure that you do not get your scent on the baby. You will most likely not have to do this–even if you see that a baby has strayed from the nest, mama hamster will soon go to retrieve it.
If you notice that there is a really wet spot in the cage, you can spot clean it but make absolutely sure that your spot cleaning won’t disturb the nest. Keep the room temperature around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, or 21. 1 degrees Celsius. [11] X Trustworthy Source The Humane Society of the United States National organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfare Go to source
Be sure that you are feeding the mother and baby hamsters a diet high in protein and fat content. [12] X Research source Avoid using a water bowl, as young hamsters may drown if they fall into the bowl. Use a shallow dish instead. You will want to make sure that the sipper bottle is low enough that the young hamsters can reach the lip of it and get a drink, which will typically happen after the first 10-20 days.
When hamsters are born, they emerge hairless and blind. Do not be alarmed by this, as this is how all hamsters look at birth. [13] X Research source Over the course of the first week, hamster babies will gain weight, begin growing fur, and their ear canals will develop. They will also begin to crawl and forage by the middle of the second week. [14] X Research source Use Lactol, an animal milk replacement, to nurse the hamster pups with a dropper. Lactol is available in most pet stores. If you cannot find Lactol, try using powdered baby formula. [15] X Research source Squeeze out a small drop and touch it to a baby hamster’s mouth. Do not squeeze the dropper; rather, let the infant hamster suckle and lick the milk out. Remember that infant hamsters cannot regulate their own body temperature. Keep the room at 70 degrees Fahrenheit, or 21. 1 degrees Celsius, or use a heating pad on a low setting if necessary. [16] X Trustworthy Source The Humane Society of the United States National organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfare Go to source
Gently wrap the baby hamsters in a clean terry cloth towel and rub the towel gently to stimulate circulation (and thus warmth. ) Find a surrogate mother who has babies that are a couple days older or younger than your babies. Place nesting material taken from the surrogate mom’s nest and wrap it around your babies. The goal is to get the smelling exactly like the surrogate mom’s babies. Distract the new mother with a treat and then place the babies in the nest with the other hamsters. Keep the mom away for as long as possible to give the babies a chance to wriggle into the nest and get covered in the smell. [18] X Research source Keep a close eye on the surrogate mother. If she senses that there is something wrong or different about the babies, she may kill them. It may be difficult to find a lactating female hamster in your time of need. Be prepared for the possibility that you may have to raise the young hamsters by hand. you can feed the baby hamsters with lactose, which helps the baby grow.
Around 40 days after birth, the litter of hamsters will be capable of mating and reproducing. It is important to separate them before this happens. [19] X Research source Syrian hamsters are solitary animals and should each be put in their own separate cages after around six to seven weeks. [20] X Research source This breed of hamster tends to be very territorial and will become aggressive if it feels that its space is being threatened. Dwarf hamsters can live in same-sex pairings and colonies fairly peacefully. Dwarf hamsters will often play together, beginning around the time their eyes open. This is normal, but after approximately 12 weeks you might begin to notice some actual fights occurring. If you see this, you should split the pair into separate cages. If it is occurring in a colony, you should put the hamster that is being bullied into his or her own separate cage. [21] X Research source Beware that if you don’t separate them, they may start to breed with each other, leaving you overrun with lots of inbred pups within a few weeks.
