Possible mate night!!! *Updated - 5 days to go*

[Mollz]

Well we had decided to wait until next Friday to mate the lovebirds as we were worried that the babies will be too old to be sold at the Bath show if we did it earlier. But after doing a recount it seems that they will only be 7 weeks old at this point, so I don't see that there would be a problem with it, do you?

Well tonight Amelie is on heat (but she never stands until about 10pm), so it looks like tonight may be the night! We are both very excited here and I should imagine we will be having quite a late night tonight......

Will update later if all goes ahead and tell you how it goes.

[Matty Day]

if i were you i would leave it one more week as 6 weeks is the best age for the sales table(in my opinoin)

and how olds doodles now if hes 9 or 10 weeks i would wait a week

but i see no problem if you do go ahead thats just my opinoin :x

[Holly]

Good luck, Mollz, I'm sure it will all go well (I remeber the excitement and nerves of our first mating!).

I'm going to disagree with you, Matty - I think 7 weeks is a better age for the sales table, though 6 week olds seem to cope ok. I think that, by 7 weeks, they'll have benefited from running on for an extra week with their siblings (though you do need to keep an eye on those girls for signs of fighting and may need to split).

I also think that members of the public have a slightly better idea of what they are getting with a seven weeker - they are a bit bigger and generally starting to lose that very cutesy baby look. Obviously either is fine and the NHC allows them to be homed from 5 weeks of age so that's ok too. I just think rehoming when that little bit older is better - just my opinion!

Plus you get to play with them for an extra week! :D

[Mollz]

Thank you for your advice Matty and Holly.

I too agree with Holly and think that they do better to be a bit older, just didn't know whether it was frowned upon if they were older (I know a lot are 5 weeks old). We have lots of spare cages at the moment, so splitting will be no problem if they begin to fight.

We are very excited :) , but a bit nervous as well :?

[Matty Day]

but its an extra week of food and bedding expense. thougth i alway budget and have got enougth cash ive got enougth to fund whats left of my current litter for another eight weeks and ill be working again by the end of that. and cages for all in cages of fights and have 10 poundsfor food a week which i rarely go over 3 pounds on :x

[Mollz]

The costs of feeding/keeping them for another week would not affect whether we kept them on a week more! I should imagine it may cost us and extra few £s, but imagine the extra week of enjoyment. I think that if we couldn't afford to feed the babies for another week, then we wouldn't be able to think about breeding in case vets are needed and just because of the general costs involved.

[Matty Day]

thats just me im ultra worreid about money when it comes to hamsters partly as i pay for everything :x

[Louby]

Ooooooohhhhhh How EXCITING!!!!

I can't wait for an update!!!! You must both be so excited...I am, and i'm not even there! :shock:

I agree, 7 weeks is fine for the sales table, and to be honest, I can't see you needing to take any there anyway. Particularly if you end up with some Rex's :wink: .

I'm off to sterilise myself after handling the rescues so my babies can have a cuddle...will be back soon...all updates welcome!!! :D

[Spuds Mum]

Good luck Mollz and Mum and Amelie and Doodles! :D

I think that 7 weeks is a good age to go to sales to be honest Mollz, it gives any smaller ones that final chance to catch up to brothers and sisters and they are still small enough and cute enough to be 'babies' to potential buyers, while giving people a better idea of how they will look. They'll also be a little bit stronger and older which will help them settle into new homes.

Plus you get an extra week or two of loving them before they leave! Not something to be ignored in my eyes. :wink:

[Mollz]

Well, Amelie is standing so we are going ahead within the next few minutes - I can't believe that I can be SO excited and SO nervous at the same time. It's all owrth it in the end though :D

[internet_nobody]

Fingers crossed, Mollz :D

I would also say 7 weeks is a bit better for the hams with the week of run-on. 6 weeks may well be better for selling as they are still all baby-faced, but 7 weeks better for the ham :)

[Louby]

Well, Amelie is standing so we are going ahead within the next few minutes

Hurry back straight after!!! No time for a cuppa afterwards...we want news!!! :wink:

[Spacemonkey]

Theres love in the air tonight! Hehe :lol:

[souffle]

mmmmm ten to 11 now. How did it go with the big night Mollz & Mollz mum? Did she say yes or did she say no. I hope all went well and you will have some little Doodlies or Amedoodles during the school hols Mollz. Good timing :lol:

[Mollz]

Well, it's happened!! They were together for around 45/50 minutes in the minutes in the end (and were both still willing, but Doodles began to look a bit worn out, bless him!) and I think all went well. Doodles kept getting the right end, but did move a bit too far up her back on some occasions, although Amelie was very patient for the whole time. For the first 10 minutes it was constant mating with just a few wash-stops in between, and then it went to much longer pauses for washing. Doodles seemed to lift one of his legs up when mounting her, is this normal??

Well, I guess we should know whether it was successful in 4 days time when she should be on heat again. I can't believe we could have babies on the way :D
Thank goodness I have no exams tomorrow, I've had a lot of excitement/worry for one night :P

[Louby]

Oh my goodness..how exciting! Sounds like everything went well from the practical side, so I will keep everything crossed for you in the next few days.

Well done to all 4 of you!!!!

xxx

[Bunsey]

yey! how exciting! i agree with Holly that 7 weeks is much better as they've had another week with siblings. cost shouldn't come into it at all.

[Matty Day]

if you think the worrying over wrong you,ve got weeks of it yet :x

bunsey i always over budget as it is i always consider money as a third factor not the first or i would be running a rodent farm :cry: it should come into it but low on the list of prioritys :x

[Bourne Valley Hams]

Sounds like the little man did well!! :lol:

[Basia]

Aw Congratulations Molz & Molz Mum plus Amelie and Doodles. 50 Minutes! He certainly has some stamina, half an hour is my limit and I start worrying she will get fed up and turn on the boy.
Fingers crossed everything goes well and you get your first litter in 16 days time. :D

I think you are wise to keep the babies an extra week, it gives you another week to decide which ones you want to keep, I am finding it very hard to tell which ones I should keep at 5/6 weeks. :?

[Spuds Mum]

Glad to hear all went well (and yes Mollz, its perfectly normal in my experience :oops: )

Hope to hear the patter of tiny paws soon at yours :x

[Yaffle]

ooooh exciting times!

Hope all goes well, my first litter was pretty stressful but very special and very worthwhile :D

[Mollz]

Thanks for your good wishes everyone.

Took a few pics last night and thought I'd give you guys a sneak peak of the "love night":

Doing the deed
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i114/Mollz93/IMG_0657.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i114/Mollz93/IMG_0658.jpg
Doodles pausing for a wash
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i114/Mollz93/IMG_0660.jpg
Having a mutual wash
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i114/Mollz93/IMG_0659.jpg

[Spuds Mum]

Fingers crossed for lots of Amoodles or Domelies soon then Mollz! Its pretty nervewracking isn't it? :D

[Holly]

Sounds (and looks!) like it all went well then, keep us posted!

The whole this is quite nerve-wracking, I think it's the fact that the female can turn on the male in an instant, meaning you do have to be on your guard. It doesn't get any less stressful when they are born, but it's worth all the worry when you look at your beautiful fur-balls running round :wink:

I'm on my fourth litter and am finally relaxing a bit about the whole thing!

[Bunsey]

:shock: hamster porn :shock:

where she's washing herself, obviously she's come out of frozen-ness then, so doesn't she just attack the male? i think i'd yank her out of there as soon as she stopped standing out of fear! i'll be a nervous wreck when i do this! :shock:

[Gust0o]

Ohmylord!

Hamster filth! :shock:

I thought, from reading around, that they're normally kept together for a few hours - to allow repeats - usually without any dramatics.

Hamsterlopaedia does note it should be supervised - they do seem to enjoy their fighting.

[Yaffle]

I think fighting would definately break out after a couple of hours, Yeti was at the end of her tether after 30 minutes, there's no way Mr Yaffle wouldv'e been safe if I'd left it any longer! :lol:

[Basia]

My matings have never lasted longer than 30 minutes either because the females start to get very fidgity and I start panicing. I take the male out as soon as she stops 'freezing'.

[Holly]

Same here, 30-35 mins then the boys start slowing down and the girls start taking an interest in them - which is when you need to think about getting them out of there ASAP!

[Matty Day]

louis and athena went on for hours without mating and then 5 minute it was over :shock:

[Mollz]

That picture of them washing was just before they were separated :wink: I wouldn't want to leave them like that for long!

Hamsterlopedia recommended leaving younger males in for longer (for as long as they were interested for), which is why they were together for 45 to 50 minutes.

Do you handle your pregnant females at all because Hamsterlopedia recommends not handling too much/gentle handling for the first 7 days and I know alot of you don't handle for the last couple of days either. So I wondered what you thought was best. Ams is a very people orientated hamster and might go mad not being handled for 16 days before pregnancy and then for the first 2 weeks of pregnancy!!

[Basia]

I don't handle mine much once I have been mated Molz. I have also found that they usually go very quiet for the first few days and sleep a lot more than usual. When they do come out I let them walk into their ball rather than picking them up.

[Matty Day]

I do handle them right up to the penultimate day of pregnancy. But only over a low surface and for ten minutes and that’s it

[Holly]

I also keep actual handling to a minmum once they've been mated - like Basia I let them come out into a ball and have a run if they want to, occasionally I'll let them hop out onto my lap just to give them a once over and make sure they are ok. It's just, as I'm sure you already know, very important that they aren't dropped or inadvertantly squeezed and they are sometimes a bit more jumpy than normal I find, though not always.

[Mollz]

That's fine then, I won't handle her (or only very infrequently/gently). I totally understand the reasons to not handle, just wanted to make sure I wasn't depriving her of her favourite thing for no reason!!

I'm keeping everything crossed that the mating was successful :D

[Basia]

I'm keeping everything crossed that the mating was successful :D[/quote]

It certainly sounds as though it was! I am sure you will soon have babies chirping in the nest. :wink:

[Mollz]

We don't know whether to go for "The Amedoodles" or "The Doodlies" lol :x

[Yaffle]

I like the Doodlies :wink:

[Basia]

I like the Doodlies too. :P

[agatecrystal]

I think the Doodlies is good. :)

[Spacemonkey]

Someone once said to me (I forget who) that the longer you let them mate the larger the litter is, is there any truth in this theory? Has anyone found this to be the case? I've not really seen a connection between mating times and litter size to be honest.

[Bunsey]

how do you get a female out of a gabber wthout handling? do you just take the roof off? i'm very interested in all comments like this. it's really helpful learning what's normal (like when i though Oscar was ill because he slept! :oops: )

[Matty Day]

Someone once said to me (I forget who) that the longer you let them mate the larger the litter is, is there any truth in this theory? Has anyone found this to be the case? I've not really seen a connection between mating times and litter size to be honest.
i have louis and athena mated at 11.30 and i ended up with 8 pups a huge litter by chinese standards :x

[agatecrystal]

Someone once said to me (I forget who) that the longer you let them mate the larger the litter is, is there any truth in this theory? Has anyone found this to be the case? I've not really seen a connection between mating times and litter size to be honest.
i have louis and athena mated at 11.30 and i ended up with 8 pups a huge litter by chinese standards :x

I think you misread that matty, they mean the amount of time you leave them together for?

[Basia]

how do you get a female out of a gabber wthout handling? do you just take the roof off? i'm very interested in all comments like this. it's really helpful learning what's normal (like when i though Oscar was ill because he slept! :oops: )

That's what I do. I thought Beckham was ill because he slept for 2 weeks too. :oops:

[Holly]

how do you get a female out of a gabber wthout handling? do you just take the roof off?

I lift up one side of the roof - the hamster knows it's out-time and they rush over and hop into their ball. Of course I can lift all mine out but, if they are pregnant, I can get them to hop into the ball that way.

[Mollz]

how do you get a female out of a gabber wthout handling? do you just take the roof off?

I lift up one side of the roof - the hamster knows it's out-time and they rush over and hop into their ball. Of course I can lift all mine out but, if they are pregnant, I can get them to hop into the ball that way.

I do exactly that too!

Looks like it is going to be the Doodlies :D

If she's not pregnant then she will be on heat tomorrow, so we should know for sure by then :) and if she is pregnant, then at that point she will be a quarter of the way through her pregnancy!!

[Matty Day]

how do you get a female out of a gabber wthout handling? do you just take the roof off?

I lift up one side of the roof - the hamster knows it's out-time and they rush over and hop into their ball. Of course I can lift all mine out but, if they are pregnant, I can get them to hop into the ball that way.

I do exactly that too!

Looks like it is going to be the Doodlies :D

If she's not pregnant then she will be on heat tomorrow, so we should know for sure by then :) and if she is pregnant, then at that point she will be a quarter of the way through her pregnancy!!
sorry to chuck a spanner in the works but
you cant tell for sure some times they wont stand for some reson or they may even stand when pregnant :shock: . i wouldnt place my bets until there realy fat but even then it could be a phantom pregnancy

[Bourne Valley Hams]

how do you get a female out of a gabber wthout handling? do you just take the roof off? i'm very interested in all comments like this. it's really helpful learning what's normal (like when i though Oscar was ill because he slept! :oops: )

That's what I do. I thought Beckham was ill because he slept for 2 weeks too. :oops:

I just breed incredibly lazy hamsters!! :wink:

[Mollz]

sorry to chuck a spanner in the works but
you cant tell for sure some times they wont stand for some reson or they may even stand when pregnant :shock: . i wouldnt place my bets until there realy fat but even then it could be a phantom pregnancy

Well Amelie stands as regular as clockwork, so it is very unusual for her to not stand (the only reason would be a phantom pregnancy - which I have already taken into consideration especailly after seiing Holly's worries over Smartie) and I'm pretty sure that they can't stand when pregnant!!
To be honest I think telling that they're pregnant by them being fat is far less reliable, especially with extra supplements as she s likely to put on a bit of weight even if she's not pregnant at that point.

I do understand that nothing will be definite though. :roll:

[Basia]

She most likely is pregnant, Molz, phantom pregnancies are not that common. If she isn't you have only lost a couple of weeks and you can mate her again, although it would be disappointing she is young so you have plenty of time.
I don't bother to test mate, I just wait an see. Usually by the middle of the second week it is quite obvious. :wink:

[Yaffle]

It's just a waiting game really, I wasn't totally convinced Yeti was expecting right up until the last minute, I really hope that she is expecting for you though :wink:

[Mollz]

Well, miss Amelie seems to have had me fooled!! She has been getting up about 4 hours later than normal, so I thought she was being a bit lazy and avoiding the destructiveness. But I go into her cage to feed her today, and what do I find:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i114/Mollz93/IMG_0664.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i114/Mollz93/IMG_0667.jpg

The little moo :x

[Spuds Mum]

HOW DARE SHE????? does she not know how hard Holly works to get those wodent wheels??? :wink:

hmmm - methinks that amelie may be having wodent wheel cravings :x :x

[Yaffle]

OMG the cheeky little girl! :lol:

Maybe it is her take on the pregnancy cage trashing? :wink:

[Mollz]

hmmm - methinks that amelie may be having wodent wheel cravings :x :x

Well, I wish she'd crave something that was easier to get hold of. :x Looks like I'm going to need a few wheels in the next order!

[Spuds Mum]

hmmm - methinks that amelie may be having wodent wheel cravings :x :x

Well, I wish she'd crave something that was easier to get hold of. :x Looks like I'm going to need a few wheels in the next order!

I know - and it was a lavender and white one too - my favourites! What a little monster :roll:

[Louby]

I know its a pain, but it looks like a good sign to me! :D

When are they due if she is pregnant?

[Matty Day]

well im going to switch the wodent for somthing more replaceble with my syrian lot then :x

[Mollz]

I know its a pain, but it looks like a good sign to me! :D

When are they due if she is pregnant?

Yes it did make me happy as well as slightly annoyed when I saw it!

If she is pregnant (which I think she might be with this strange behaviour - and the fact that she has gained 15g in 4 days) they should be born on/around the 31st :D Only 12 more days :)

[Louby]

How exciting!

Thank goodness hammies aren't like us...I couldn't bear to wait 40 weeks for news! :shock:

[Mollz Mum]

How exciting!

Thank goodness hammies aren't like us...I couldn't bear to wait 40 weeks for news! :shock:

Neither could we! 12 more days seems like a very long time (16 in total).
It's one rollercoaster after another - excitement and nervous at the thought of mating her, the adrenalin during mating, hoping she doesn't turn on him, 4 days of wondering - is she or isn't she?, now thinking she is - OMG! :D :shock:

[Matty Day]

its a good sign. :x

but it cant be seen as definate im afraid :?

some times they just do somthing totally mad for no reson my old male syrian destroyed a plastic house for no reason he had tones of chew toys etc.

just dont count your chickens comes to mind :wink:
looking good thougth :x

[Basia]

Oooo, naughty Amelie. I think she is trying to tell you her hormones are rampant!
Its a very good sign Molz. :wink:

[souffle]

Oh my what a naughty girl. It looks like she may well be craving lilac plastic so that probably means some nice babies are in store Mollz. Can't wait :lol: I'd give her a jumbo rolly on a stand for now! At least you can get those easily enough. :wink: Maybe you'll get some lilac babies :D Holly could maybe order just the runner and one half wheel next time :lol:

[Mollz Mum]

Oh my what a naughty girl. It looks like she may well be craving lilac plastic so that probably means some nice babies are in store Mollz. Can't wait :lol: I'd give her a jumbo rolly on a stand for now! At least you can get those easily enough. :wink: Maybe you'll get some lilac babies :D Holly could maybe order just the runner and one half wheel next time :lol:

Ooh, lilac rexes, what a lovely thought..... :lol:
Why with cardboard tubes, houses, log rolls and everything else in her cage did she pick the wodent to destroy!! :? And she made such a good job of it too!

Matty, of course we know that nothing is guaranteed - we're just taking each day as it comes and following the signs. And considering she's not a 'chewer', it's totally out of character for her.

[Holly]

Oops, Mollz! Definitely pregnant, which is obviously good!

You are in luck, I *think* I've got a spare lavender runner, I'll have a look tomorrow! Perhaps don't put it in until after the pups have been and gone!

[Mollz]

Oops, Mollz! Definitely pregnant, which is obviously good!

Thanks Holly, we're taking it as a good sign :D

You are in luck, I *think* I've got a spare lavender runner, I'll have a look tomorrow! Perhaps don't put it in until after the pups have been and gone!

Oooh, it would be great if you did have another runner (there is only a tiny bit of the side chewed so it may or may not work, but is definitely worth a try!) - we would of course pay for it. Yes, the naughty girl won't be getting a wodent wheel back until after the babes have gone now :wink: [/quote]

[Mollz]

Well, all seems to be going well here. Amelie has put on weight under her front arms (is this what you all call water wings?) and now weighs 239g (this is a gain of 18g in 6 days - which was the day she was mated).

We have been giving her extra protein and she seems to be enjoying it (and it's gone within the hour most of the time).
So I'm definitely keeping my fingers crossed :)

[Louby]

Thats fab! (Do you mean 239g?)

I am so pleased for you both :D

[agatecrystal]

Thats fab! (Do you mean 239g?)

I am so pleased for you both :D

239g? that's wayyyyyy heavy average is 140-200g in pregnancy, hams put on a fair bit of weight but not over 100g lol.

[Louby]

Mollz weighed her a few days back and she was 220ish then I think?

[Mollz]

Mollz weighed her a few days back and she was 220ish then I think?

Ooops, yes I did mean that - I'll just go and change it!

Oh and agatecrystal: she was 221g the day we mated her, and that isn't unusual for a good show girl!

[Spuds Mum]

that sounds good news Mollz. I think you may be hearing the chirp of tiny babies soon!
I weighed Butterbean tonight, and even at the end of feeding a litter, and having lost quite a bit of weight, she is 212g Louby. Some of these show hams are really quite a handful!
My Vala was 259g (not pregnant) a couple of months back, but has lost some weight now and is a very svelt (for her) 231g now :oops: :D

[Louby]

Cupcake will be a big girl too...she is piling on the oz's each week! She must be like me! :wink:

[Basia]

My girls are all way over 200g too. Posh was 220g last time I weighed her and Pudding has been 230g for ages. Even Truffle has gone up to 210g since she had the babies and her 8 week old daughter is already 185g.

It all sounds very positive Molz an 18g gain is a very good sign. :wink:

[Mollz]

Well, it's the 11th day of Amelie's pregnancy (yay - only 5 days to go :D ) and we are pretty definite that she is pregnant.
I decided to let her climb out of her cage and on to my bed for a run today and tooks some piccies to show you why we think she's pregnant:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i114/Mollz93/IMG_0718.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i114/Mollz93/IMG_0719.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i114/Mollz93/IMG_0721.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i114/Mollz93/IMG_0722.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i114/Mollz93/IMG_0723.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i114/Mollz93/IMG_0724.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i114/Mollz93/IMG_0725.jpg

[Louby]

I don't know anything about pregnant hammies yet, but she certainly looks full of babies to me! :D :D :D

I was going to post and ask for an update! :wink:

The countdown is on its final phase now then! :wink:

[Matty Day]

your in for lots me thinks

the earlier they get big the more you get athena was the same :x

[Mollz]

Well, her bump has been visible since about day 7 or 8!

She has also been very quiet/sleepy compared to normal (after she had destroyed her wheel, she no longer chewed - oh and thank you Holly for the runner and thanks Louby and HW for getting it to me :) )

[Mollz]

Oh, and I know people have said not to handle but do you think it's much of a problem if she climbs out onto my hand and then just sits on my lap for a stroke? I have been letting her do this every day for about 3 minutes a day maximum and she just sits enjoying the stroke before I let her climb back into her cage. I don't see why it should be a problem...... and she just misses attention so much (although this will stop once she has the babies, she'll just have to go without for a few weeks untils the babes are old enough!).

[Matty Day]

Well, her bump has been visible since about day 7 or 8!

She has also been very quiet/sleepy compared to normal (after she had destroyed her wheel, she no longer chewed - oh and thank you Holly for the runner and thanks Louby and HW for getting it to me :) )

thats worse your in for twenty then :shock:

[Mollz]

Well, her bump has been visible since about day 7 or 8!

She has also been very quiet/sleepy compared to normal (after she had destroyed her wheel, she no longer chewed - oh and thank you Holly for the runner and thanks Louby and HW for getting it to me :) )

thats worse your in for twenty then :shock:

I don't mind! We have 6 homes (although I know there is a possibility that some may fall through), we will be keeping one (or maybe two), there is a really nice petshop desperate for our baby hamsters and they can always find new homes at shows :wink:

[Bourne Valley Hams]

thats worse your in for twenty then :shock:


No - 10 little chubby ones I reckon!!

[Mollz]

[quote="Matty Day":3l42u1bo]
thats worse your in for twenty then :shock:


No - 10 little chubby ones I reckon!![/quote:3l42u1bo]

That sounds good! Nice, chubby, healthy babies will make me happy - no matter how few or many there may be :D

[Matty Day]

i always like small litters easeir to rehome and tame i wish theyd only have about five its easier then :x

[Basia]

Wow Molz, she has certainly filled out!
I can't see any harm in her climbing onto your hand and having a cuddle, its just squeezing you need to avoid.
You know her best, follow your gut instincts. :wink:

[Rellen]

Wow! What a gorgeousss hamster! :)
She looks pregnant!
Good luck! :)

(mine gives birth in 7 days!)

[Spuds Mum]

Wow! What a gorgeousss hamster! :)
She looks pregnant!
Good luck! :)

(mine gives birth in 7 days!)

You are having another litter Rellen? I have to admit to being a little surprised as I thought you'd decided to wait a while before having more? :?

[sarahh]

Rellen is your hammy pregnant again? Maybe it would have been better to wait a while as spuds mum has said. You have alot of babies at the moment and then more. Have you got homes for them all?

Hi Mollz yup I'd say she's definatly pregnant congrats on the forthcoming babies. I know they say not to handle pregnant mums but mine used to come out as normal I mean you can't exactly tell a hammy they can't come out as they are pregnant can we. Mine used to roll round in their ball for 10 mins and then have a cuddle and they are went on to have healthy babies.

[Mollz]

Hi Mollz yup I'd say she's definatly pregnant congrats on the forthcoming babies. I know they say not to handle pregnant mums but mine used to come out as normal I mean you can't exactly tell a hammy they can't come out as they are pregnant can we. Mine used to roll round in their ball for 10 mins and then have a cuddle and they are went on to have healthy babies.

I know, it seems mean not getting them out when there is no reason not too (as long as I am gentle). She is even more human orientated since being pregnant and really just wants to sit in my lap for a cuddle! She did enjoy her short run around my bed yesterday as well (her cage is right next to my bed so she can just climb out onto my pillow).

It is all very exciting here and I find myself wishing the weeks away until I can see the babies (presuming all gos well through the birth/first few weeks).

[sarahh]

Hi Mollz I know what you mean. They are going to find it strange if they are suddenly stopped from coming out. Aww bless her my Mya is human orientated well mummy (me) orientated lol. Aww can't wait to see pics of the new arrivals. You are doing the right thing letting her run on your bed and cuddles she sounds so lovely.

[souffle]

Definitely some little Doodlebugs in there Mollz :lol: You will be thrilled I know. She will be fine with some gently handling and when the babies arrive you will find she stays with them constantly for the first week anyway so you won't feel bad about not letting her out. Good luck when the big day comes. :lol:

[Yaffle]

Wow she is definately 'with children' :lol:

Good luck!

[agatecrystal]

Deffo pregers! congratulations!

[Bunsey]

yeah, defo pregnant! she's gorgeous btw. i love the colour! *reminds Ruby to get darker* :P

[Rellen]

Yes I'm having more hamsters :)
And yes, I have found homes for them all. :D

[Mollz]

Thanks everyone, I'm glad it seems obvious to everyone else that she is pregnant too and that you think her still having a cuddle is ok. Only 4 days to go!!! :D

yeah, defo pregnant! she's gorgeous btw. i love the colour! *reminds Ruby to get darker* :P

Thanks, we think she is gorgeous too and pregnancy definitely suits her - I'm sure her colour has darkened a bit.
She is a REC, so a bit different from Ruby but Ruby is just as pretty and I'm sure will grow up beautifully :)

[Mollz]

Well, we weighed Ams last night and she has put on 45g since the mating and is looking even more lumpy and quite a bit bigger than in the photos - I wonder how many she's having?!?! :shock: :)

We're doing her final cleanout tonight, it should be ok doing it now shouldn't it rather than messing her about tomorrow? Or do you think we should wait until then? (only 2 days to go :D )

[agatecrystal]

It is best to do it 2 days before Mollz