Why Not to Breed Your Hamster- a printout I made

[Colby and the Dwarfs]

So I'm not against breeding at all....when it's done right. Heck, I have a litter and a pregnant hamster right now. But I made this a few months ago and decided to post it, maybe it will help someone. All picture credit goes to Warner Bros Entertainment Inc. Thanks guys:-).


So you want to breed your hamster.

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m85/ColbyandtheDwarfs/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps6a0705ef.jpg (http://s102.photobucket.com/user/ColbyandtheDwarfs/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps6a0705ef.jpg.html)

You're right. She's pretty. She's sweet. She's healthy. All good, valid points. But do you really know what you're getting into?

Of course you do! She'll have 3 babies, tops, and you have friends who want them. And you'll keep one(If you want another hamster, go to a pet store, a breeder or a shelter. And consider an older hamster, like a mother brought to the store or shelter pregnant or with a litter. She just wants to be someone's baby, instead of their baby producer:)).
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m85/ColbyandtheDwarfs/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps2fde529a.jpg (http://s102.photobucket.com/user/ColbyandtheDwarfs/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps2fde529a.jpg.html)

They'll be so gorgeous, because their mom is, and sweet and perfect little balls of fluff.

It's possible hamsters have 3 babies, I've had litters 3 babies. I had a litter of 1 baby. But it's more than likely you'll end up with more than 3. Could you find homes for more? The top is around 24 babies, and assuming they all live, you could find homes....right?

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m85/ColbyandtheDwarfs/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsc81b1e2c.jpg (http://s102.photobucket.com/user/ColbyandtheDwarfs/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsc81b1e2c.jpg.html)


Chances are you'll find homes for a few. The pretty ones. The "rare" "fancy" colours, and the "black bears" and "panda bears".

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m85/ColbyandtheDwarfs/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpse7bffe09.jpg (http://s102.photobucket.com/user/ColbyandtheDwarfs/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpse7bffe09.jpg.html)

But what about the "plain", "boring" ones? Or the leftovers?
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m85/ColbyandtheDwarfs/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps3aac4d47.jpg (http://s102.photobucket.com/user/ColbyandtheDwarfs/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps3aac4d47.jpg.html)

Will you just keep them? Will they be forced to live in tiny, filthy cages because you really can only take care of 1 hamster, and they are just too much for you?
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m85/ColbyandtheDwarfs/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsca553058.jpg (http://s102.photobucket.com/user/ColbyandtheDwarfs/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsca553058.jpg.html)

Of course not, you say! You'll just bring them to the pet store or shelter, where they'll find lovely homes or live in the shelter happily for the rest of their days. http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m85/ColbyandtheDwarfs/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsd93ed7e3.jpg (http://s102.photobucket.com/user/ColbyandtheDwarfs/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsd93ed7e3.jpg.html)

Yeah...where they'll live "happily" in a tiny cage and fed a stable diet of corn.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m85/ColbyandtheDwarfs/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsb8e2f00d.jpg (http://s102.photobucket.com/user/ColbyandtheDwarfs/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsb8e2f00d.jpg.html)

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Think long and hard before breeding your hamster, and don't let her offspring live mediocre lives.

[Esmy]

You said Mozzarella's pregnancy was an accident and the other was already obtained pregnant if I recall correctly. That's not what I would consider breeding, which is intentional.

[BrainGirl]

Good job Colby, that should be printed out and made into a little book for shelters to give out to kids!

[Colby and the Dwarfs]

You said Mozzarella's pregnancy was an accident and the other was already obtained pregnant if I recall correctly. That's not what I would consider breeding, which is intentional.

As I said at the beginning, I wrote this months ago, I didn't have Mozzarella and I had other litters and pregnant hamsters. All I added in was that part, the rest was written months ago. :)

Good job Colby, that should be printed out and made into a little book for shelters to give out to kids!

Aw thanks Braingirl:).

[Esmy]

I was just referring to you using your current litter/pregnancy as examples of breeding.

[Colby and the Dwarfs]

I was just referring to you using your current litter/pregnancy as examples of breeding.

I know, but I was clarifying I wasn't doing that. I wrote that months ago, those aren't my current litters and I'm not using those as examples.

[Esmy]

Oh, ok. I didn't know you were ever breeding intentionally.

[nibblet]

If I were to breed or have an accidental litter, I would try and keep the ones left and care for them myself. I have no intention of breeding for a VERY long time though :p

[Colby and the Dwarfs]

If I were to breed or have an accidental litter, I would try and keep the ones left and care for them myself. I have no intention of breeding for a VERY long time though :p

I understand your point, but if your hamster had 17 babies and you found homes for 5, you'd still have 12 babies left! And if they were Syrians they'd have to all live separately. It'd be hard. I don't think I could house 15(counting parents) Syrians separately. I have 13 hams, but most are paired dwarfs.

That's why Mozza scared me to half to death when I found out she was pregnant and I knew she could have 24 babies. But she only had 4 babies thank goodness!

[DrKMcK]

Very nice Colby. It really would make a good little information booklet for pet stores to hand out. :-D

[Colby and the Dwarfs]

Very nice Colby. It really would make a good little information booklet for pet stores to hand out. :-D

Aw thanks DrK. Anyone who wants to feel free to print it out:-).

I made one about dogs a while ago, so I decided to make one about hams too:).

[ianpallen]

Very clear precise and truthful. I would not breed hammys until I had a few homes for them to go to. I would make sure I had enough cages just in case there were so many left over if there was a large litter. I would love to breed hamsters for the love and experience. I would have to know a lot more about them than I do now.

I have bred canaries and zebra finches but had people wanting the chicks when they were ready. I never have bred anything for profit or as a breeding farm.