New, 16 hamsters and counting(unintentionally), a few questions! - Page 2

souffle · 05-16-2017, 03:39 PM

I would put them in his cage for at least a few days even if it is small as it is his territory. You can then move the whole group. It's not ideal as you are having a lot of cage moves but needs must. Dwarf hamsters are better in single level cages so they can't build mini territories on levels to be honest. If you want to keep him one as a cage mate you need to do it soon as they will still smell like him and are young enough to be taken back in to his care and dominance. If you don't he will have to spend the rest of his life alone. There is no guarantee that they won't start to fight as the pups mature but you would be better with these ones as he helped raise them where as the new ones he didn't. They look most like Normal colour WW I'd say and these will tame up nicely for you. Dad is likely in winter coat just now and is changing back. He will look like the pups soon. He must have a lot of WW in him to make the colour changes.

Almi · 05-16-2017, 04:55 PM

I agree with souffle. I'd watch closely for fights in groups, and I would not reintroduce the boys to their dad. With most dwarf hamsters, I've been able to keep same sex groups until they're 6-8 weeks old. In the past, I've tried to keep pairs and groups together, but they would usually fall out, no matter if they were related or anything. The two that get along seem to be the exception and not the rule.

I've noticed several hamsters who were starting to become skittish and/or cage aggressive become incredibly sweet once they were put into their own enclosure. They honestly seem happiest that way, aside from being able to pair up and breed.

Personally, if I were short on cages, I wouldn't jump to separate them unless they seem stressed. Dwarf hamsters usually give warnings if they want someone out of the nest, and it's not uncommon for them to stick together until they're a few months old. You'll hear a lot of squeaking and see chasing if there are problems. I would start making arrangements for separate housing for each of them, though, just in case you end up needing it!

KarlieD · 05-17-2017, 02:32 AM

Thanks guys,
Unfortunately I hadn't realised about the multi-level cages not being great for pairs or groups before we bought it - it could be a nice home for a single hamster though if needed.
Could I put the boys and dad into a bigger single-level cage that's new to all of them all as a way of reintroducing them?
Or would we be better off keeping him on his own?
I know it's hard for you guys to tell without knowing his personality etc! Dad has always been the more friendly and outgoing of the two and would come out to be fed and stroked. When I put my fingers in he does sometimes nibble on them but I wonder if he mistakes me for food as I usually have been handling food and also have oval long nails that resemble sunflower seeds!!

He was a great dad and did lots of work bringing bedding and food to the nest and would sleep outside with some of the pups when they got older. However before we took him out from the cage my stepdaughter said he seemed to be fighting with some of the pups, that there was squeaking - but I didn't see this behaviour myself to describe it to you!
Thanks again for all the advice - I'm going to put an ad up here as you suggested. Technically we are in Europe and not in the U.K.

but it might be the most logical place to put the ad!
I've attached some pics of the dad taken on 22nd and 31st March so you can see how white he was! I haven't any pics of him in his current coat yet but I'll get some.
I'm calling them dad and mam here because even though we thought they were both boys they were given a boy and a girl's name, and then it turned out that they were actually the opposite genders to their names, so it can be confusing!

Thin Lizzy · 05-17-2017, 03:12 AM

Hi Karlie, Welcome to HC.
WOW at your many pups. Souffle is the queen of litters, and has given you great advice.
I know it must've been a bit of a shock but, you're coping really well with your surprise litters.
The pics are so adorable and cute.

souffle · 05-17-2017, 03:41 AM

Dad looks to be coming out of winter coat there right enough.
Dad was likely chasing the young females as they will be starting their first heats soon. My last litter (granted these were syrians) had the first females standing at 4 1/2 weeks!
Yes they would be better in a large flat cage. Introductions though are often better done in a small cage handling and mixing the groups to mix the scents. I'd still put them in with him initially even for just a few hours while you monitor them. Have a water spray bottle and a stiff cardboard sheet you can use to push between them if he does start a serious fight. The spray shocks them to stop then separate with the card and scoop them in to a jug. They do sometimes bicker as he reasserts his dominance.
The little nibble is typical of WW behavior. They often what we call 'taste you' but never bite down unless afraid. I wouldn't worry about that. Keep up with handling those pups and good luck in finding homes.

Drago · 05-17-2017, 07:25 AM

Hello and welcome to HC!

Boy do you have a lot of hams! I would love to have one as they're so adorable, but unfortunately, there's a bit of water between our countries

Good luck finding them homes though

cypher · 05-17-2017, 07:29 AM

Nothing to add to the great advice given but have to say Dad is a very handsome little man

You're doing great with these little guys, hope you manage to find lovely homes for them all.

BorisPasha · 05-17-2017, 07:32 AM

Hi Karlie and welcome to HC

Sounds like you're having quite a time of it though I'm sure all those cute hammies will be making up for it.

Like Drago I would have loved to have one but again there's a bit of water, though not as much as Drago, between us

Good luck finding them homes

KarlieD · 05-17-2017, 08:57 AM

Ha ha thank you all - it's a Hamster baptism of fire! Learning so much from this forum though!
Here's 2 pics of Mam (in the dish eating some cucumber) and one of her babies taken on the 7th May.

KarlieD · 05-17-2017, 02:00 PM

I'm currently in the middle of the reintroduction- Dad and 4 sons are all in a new bigger cage without bars. The hamsters can climb on the top of the sleeping area but it's not multi level like the other one! I'm so stressed for them all, I hope it's the right thing to do! There have been some squeaks - Dad looks a bit shocked to be honest! He has chased them a bit and when he has confronted any of them they squeak a lot and turn onto their backs like they're surrendering? Is that good or bad?
Also, I'm wondering when to put food in? More than one bowl? There are 2 wheels in at the moment- one from his old cage and one that came with the new one. Should I take the wheels out or leave them in?
Current situation is 4 babies asleep in a pile in the wheel in the farthest corner from Dad who is sitting down but not asleep... I feel awful for them!
I'm going to have to go to bed soon but I'm worried about leaving them like this!
Edit: Just about to head to bed, have fed them by scattering food around the cage in little piles. When boys approach dad now there is generally a squeak and then the baby runs away. When dad wants on the wheel he just barges on. He has been rolling himself around in the substrate a lot, probably to scent-ify his new cage? I put in some stinky bedding from his old tiny cage and that seems to have calmed him a bit. Hopefully all will go ok tonight.