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Old 02-05-2017, 09:33 AM   #1
twitchet
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Smile Potential breeding?

Hi everyone.

I am here to mention the possibility of breeding. Obviously I understand the risks and have done the appropriate and required research. Yet I am here for the final confirmation before the go-ahead. I would like to breed Syrians or Winter whites as I believe their temperaments to be preferable. (Although all hammies are lovely.) I would only breed with one pairing and they would be separated when not breeding (which is why Syrians may be better.) I have the space to accommodate the babies and have a good idea of where they would go if I didn't keep them. I love the variations in colour and coat of the syrians and find it fascinating so would like to 'experiment', as such, with that. Do you think this is a terrible idea? I currently have no hamsters as we have been very busy recently and I decided to put it off until a later date, such as now. I have had an abundance of experience in the past as I have had hamsters since I was five or six. Thank you in advance.

Last edited by twitchet; 02-05-2017 at 09:48 AM.
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Old 02-05-2017, 09:42 AM   #2
Drago
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Default Re: Potential breeding?

I'm no breeder, but I think as long as you truly care for the animal's health and well being, and you've done extensive research on the topic, then there's really no reason why you shouldn't. I'd recommend talking with a local breeder and get some advice on breeding as well as tips, or even better yet, get them to mentor you! Purchase books on genetics or read up on resources available on a breeders website to make sure you're breeding responsibly. Purchase a high quality pair to begin with from a breeder that has known lines and make sure to always put their well being first and foremost. Good luck with your excursions and if any experienced breeders here would like to correct me on any info that I possibly got wrong, please do
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Old 02-05-2017, 09:47 AM   #3
twitchet
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Default Re: Potential breeding?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Drago View Post
I'm no breeder, but I think as long as you truly care for the animal's health and well being, and you've done extensive research on the topic, then there's really no reason why you shouldn't. I'd recommend talking with a local breeder and get some advice on breeding as well as tips, or even better yet, get them to mentor you! Purchase books on genetics or read up on resources available on a breeders website to make sure you're breeding responsibly. Purchase a high quality pair to begin with from a breeder that has known lines and make sure to always put their well being first and foremost. Good luck with your excursions and if any experienced breeders here would like to correct me on any info that I possibly got wrong, please do
Hi Drago. Thanks for your quick reply. I am planning on purchasing a pair from the Southern Hamster Club show on the 18th February. I have never been to a show before and am unsure of whether you can actually purchase the hammies there and if the entry is free. Do you have more info on this? Thank you
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Old 02-05-2017, 09:58 AM   #4
Drago
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Default Re: Potential breeding?

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Originally Posted by twitchet View Post
Hi Drago. Thanks for your quick reply. I am planning on purchasing a pair from the Southern Hamster Club show on the 18th February. I have never been to a show before and am unsure of whether you can actually purchase the hammies there and if the entry is free. Do you have more info on this? Thank you
I'm not too sure whether or not entry is free or not, but I'd assume it likely depends on which shows you go to and from which organizations. I'm fairly sure you can purchase hams from shows as I know that with shows of other species, you can definitely purchase some of their hamsters they have available. I've never been to a show as they're never around where I live so my info is based mostly on speculation, but I'm sure if you went to the organizations website, or if someone more experienced on here knows, you could find out for sure!
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Old 02-05-2017, 10:54 AM   #5
Fluffagrams
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Default Re: Potential breeding?

Quote:
Originally Posted by twitchet View Post
Hi everyone.

I am here to mention the possibility of breeding. Obviously I understand the risks and have done the appropriate and required research. Yet I am here for the final confirmation before the go-ahead. I would like to breed Syrians or Winter whites as I believe their temperaments to be preferable. (Although all hammies are lovely.) I would only breed with one pairing and they would be separated when not breeding (which is why Syrians may be better.) I have the space to accommodate the babies and have a good idea of where they would go if I didn't keep them. I love the variations in colour and coat of the syrians and find it fascinating so would like to 'experiment', as such, with that. Do you think this is a terrible idea? I currently have no hamsters as we have been very busy recently and I decided to put it off until a later date, such as now. I have had an abundance of experience in the past as I have had hamsters since I was five or six. Thank you in advance.
I'd avoid experimentation too much as there are some combinations of genes than can result in deformities in the pups. The two I can think of at the moment is the anopthalmic whites (caused by pairing two hamsters carrying the white bellied gene) and there's also a problem caused by the pairing of two satin coated hamsters together which can result in the pups that have either very thin or no fur. I don't know about Syrian or Winter White breeding myself as I breed Chinese so am not a lot of help but I'd advise asking as many questions as you can to other breeders who are concentrating on the colours that you wish to work with. They'll be able to give you insights and information that isn't always covered by other types of research. As you're planning to come to the show, it might be an idea to chat to some of the breeders there who can advise you on where to start.

I'd also like to recommend a book 'Hamsterlopeadia' if you don't already have it which was written by two experienced exhibitors. There's a section in there on breeding which might be worth a read too.

Quote:
Originally Posted by twitchet View Post
I am planning on purchasing a pair from the Southern Hamster Club show on the 18th February. I have never been to a show before and am unsure of whether you can actually purchase the hammies there and if the entry is free. Do you have more info on this? Thank you
Hello, I've replied to your comment on the thread about the show but yes, you'll be able to buy hamsters at the show and it's free to come in and look around.
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Old 02-05-2017, 03:21 PM   #6
Lilac_Dreams
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Default Re: Potential breeding?

What would your goal be? Who would your mentor be? Do you plan to show at as many shows as you can with your hamsters?

Experimentation isn't a good thing sometimes and not necessary if you know the genetics. In Syrian Hamsters there are several colours which shouldn't be bred together for reasons of creating Eyeless Whites and double satins (as Fluffagrams said) but also because it can ruin a colour and make it hard to Phenotype and can ruin the colour down the line as well. Cinnamon (in the USA at the least, the UK I don't know) has ruined Yellows colour, Rust has made Lilacs go a weird browny colour because of the intro of Rust into Dark Greys and Cinnamons, etc. etc.

I'll go through my thought process and see if it helps you at all;
My goal at first was "I want to breed healthy, tame hamsters for the public" mostly because in Devon there are no NHC breeders down here. I knew how to do dog breeding ethically but you can't exactly health tests hamsters for genetic diseases like Hip Dysplasia, so I assumed that was the ethical way - I was informed that it was not and decided to look for a better goal and was urged to start showing if I want to breed, I fell in love with Lilac Syrian Hamsters and for 4 months my goal was going to be to Breed Lilac Syrian Hamsters back to the breed standard colour and show them, I then realised that the goal with Lilacs was way too intense and difficult for me to do.

After some thinking and trying to stop thinking about Breeding Hamsters, an old facebook post of mine came up with a picture from years ago and it dawned on me that I had always owned at least 1 Chinese Hamster in my 10 years of owning Hamsters, so, I looked for breeders as my current girly was getting old and realised there aren't that many breeders in the UK with them and that then got my attention and now I want to Breed Chinese Hamsters in the Agouti Colouration and show them.

About 2-3 weeks ago I fell in love with a Mottled Campbell that had recently won a Hamster Show, it was either best dwarf or best overall in the show. And so I looked up Campbell Genetics and learnt the lethals and now want to look at owning and showing Campbells for at least a year and getting to know lots of breeders and showers of them, and Chinese Hamsters as well.

I dunno if my thought processes will help you at all, but it would be a preferable idea to first of all show for 1 year or more with one species before you make any attempts to breed so you can learn the dos and don'ts, learn what to look for, learn which lines in a pedigree can give bad health issues and also most importantly to find a mentor. What's on the sales table at a show is, most of the time second best after an experienced breeder has taken the best in the litter and usually although there are exceptions to every rule, aren't going to be of preferred breedable quality.

Just my two cents of course I plan to buy a Campbell from the Bath Sales Table to show and learn with for 1+ years before I make any attempts to breed anything.
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