I just got a baby hammy! - Page 3

souffle · 01-20-2009, 04:16 AM

I will ask about removing the baby for you with a friend. I would take the jar out myself. A jar will get very steamy and hot and the condensation might cause chest infections. You could give either a little house with good ventilation, a cardboard box or just let them have a pile of nesting material to make a nest with. They will be fine.

internet_nobody · 01-20-2009, 05:13 AM

As it is just a single baby, I would leave him in with Mum for the extra week. He will help with the babies (keep them warm etc) which will allow Mum to take slightly longer breaks from the pups so she'll be less stressed. If it were a large litter then I would have said remove males, as they sometimes still suckle and compete with the pinkies for food. I have never had a hamster attack the older litter when new ones are born.

You should have no problems introducing Dad to his 4 week old son, when they are very young the adult hamsters normally have no issues with having a baby popped in the cage with them.

chase · 01-20-2009, 05:37 AM

I have bred Winter whites before and know that they will kill off the older litter when the new litter arrives at around 21 days assuming the father mated mum on birthing day. If Mum is a WW then you will no doubt hear her going for the baby when her next litter is arriving. I was really writing this as we dont seem to know what breed the Mother is .

souffle · 01-20-2009, 05:42 AM

I guess everyone has different experiences and all hamsters are different. I asked internet-nobody for her comments as I know her personally to be a highly experienced breeder of dwarf species. You will need to assess the size of the pup and how you think it will do without the mother at only 3 weeks of age glimt. It does look quite a small pup at the moment.

Glimt · 01-20-2009, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by internet_nobody

As it is just a single baby, I would leave him in with Mum for the extra week. He will help with the babies (keep them warm etc) which will allow Mum to take slightly longer breaks from the pups so she'll be less stressed. If it were a large litter then I would have said remove males, as they sometimes still suckle and compete with the pinkies for food. I have never had a hamster attack the older litter when new ones are born.

You should have no problems introducing Dad to his 4 week old son, when they are very young the adult hamsters normally have no issues with having a baby popped in the cage with them.

Thanks for the reply!
I hope I can leave him with the mum a while longer, he does seem to have grown a lot these last few days since I first posted, he walks around when I hold him as before he just seemed to fall asleep. He seems more aware of his surroundings now. I guess we can hope that she hasn't gotten pregnant.

Glimt · 01-20-2009, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chase

I have bred Winter whites before and know that they will kill off the older litter when the new litter arrives at around 21 days assuming the father mated mum on birthing day. If Mum is a WW then you will no doubt hear her going for the baby when her next litter is arriving. I was really writing this as we dont seem to know what breed the Mother is .

Could I have you look at my recent posted pictures from my first post? Maybe you can see what breed she is, she's totally white and seems smaller than my other hamsters, though the dad is also smaller than my two other hamsters (they are also dwarf).
I hope she won't kill the little one x( I'll try keep an eye out.

Glimt · 01-20-2009, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by souffle

I guess everyone has different experiences and all hamsters are different. I asked internet-nobody for her comments as I know her personally to be a highly experienced breeder of dwarf species. You will need to assess the size of the pup and how you think it will do without the mother at only 3 weeks of age glimt. It does look quite a small pup at the moment.

The pup seems much older than it did on the pictures I took. It basically just looks like a smaller version of its dad, as before it was no doubt it was a little baby. I've noticed the parents don't seem to be around it as much as before, so I think it may do quite well in 3 weeks time. I'll see if I can get any new pictures of it, it may help I guess.

chase · 01-20-2009, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glimt

Quote:

Originally Posted by chase

I have bred Winter whites before and know that they will kill off the older litter when the new litter arrives at around 21 days assuming the father mated mum on birthing day. If Mum is a WW then you will no doubt hear her going for the baby when her next litter is arriving. I was really writing this as we dont seem to know what breed the Mother is .

Could I have you look at my recent posted pictures from my first post? Maybe you can see what breed she is, she's totally white and seems smaller than my other hamsters, though the dad is also smaller than my two other hamsters (they are also dwarf).
I hope she won't kill the little one x( I'll try keep an eye out.

The father looks possibly to be a hybrid WW x Campbells but very cute all the same. I will not comment on this thread anymore glimt but wish you loads of luck with all.

Glimt · 01-20-2009, 04:36 PM

Eep I just noticed the female was crawling on the bars and saw that her genital seemed to be opening and I saw some red! I think she may be giving birth? I also saw that the male was sniffing her and suddenly trying to mate with her, I don't know if she is just in heat?? But I removed the male instantly and put him in a shoebox with hay, cause I am gonna try give her some peace and quiet in case she is having babies. She seems all active and she is running around and crawling the roof and biting the bars, is this a sign of stress or anything? Could she be giving birth or is it just heat? Hope I can get help!

souffle · 01-21-2009, 04:09 AM

If the male is trying so mate her she has already delivered and the redness and open vulva will be the after effects of the birth. I hope it is not too late Glimt and he has not managed to get her pregnant again. The reason they have not been mating lately is because the female was already pregnant. Let me emphasise this. They mate IMMEDIATLY after birth. Not in a few days time or a few weeks. Make sure the male cannot escape from the box. Have you got a plastic storage box of reasonable size you can convert? On no account put him back with her. She will die if she has litter after litter.
She needs no help and it is common for them to get a bit hyper after birth. You must stay away from the cage for now. Cover it up and keep her very quiet and calm. Leave the larger pup in for now and hopefully she will settle and suckle the new babies. Feed her lots of good food and especially the high protein food so she can make lots of milk. Do not try and look in the jar or search the cage or clean it for 2 weeks no matter how whiffy it gets or she may kill the pups.
In a weeks time, try and scoop the big pup out with a box or tube without putting your scent in the cage. If you are absolutly positive it is a male, put it in with dad and he will likely be fine with it. If a female put it back in with mum.
Do not put it with dad if it is a female as he will mate with it and that would be real bad news.
You will likely not see the babies for a while but if you listen very carefully you may hear them chirping and squeaking.
I do hope you are taking our advice on board Glimt as it is the lives of your little ones that is at stake here. This is probably the 3rd or even 4th litter this little one has delivered and obviously she has not the strength to raise them as she has only one live baby. I pray she is not pregnant again but it is highly possible she is if you saw them mate. You need to ask around for homes for the new babies in case she rears them as you have no room for them do you?
PS it would seem your bigger pup was a 'NEW YEAR' baby - 1st Jan! I cannot seem to find the pics. Where are they?
Good luck