Winter White Breeding Stock

[winterwhite]

Hello in the future when we have gained more experiance we would like to take our hobby to a higher level and breed winter whites.
We do not want to use our current pet shop bought stock for all of the associated reasons e.g we don't know the history of the hamsters, if they are homozygote (purebreed stock) or if they have come from commercial breeding farms with the chance that they may be Russian/Campbell's hybrids.We cherish these little pets but won't risk breeding with them.
Our ultimate aim is to breed quality purebreed winter white stock of good temperament .
I need help in finding the best way to commence this breeding project.To do this i will need to purchase my breeding stock, so if you know of any reputable private breeder / hobbyist/ show breeder that specializes in winter whites in the midlands area ,or member on this site that i may contact with a view in the future to buy some quality foundation stock of about six weeks old then please let me know.

[internet_nobody]

Duncton Hams and I (Nobody's Hams) are both based in the Midlands. He is in Birmingham, I am in Coventry, Tammy is too but she breeds roborovskis and Syrians. Apologies if i've forgotten anyone North Midlandsy!

The next Midlands show that's really in the Midlands is Kingswinford on the 29th of November, where lots of people will have babies for sale so you should find it easy to pick up unrelated stock :)

[winterwhite]

Hello internet_nobody thanks for the reply and the invaluable information you have supplied.
We will definitely be attending the Kingswinford show you mention with a view to purchase our unrelated foundation stock. Is this show run by the Midland Hamster Club by any chance ?.Only we have very recently joined this club and are awaiting our family membership, information pack and show journal e.t.c .
Do you have a web site for Nobody's Ham's ? and do you specialize in winter whites or do you keep / breed other types of hamsters as well?
Sorry for all the questions but we are a bit like sponges soaking up all the hamster related information we can find to further enlighten our hobby.
You mentioned Tammy ,i have had the pleasure to contact her via email and it was Tammy who put me onto this site ,she is a wonderfull ambassador for this site and the hobby in general .

[internet_nobody]

I've not got a site yet - or at least not an up-to-date one, i'm in the process of putting a decent site together but its hard finding the time! It is a Midland show yes, there's one in Shurdington in October, but that's really quite far south.

I have WWs and Robos, I recently lost my last campbells, so will be getting more of those soon too. I've only just started breeding (unfortunately my first breeding pair I got 18 months ago never produced, and I had a lot of rescue robos so couldn't really get another breeding pair without being over-run!), and have had two WW litters so far.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3887 (http://www.hamstercentral.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3887)

and viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3639 (http://www.hamstercentral.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3639) are some pics of the first litter.

http://www.emmap.com/hamsters/mith_bjorn.jpg
The fatso normal there is Bjorn, one of the first litter now 5 months old.

[winterwhite]

Hello again thanks for the reply and for the links to those exellent photos of your two litters of winter whites . They really are exceptional .
You must find the time to get the site up and running if only to put those superb photos onto it.
Good luck in the future with your breeding projects and who knows we may even bump into each other at one of the shows.
Thanks for all your help.
Keith & Tammi

[Bunsey]

i've got my first WW litter in the nest at the moment. The father has won 2 Best in Shows with the Northern hamster club :D

I think mine might be a little too old by Kingswinford, as in i might have already sold them.

[winterwhite]

Hi Bunsey well done with the showing and congratulations with your first litter .I hope mum and the pups are all doing fine, dad as well especially if you have kept him in to help bring up the pups.
Do you know yet how many pups are in the litter and what sex they are.
It's good to know you may have already found homes for the new additions .

[Bunsey]

just seen them all for the first time today :D

Don't know the sexes yet as they only just started to open their eyes and i haven't handled them. There are only 4. There are 3 normals and a surprise sapphire! There was only 25% chance of the sapphire! The closest sapphire is great grandparents! :D

Depending on sexes i might keep them all or only sell one of them.

[winterwhite]

Hi Bunsey you will have to keep us up to date with the new editions and mum and dad .
I have just looked at your photos on the new posts page,excellent photos and mum dad and junior look in great condition,can't wait for more photos of the rest of the crew especially the suprise sapphire.

[Bunsey]

i've sexed them now and there are 3 boys and a girl. the girl is one of the normals. i'll probably keep them all. If they won't live together i might end up selling one or 2 though. :(

norm boy
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a371/ayms2/Orchid%20litter%20aug%2008/4sept006.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a371/ayms2/Orchid%20litter%20aug%2008/4sept007.jpg

norm girl
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a371/ayms2/Orchid%20litter%20aug%2008/4sept032.jpg

sapphire boy
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a371/ayms2/Orchid%20litter%20aug%2008/4sept035.jpg

the group
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a371/ayms2/Orchid%20litter%20aug%2008/4sept028.jpg

[winterwhite]

Hi Bunsey thanks for another set of great photos and i can fully understand why you want to keep all of the litter. They are all wonderfull and the little sapphire boy is an absolute corker.
You will have to keep us all updated.