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Old 10-19-2010, 05:13 PM   #1
randy
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Default What's good to feed nursing mother

We have a black bear hamster that had alot of babies this morning, I want to make sure she gets plenty of nutrition for her and her babies, so I was wanting to know what kinds of veg's, fruit or any other foods that might be good to feed her. Thanks, I am a new member and am a semi novice at this, I did have a hamster that had babies when I was a kid but that's been at least 30 or more years.
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Old 10-20-2010, 01:37 AM   #2
Hope
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Default Re: What's good to feed nursing mother

Ok firstly, do not disturb the nest at all - this can stress mum and she may abandon or cull the pups, just keep her nice and quiet - only going in to put down more food.

Good food for mum and the babies are cooked chicken, milky poridge (make with kitten milk or water and a tiny bit of regular milk) baby food (that comes in jars or tins that have no herbs, spices or garlic), cucmber, brocoli, carrott, and an unlimited supply of their regular dry mix. The softer food will go down well with babies when they start to wander out of the nest aswell.

Have a good look at the breeding section here and the wiki, these is lots of good information on pups and bringing up a litter. Did you hammy come from the pet shop pregnant, or was it a planned litter?

Any other questions just ask - there are many experinced breeders here (I must confess I am not one of them, but have picked up the basics along the way!)

Good luck with them anyway and welcome to the forum
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Old 10-20-2010, 07:47 AM   #3
Ely
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Default Re: What's good to feed nursing mother

I'll quote a book 'Laboratory hamsters':
"The practice of feeding fruits and vegetables originated with the observation that litter averages were increased by providing vegetables to female with young nursing litters." So I'd concentrate on these. Also extra protein is needed so the mom will recover and pups will have normal growth. I have fed boiled eggs and added hemp seeds to their regular dry mix.

Vitamin E defiency will likely cause necrosis, sunflower seeds and wheat germs are good resource.

Sorry, I have probably repeated what other breeders have said :]
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Old 10-20-2010, 10:02 AM   #4
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Default Re: What's good to feed nursing mother

We feed all the items listed by hope plus tofu, chicken, cooked pasta, mealworms, small chopped veg, boiled rice, and basically anything that will provide a good simple source of protein. The babies will be eating food soon (from about 5 days)and eat heaps so be generous.
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Old 10-20-2010, 11:46 AM   #5
eye of the divine
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Default Re: What's good to feed nursing mother

my hammie went batty for egg yolks when she had pups
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Old 10-20-2010, 07:37 PM   #6
randy
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Default Re: What's good to feed nursing mother

I was wondering can I microwave egg in a bowl and feed it to her and speaking about milk if I use half whole or 2% with half water would that work with some whole wheat bread? I have been giving her carrotts, romaine lettuce, broccoli and some kale. Also I was curious about feeding her can chicken or would that not be a good idea. I reallly thank you all for all the help, it's my 7 yr. old daughters hamster and her and my 10 yr. old daughter are just crazy in love with them. The mother has been very good, when she gets out to eat or drink she'll cover the babies up with some toilet tissue and the shredded paper that she tore from under the shavings to keep them warm. She doesn't seem to mind us looking at her and the babies, she just looks at us and she'll leave the nest with us around every so often. I think tomorrow I'll boil some whole wheat spaggeti and give her some of that also.
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Old 10-29-2010, 02:26 PM   #7
randy
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Default Re: What's good to feed nursing mother

Babies are doing great, don't know exactly how many yet but I do know we have at least 2 black and 1 creamish/white color baby. Mother is doing great at protecting and caring for them, she is O.K. with us being around the cage/tank except when we start looking at the babies to much she'll crawl into her next and cover the glass with shavings and paper. One of the babies was out crawling/stumbling around yesterday so we got a full view of the little one, and when we noticed we had a different color one my kids were excited. I bought some tofu and wheat germ yesterday and will begin feeding these to the momma for more nutrition. I feel like a proud grandpa, my wife says I'm more excited about the whole thing than my children. I was wondering, I read that after 14-16 days when they get their fur that it is safe to carefully move the babies and mother to another tank or box and clean out the one they are in now is this correct? Also I had thought about putting them into a 20 gallon long tank until they are weaned.
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Old 10-30-2010, 03:29 AM   #8
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Default Re: What's good to feed nursing mother

Sounds like mum is doing a great job, I am no expert but I think you have to wait untill eyes are open to begin handling andthen you can clean the cage out.
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Old 11-01-2010, 10:38 AM   #9
randy
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Default Re: What's good to feed nursing mother

Yesterday counted 5 black and 2 white babies, eyes almost open and they are now crawling around the aquarium nibbling on food. They are soooo adorable, this is what my kids say anyway, ha.
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Old 11-02-2010, 07:19 AM   #10
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Default Re: What's good to feed nursing mother

Glad to hear that they are all doing well.
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