Quote:
Originally Posted by CalebsMom
Prayers again for a safe healthy delivery. Is there a book or something where I can read about hamster genetics and coloring? Perhaps then I could better understand the colors and abbreviations. I find it fascinating.
|
The best book on Colors and some basic Genetic codes is found in the Book Hamsterlopedia and is a book no hamster owner and Hobby Breeder should be without. You can usually locate a good condition used one on Amazon.com(no affiliation to except for my youngest Nephew probably being the one to pack it in the box)
Online you can learn much from the Cached website of River Road Hamstery at
https://web.archive.org/web/20120622...htm#goldengeno
Some of the side links no longer show photos but the basic chart of all the gene codes are there, and they have and amazing and detailed account for two genes (One not yet officially confirmed in the UK) which is Extreme Dilute, and the Confirmed one which is Recessive Dapple.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mama2six
I too like to breed 2 litters together. Of course, this winter, when only 1 or none were being born, I didn't accomplish my goal, but we seem to be back to 2 actual litters being born at the same time, finally.
I've not had to foster a pup yet, but I like the idea of it being an option if needed! |
Just a heads up fostering pups is seldom successful. It takes a very calm and trusting female who is not concerned about a sudden change in the nest. The litters have to be very close in age(no more then 48 hours difference in age). And the foster mom has to have a rather small size litter for all fosters to survive to weaning. Fostering and older litter to a younger one tends to cause the younger pups to not thrive as the older pups will push the newborns from the nipples. Fostering a newborn litter into an older litter tends to cause the younger pups to not thrive as well, as the older pups again take away the nipple from the younger ones. That said a Mom who can produce a huge amount of milk will be able to suckle both litters successfully and only the weak will fail to survive in both litters.
I have found a pup birthed from a good Foster mom will also tend to have the same desired ability to foster pups as her Mom, and a line of excellentFoster Moms can be bred.