Mating Diary

[Basia]

Well Berry finally came in heat so the deed was done tonight. All seemed to go well, no aggression thank goodness. Berry is so much bigger than Chunky he must have felt as if he was mountaineering
Well fingers crossed, hopefully we will get (not too many) babies....

[babyboos]

fingers crossed for an uneventful pregnancy

[Holly]

Oooo Basia, how exciting

I'm glad you've started the diary - keep us posted on how it's going. As you are going to be five days ahead of us (if things here go to plan!) I shall probably be constantly asking you if Berry was doing this, this and this!

[Basia]

Originally Posted by Holly

Oooo Basia, how exciting

I'm glad you've started the diary - keep us posted on how it's going. As you are going to be five days ahead of us (if things here go to plan!) I shall probably be constantly asking you if Berry was doing this, this and this!

When she didn't seem to be comingi into season, I had almost convinced myself not to bother and to just enjoy the hamsters I've got. So then, of course, she came into season. I asked my other half what he thought and he said to mate them, when I said what if she has 20 babies, he said we'll have to get 20 cages!!
As you can imagine, I was a bit worried about the actual mating I didn't want either of them hurt and Berry is a lot bigger than Chunky, so I did fear for him. They were fine though, no problems at all there, except it seemed to go on a long time!
Now I am a bit excited but also anxious, if she misses that will be fine but if she is pregnant I want everything to go well for her, I will be worrying until she has a safe delivery. At least it is only 16 days,

[Holly]

Originally Posted by Basia

I asked my other half what he thought and he said to mate them, when I said what if she has 20 babies, he said we'll have to get 20 cages!!

Wow! What a man

Originally Posted by "Basia

As you can imagine, I was a bit worried about the actual mating I didn't want either of them hurt and Berry is a lot bigger than Chunky, so I did fear for him. They were fine though, no problems at all there, except it seemed to go on a long time!

This is one of the parts that worries me the most. I have the added worry that Paws isn't mine and I need to keep him safe for Souffle and Pophammy. I suspect that, as long as you get it right and your female actally is in season, then things rarely go wrong with the actual mating as nature takes over. That's what I'm hoping anyway! Will and I will be there with the gardening gloves anyway. I'm glad it went well for Chunky and berry!

Originally Posted by Basia

At least it is only 16 days,

Major plus point! Though then we'll be worrying about the babies.......

[Holly]

Oh this section where you can't edit is soooooo annoying

Does anyone know why you can't edit in the breeding section - I've messed up me quotes

[Basia]

Holly in the dim and distant past when I had my other 2 hamsters and we mated them I remembered I had a grill, like the ones they use for showing to separate them and a ladle handy to oik the male out and I had to use them the first time I tried because the books back then said try them every day until the female accepts him.
I armed myself with those items last night as I don't have gardening gloves. Berry was sort of half hearted when I first got her out so I let her play in her ball and playpen and the males were all around in their balls. I also Chunkys bedding into the box I wanted to use to mate them in. I put her in there later on and as soon as I stroked her she 'stood' so I put Chunky in and hey presto. When Chunky seemed to be losing interest, she started turning around, so I put the grill between them while he was washing himself and lifted him out and put him back in his cage, which was right next to the box. She then started washing herself so when she had finished I picked her up and took her back upstairs to her cage.
I think you know Caramel well enough and Paws will be fine.
I am leaving Berry in her normal place upstairs in what is now my hamster room. Are you going to leave Caramel near your other hamsters? Berry has never bothered about the others so I am hoping it will be fine. It is the safest place for her with our cat and dogs around the rest of the house.

[Holly]

I was planning on putting them into a spare Lux cage with the grill and shelf removed so it's basically an empty box with easy access to the inside. The scoop is another good idea. I won't put them together until I've handled them both and Caramel has stood.

Originally Posted by Basia

I am leaving Berry in her normal place upstairs in what is now my hamster room. Are you going to leave Caramel near your other hamsters? Berry has never bothered about the others so I am hoping it will be fine. It is the safest place for her with our cat and dogs around the rest of the house.

I think I'm doing the same. She's very used to having the other hamsters around her and I have a second shelf unit now so can keep her slightly away from the others. For us, it's definitely the quiestest room and I can shut the door to keep Harry, our cat out - if he hears squeaks he will want to investigate so I don't want her downstairs.

[Spuds Mum]

I'm sure everything will be fine Basia. The breeding can go on quite a while can't it? But that is a good sign I think, especially in a first time mating as sometimes the male takes a few tries to 'get it right'.
I have never found separating them too much of a problem - but I always have a glove on one hand and a thick piece of card in case there is fighting. I also check the female is in season before attempting :
I bring my male towards the females cage and let them sniff each other. Often that results in the female doing a swift scent marking around the cage before standing. This worked really well when we had wire cages, though I'm not sure that it will work with the Gabbers, so I will probably be trying your idea of handling Holly for future matings.
Fingers crossed for lots (though not too many ) lovely babies in 15 days time!
Good Luck

[Spuds Mum]

Darn no editing!!!

I meant try your idea of handling, Holly - not 'handling Holly' - I'm not sure that handling Holly would help in my future matings????