Chinese breeding.

Matty Day · 11-07-2007, 02:57 PM

I have no experience of breeding hamsters at all.
I have two females who share a cage but are not mature yet and have found a breeder who can supply me with a male or 2 what would the best way to breed them keep them in a trio or 4 (if i get two males) if they get along or separate them into pairs. And breed that way? Any tips ideas.

souffle · 11-08-2007, 12:08 PM

I have no experience with Chinese breeding but I would suggest you contact alex at [email protected] as he is very experienced and has bred many litters so may be able to offer you some advice.
Be sure you can home any animals you breed as Chinese are not the easiest to home of the hamster species and think very carefully about whether you can afford to house and raise the babies and provide vet care should it be needed. Remember the babies will need separate cages for each sex after about 4wks so two lots of litters will need quite a lot of space. You will also need to separate the males and females as it is not fair to let the females have litter after litter. Enjoy your girls for now and get them nice and tame and research breeding fully before you decide.

Matty Day · 11-08-2007, 02:39 PM

that’s exactly why i am looking in to it and see if i can provide everything needed. As my 2 are the first Chinese I have ever had I might not breed them but breed the next pair I have to get more experience with the breed.

**babyboos** · 11-09-2007, 01:45 AM

they certainly are not easy to place, hence I no longer breed them. I was also really struggling to find good unrelated stock anymore and found they became increasingly aggressive with each new generation

they did seem to have a quick rise in popularity last Christmas going by the number of people who suddenly joined the forums I belong to asking for information on their new Chinese hamsters... but it transpired there were a lot being sold by Pets at Home at this time and not much else available - and a LOT were looking to be rehomed in the New Year, when the pairs suddenly started fighting and people didn't want two cages...

Matty Day · 11-09-2007, 09:37 AM

well I have seen on various articles that they become more aggressive. because of inbreeding. I would never buy any animal at Pets at Home because of there history e.g. pet smart I have found a nice garden centre were they breed the hammeis on site brilliant place. Called Cadbury garden centre which sells loads of good quality hamsters. They don’t buy them from farms.

**babyboos** · 11-09-2007, 04:13 PM

Always preferable to find them from a non-farm bred source if you can

Matty Day · 11-13-2007, 10:10 AM

I am just looking for potential homes if i do breed. nothing is set in stone yet would anyone be interested in some Chinese hamsters if I do breed. if do it wont be until February/march.

its just because i would hate to have to put any left over pups in my local paper