New hamster possibly pregnant? - Page 3

souffle · 10-23-2018, 11:46 AM

It looks very possible from those pics. Probably about 12-13 days if she is pregnant. There looks to be a slight bulge over the hips there. You don't want any small enclosed houses or tubes in the cage at all now as pups quickly outgrow those. An open nest (sometimes they make those in to Volcanos!) is best as the pups are better able to climb in and out. If the cage is wire and quite open then you can cover one side with a cut up cardboard box to give more privacy if she needs that. Get ready to move that wheel out. It isn't a good idea to have it in as the pups can get hurt on them and she may decide to nest under it and then run.

Ponymad2104 · 10-23-2018, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by souffle

It looks very possible from those pics. Probably about 12-13 days if she is pregnant. There looks to be a slight bulge over the hips there. You don't want any small enclosed houses or tubes in the cage at all now as pups quickly outgrow those. An open nest (sometimes they make those in to Volcanos!) is best as the pups are better able to climb in and out. If the cage is wire and quite open then you can cover one side with a cut up cardboard box to give more privacy if she needs that. Get ready to move that wheel out. It isn't a good idea to have it in as the pups can get hurt on them and she may decide to nest under it and then run.

Her current nest is open, the only tubes are cut open toilet roll tubes so no one should get stuck

She's against a wall in a corner so I'll cover a third side of the cage and leave the front open

I'm really worried about the wheel as she got majorly stressed when I moved it from one side to the other

Ponymad2104 · 10-23-2018, 12:19 PM

This is when I first got her, on the 13/10

souffle · 10-23-2018, 12:21 PM

Once the pups arrive she will not be interested in the wheel - her mothering instincts will keep her in the nest pretty much permanently for 5 days and then tending to the pups for the next few weeks she will not look for it. Mums always stress when we do the final clean and take out the wheel. They run about with loads of food and bedding and you feel awful but it is normal and she will settle down I assure you. Try and not look too much as it does upset you!

Ponymad2104 · 10-23-2018, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by souffle

Once the pups arrive she will not be interested in the wheel - her mothering instincts will keep her in the nest pretty much permanently for 5 days and then tending to the pups for the next few weeks she will not look for it. Mums always stress when we do the final clean and take out the wheel. They run about with loads of food and bedding and you feel awful but it is normal and she will settle down I assure you. Try and not look too much as it does upset you!

Her wheel is hiding her nest which is what I'm concerned about

Pebbles82 · 10-23-2018, 01:31 PM

Looks like she's having babies then! Goodness.

Ponymad2104 · 10-23-2018, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Looks like she's having babies then! Goodness.

Great

this is why I wanted a male in the first place!

Ponymad2104 · 10-23-2018, 03:06 PM

Is an Alaska cage okay or could they get through the bars?

And should I let the store I got her from know? Even though I know they probably won't actually care

Pebbles82 · 10-23-2018, 04:09 PM

Do you mean for when you separate the pups from Mum? You'll need to leave Mum in the current cage now and then when she's had the pups and they're 3 or 4 weeks old (Souffle will tell you when) you can leave the girl pups with the Mum and separate the boys and put them in another cage. Then they can go to their new homes from 6 or 7 weeks old. The Alaska should be fine - they won't be able to get through the bars - but it is fairly high for pups so something lower might be better - something like the Duna Multy or Hamster Heaven might be a better option. The Hamster Heaven costs more but is a good cage to have for any future hamsters. The Alaska should be fine too if you set it up carefully.

I guess once she's had the pups you'll need to advertise for homes for them. It might not do any harm to start getting a list of people who might be interested in having one now.

Don't worry - you'll get lots of help on here when it comes to sexing the pups

Ponymad2104 · 10-23-2018, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Do you mean for when you separate the pups from Mum? You'll need to leave Mum in the current cage now and then when she's had the pups and they're 3 or 4 weeks old (Souffle will tell you when) you can leave the girl pups with the Mum and separate the boys and put them in another cage. Then they can go to their new homes from 6 or 7 weeks old. The Alaska should be fine - they won't be able to get through the bars - but it is fairly high for pups so something lower might be better - something like the Duna Multy or Hamster Heaven might be a better option. The Hamster Heaven costs more but is a good cage to have for any future hamsters. The Alaska should be fine too if you set it up carefully.

I guess once she's had the pups you'll need to advertise for homes for them. It might not do any harm to start getting a list of people who might be interested in having one now.

I meant for before/after she's given birth but I'll leave her where she is for now. I'll sorts her cage tomorrow and take out the wheel and give her a nest box though hopefully she'll keep her open nest where it is

I've got a bin cage that's solid sides with mesh on top that I can use for separating male from female so I'll just make some more.

I'll start looking for homes once they're born, if she does have some then I will be keeping one which will eventually move into an Alaska