The Pinkies have landed! Litter #1

[GreySyrian]

I was expecting them to arrive tonight but this morning when I checked I could hear suckling sounds and she was acting like she was on a nest.

I gave her 3 days worth of food and water yesterday and only went in the cage this morning to remove bowl of uneaten porridge. Both times I've gone in there she's began to dug around in her nest so I presume she is hiding them from sight.

How 'alone' should I leave her? She's a first time mum so I'm unsure of how she will react and cope with the litter

[Nancy's Hamsters]

With my 1st time moms I just just watch from a far unless I notice Mom away from the nest for a longer time then is normal or if I notice her off her food. It is normal for her to eat light for a day or so after the birth but any longer then 48 hours might mean something is not right. If she is a really tentative Mom she will stay on the nest even when your refilling water and food, but if she is a more people type girl she may come visit you in a few days when you tend her food and water.

Quite pups with a few chirps of satisfaction mean happy pups, Loud and continual squeaks and chirps means someone in the nest is not happy. A happy litter is a quite litter.

Congratulations on your first litter I will be excited to see them when old enough.

[GreySyrian]

Originally Posted by Nancy's Hamsters

With my 1st time moms I just just watch from a far unless I notice Mom away from the nest for a longer time then is normal or if I notice her off her food. It is normal for her to eat light for a day or so after the birth but any longer then 48 hours might mean something is not right. If she is a really tentative Mom she will stay on the nest even when your refilling water and food, but if she is a more people type girl she may come visit you in a few days when you tend her food and water.

Quite pups with a few chirps of satisfaction mean happy pups, Loud and continual squeaks and chirps means someone in the nest is not happy. A happy litter is a quite litter.

Congratulations on your first litter I will be excited to see them when old enough.

Thank you Nancy She seems very tentative, normally she would always get up and have a look if i entered the room but at the moment she's glued to the nest. Glad to hear this a good sign! I will keep an eye on her eating

[GreySyrian]

Is it normal for her nest not to be organised ? I went to check on her and she seemed to have 2 in the middle of the nest, 3 just outside of it and then 1 which was in middle of cage (nest in corner) which i returned with a spoon as I noticed they are quite scary as they wriggle for a bit and then stop moving. I'm a little worried that they aren't all in one place but nobody was squeaking.

I can't believe how anxious this is all making me!

[souffle]

It's not really normal to be honest. Sometimes they get a shock right after the birth but they usually gather the pups up and thats them confined to the nest till they start coming out on their own. They shouldn't be out the nest as they chill easily and don't last long outside. I'd check every 3 hrs - pull the curtains and try and sheid the cage from any noise or light. Check very quietly and if she has collected them up then don't do any feeds for 24hrs as she has enough food in store. If the pups are still out and dying then she needs checked even at the risk of losing them in case there has been a traumatic birth and she has a stuck pup or a haemorrhage. You need to be very vigilent with the checking and ready to have her vet checked as they can go critical very quickly with a birthing problem.

[GreySyrian]

I checked a few minutes after and all pups had been collected and placed back in nest. The curtains are majority closed and I placed a towel over the end with her nest.

They weren't out for very long, but I was just worried as why they had suddenly become more scattered. The 2 outside could have easily been pushed out by her moving around bedding in the nest but the one in the middle was a bit of a mystery. I hope they all stay in the nest now!

Will continue to check on her but she herself seems fine and is mostly on the nest and burying/adding material. Thank you Souffle

[souffle]

Good to hear - sometimes they do have maybe a large pup which arrives later than the others and this can cause an upset. Glad she has them all back in the nest. Keep up the sneaky peak checks to see how she is.

[GreySyrian]

Originally Posted by souffle

Good to hear - sometimes they do have maybe a large pup which arrives later than the others and this can cause an upset. Glad she has them all back in the nest. Keep up the sneaky peak checks to see how she is.

Will do Thanks again!

[WinnieTheHam]

Congratulations on your first litter, I hope all goes well

[Thin Lizzy]

Congratulation on your first litter. Looking forward to updates of your sneaky peaks.