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Old 01-29-2019, 05:15 PM   #1
slatted
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Default Can a Winter White be pregnant whilst birthing another litter?

Please excuse the confused heading, I am not sure how to describe this.

I am a hobby breeder of Winter Whites. I separated my female from her mate several days before she gave birth, she has 10 pups that were born on 13th January this year (yes, a big litter for a Winter White). She has had no adult with her since and yet there is a SECOND LITTER born today!!! I am confused and shocked but also impressed.

How can this happen?

Has anyone come across this before?
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Old 01-29-2019, 05:18 PM   #2
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Default Re: Can a Winter White be pregnant whilst birthing another litter?

They can get pregnant straight after giving birth. It does sound like she conceived before giving birth! Either that or someone has been up to something out of their cage at night!

Is it possible that one of the male pups could have got her pregnant? I am no expert but Souffle may know.
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Old 01-29-2019, 08:09 PM   #3
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Default Re: Can a Winter White be pregnant whilst birthing another litter?

Are you sure she didn’t give birth a few days earlier, before you seperated her and her mate? I don’t think it’s possible one of the male pups got her pregnant since it would’ve been a newborn at the time.

In humans there’s rare genetic disorders that cause double pregnancies like this, where a woman either has two uteruses or her body continues producing more eggs during pregnancy, maybe something similar can happen with hamsters? Are you breeding pure winter whites or hybrid Russian dwarfs (if they’re originally pet shop hammies they’re hybrids)? Hybrids can have a lot of genetic disorders and complications.
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Old 01-30-2019, 01:00 AM   #4
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Default Re: Can a Winter White be pregnant whilst birthing another litter?

It sounds as if she had the litter before you separated them and hid them well. Males start to pester the females to mate a few days before a litter is born and he has likely mated with her even when the first were delivered. With a litter that size she will still have looked quite large which you have mistaken for still pregnant.
She will need some extra help or else the newborns will struggle to survive. Take out the male pups from first litter and put them with dad. Keep them warm and supplement feeding with plenty protein and generous food.
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Old 01-31-2019, 10:18 AM   #5
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Default Re: Can a Winter White be pregnant whilst birthing another litter?

Thanks for all your replies and advice.

My lines are pure Winter White, or at least I am as sure as I can of that fact having only purchased from NHC breeders.

I am pretty sure she was not with the male on the day she gave birth to the first litter as I cleaned her out and removed him a couple of days beforehand as I could see her shape was indicating a large litter, but I may be remembering incorrectly. She certainly only gave birth on 13th.

Come to think of it I do remember having heard of humans that can conceive whilst pregnant and end up with "twins" that are not the same gestation time.
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Old 01-31-2019, 10:32 AM   #6
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Default Re: Can a Winter White be pregnant whilst birthing another litter?

I believe they can delay implantation for a few days which is why there is a bit of a gestation variation from about 18 - 22 days. 10 pups is a huge litter. She must have been extra keen to have a second lot so quick and at this time of year when most as not producing! I hope they do well. They will eat you out of house and home!
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Old 01-31-2019, 11:56 AM   #7
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Default Re: Can a Winter White be pregnant whilst birthing another litter?

Is it possible that, because it was such a large litter, she had started to give birth to some pups when you saw her looking large and removed the father. In the day she began giving birth he could have mates with her and then her continue giving birth. I have just confused myself ha ha.
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