Does mating lower show quality of a female?

[souffle]

The larger breeders do put their breeder females as donation for pets once they have finished breeding them. We couldn't do that either Bunsey. Once here they are here for life

[Yaffle]

From my personal experience (bearing in mind I've only had one litter) having a litter has really taken it's toll on Yeti. Since having the pups her belly fur has really thinned to the point where she hardly has any and her fur in general has thinned too! Her colour also seems less vibrant
I don't at all regret having the litter and I'm sure she dosn't either but it does appear to have effected her condition. She's bulked up again nicely though and I'm supplementing her diet with lots of yummy stuff to help the fur growth so fingers crossed!
I think it could possibly be down to the fact that it was her second litter and she was 9/10 months old at the time too so could be a combination of old age. I wouldn't be too conerned though, other people on the forum with more experience will be better to advise

[Matty Day]

i wonder if one of theese would be good at showing i might take one in and give it a try

and of course she would have a good home with me

[Holly]

To be honest my experience with Caramel is simillar to Yeti's - she's darkened and bulked up since having her litter nearly six months ago - but her fur has never recovered it's shine or it's thickness and she just doesn't look as good.

Maybe some females look better after a litter and some don't, I don't know.

[Bourne Valley Hams]

Generally a female will not show well after about a year old, nor will she be useful for breeding after a year or so old, though she may well live until 2 or more - so for a year you will have a retired hamster. The maximum age for rehoming a hamster at a show is 10 months, so if you don't want half a hamstery full of retired hamsters you need to rehome them then.
See - I know the theory - but still my hamstery is half full of oldies!! Even with the number I have it is so hard to part with them once they are named!!

[Mollz]

Originally Posted by Bourne Valley Hams

See - I know the theory - but still my hamstery is half full of oldies!! Even with the number I have it is so hard to part with them once they are named!!

No, I don't think I'd ever be able to part with any of my animals (except the babies, obviously).

Now I have re-thinked everything. I am thinking of mating her mid-June rather than mid-May. This will mean that she is 5 1/2 months old and the babies will be 2 weeks just as I break up for the summer hols. This is fine, but the one thing that worried me is that if she doesn't get pregnant/something goes wrong in the first mating, then it doesn't give me much time to play with. Do you think it would be a problem mating her at 6-6 1/2 months old if she doesn't take the first time?

[Spuds Mum]

I always thought it was something I could never even comprehend though, but at Bradford, Pete Logsdail was talking to Holly and me about donations of older hamsters and what he said really made me think.

We have Vala who is an ex-breeder pure golden from Carrington, and despite her being a mature woman we love her and she is a lovely part of our home. We've even showed her and she has done quite well considering she is pure!

Pete was explaining that these older hamsters can make very laid back and accepting pets for younger children or inexperienced adults. They are generall robust, and can cope with more than young hamsters, they are very unlikely ever to bite a new owner, and because of all these reasons, become loved pets to attentive owners.

I still think it would be an absolute wrench, however I can understand how people with a limit on numbers, who wish to continue to show and breed can make the decision to do this.

[Matty Day]

well iv have deiced to take on one of theese oldeis if i cant get a lilac from towy vale any time soon