New Girl has arrived

[Emma]

Picked up New Girl foster ham today - remaining un-named for the moment! All the hamsters were huge - females around 160g - they're supposed to be around 8-9 weeks old. All girls seemed quite tubby :s don't know a fool-proof way of diagnosing pregnancy in a hamster, but I think at least some of them are likely to drop! The possible culprit little boy was smaller than the girls, and did not have prominent poms at all.



The girl I bought home is a really pretty golden with nice white cheek flashes, decent size, fairly tubby :s and really sweet natured and quite confident. They were all really well behaved, I was expecting them to be much worse considering their start in life. She's thoroughly explored the Cambridge and has now gone to sort out her nest!



Will try and get some photos tomorrow - ask all your opinions on whether I should start knitting hamster bootees or not!

[souffle]

Looking forward to meeting Newbie and seeing some pics. Glad she is settling in well. Toby will start going mad for the lady soon, just you wait!

[Emma]

They're in seperate rooms - New Girl & the other hamster & rat I picked up all went into 'quarantine' in the front room! (Other animals are being collected from me by other people).



Left a bowl of baby porridge for her this morning, and it's been licked clean by lunchtime.

[babyboos]

Oh how exciting Emma

will this be your first hamster litter?

[pophammy]

Aww, that's great!!! Good luck with her and hope you find a suitable name for her!

[ClareBear]

Hi Emma,



My avatar is the mum of your foster girl :D I have called her Bear. She is so friendly and as you say considering everything they are doing really well.



I am playing the waiting game with pregnancy as well. She doesn't look preganant yet but only time will tell.



Clare xx

[Emma]

Hi Clare - saw 'west wales' and wondered if it was you!



This will be the first litter I've had born if it materialises - have dealt with pregnant hams and young litters of other peoples though :evil: , but it has been a while since I've dealt with pregnancy/baby hamsters of any kind - had adult rescues for ages now!



Got some pics to try and show her roundness - somehow the pics make her look less round than she feels though. I'm just not sure at all. My training tells me to never give a definite answer on something you can't guarantee!

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/funkyvixen/miscpicsjan2006052.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/funkyvixen/miscpicsjan2006047.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/funkyvixen/miscpicsjan2006048.jpg



And just because this was so cute....

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/funkyvixen/miscpicsjan2006044.jpg



I've also noticed her scent marking like mad - really rubbing her hip glands on things. Not seen a hamster do it quite so forcefully before!

[Emma]

I should say that New Girl does have a name in my head.......but not officially giving it to her yet.... because then I'll be 'attached'!!

[ClareBear]

I haven't had a litter of Syrians before. Many years ago I had a few litters of Russians. I was given a pair by a friend and being only 12 I thought it was great - I kept all the babies.



Your girl does look cuddley. About the same as her mum. At first I didin't think it was very likely that she would be pregnant but after seeing how big her babies are. It seems unlikely that they won't be expecting. This next week will reveal all I think!

[babyboos]

She does look like she is a bit lumpy.. though sometimes young hamsters do get this too - puppy fat I liken it to. As Clare says - this week will tell :)