Who can i ask..

[RachelAnne]

to advise me of genetics/likely background/show quality of my ham.
He is not from a breeder.

I am new to all this and would love to know just for experience what to look for in a good quality hammie, No matter what they looked like where they came from i love all hams. I just really want to learn..

[Vicki S]

Sorry i don't know im not even sure if someone could tell you fom just apic if im wrong id be interested in that to


Vicki

[vanilla-yazoo]

ild suggest looking at Syrian
they describe most colours, and most with pictures, you can get the idea of their quality too, also looking up the show winners will help.

I find at shows, have a walk around before scores are given, for each section, pick who you think is 'right' and come back when the scores are issued, and see if you and the judge think the same, this is how I am getting used to show standard. I can see colour in hamsters, but I havent yet got the eye for 'type' but I did pick the winner for hereford show

A photo can be blured, edited or not capture their true colour, we cant see fur density, or quality, and sometimes cant see the correct eye colour, but still, if you want us to see your hamster, theres a few of us here who show, who could give you advice.

[lisab]

You wont be able to tell the genetic background if you dont have a pedigree other than by mating them although its not the done thing to have a play around with mating unless you really know what your doing and why.

Background wise if your hams isnt from a show breeder then its best to treat it as a pet and leave it at that as again you dont know genetics and also you wont know if there were any health issues.

Again you wont know if you ham is show quality untill you have been to a show and to either put it in the main show or to take it along and ask the judges opinion.
Photos depending on how taken can affect how the ham looks in colour and type and you cant get a proper idea of coat size or condition.
When i judged my first show the other week something that i was surprised at is a ham even looks different in a pen to out of it.
I learnt by sitting by the judging before i started to train as a judge myself, Listen to what the judge had to say, to me that was a better way of learning to see what was the pros and cons of the ham and why.

[RachelAnne]

Thanks guys. I think i will go along to the Great Alne show in July as its not far from me and have a look around