Possible mate night!!! *Updated - 5 days to go*

[Mollz]

Well we had decided to wait until next Friday to mate the lovebirds as we were worried that the babies will be too old to be sold at the Bath show if we did it earlier. But after doing a recount it seems that they will only be 7 weeks old at this point, so I don't see that there would be a problem with it, do you?

Well tonight Amelie is on heat (but she never stands until about 10pm), so it looks like tonight may be the night! We are both very excited here and I should imagine we will be having quite a late night tonight......

Will update later if all goes ahead and tell you how it goes.

[Matty Day]

if i were you i would leave it one more week as 6 weeks is the best age for the sales table(in my opinoin)

and how olds doodles now if hes 9 or 10 weeks i would wait a week

but i see no problem if you do go ahead thats just my opinoin

[Holly]

Good luck, Mollz, I'm sure it will all go well (I remeber the excitement and nerves of our first mating!).

I'm going to disagree with you, Matty - I think 7 weeks is a better age for the sales table, though 6 week olds seem to cope ok. I think that, by 7 weeks, they'll have benefited from running on for an extra week with their siblings (though you do need to keep an eye on those girls for signs of fighting and may need to split).

I also think that members of the public have a slightly better idea of what they are getting with a seven weeker - they are a bit bigger and generally starting to lose that very cutesy baby look. Obviously either is fine and the NHC allows them to be homed from 5 weeks of age so that's ok too. I just think rehoming when that little bit older is better - just my opinion!

Plus you get to play with them for an extra week!

[Mollz]

Thank you for your advice Matty and Holly.

I too agree with Holly and think that they do better to be a bit older, just didn't know whether it was frowned upon if they were older (I know a lot are 5 weeks old). We have lots of spare cages at the moment, so splitting will be no problem if they begin to fight.

We are very excited , but a bit nervous as well

[Matty Day]

but its an extra week of food and bedding expense. thougth i alway budget and have got enougth cash ive got enougth to fund whats left of my current litter for another eight weeks and ill be working again by the end of that. and cages for all in cages of fights and have 10 poundsfor food a week which i rarely go over 3 pounds on

[Mollz]

The costs of feeding/keeping them for another week would not affect whether we kept them on a week more! I should imagine it may cost us and extra few £s, but imagine the extra week of enjoyment. I think that if we couldn't afford to feed the babies for another week, then we wouldn't be able to think about breeding in case vets are needed and just because of the general costs involved.

[Matty Day]

thats just me im ultra worreid about money when it comes to hamsters partly as i pay for everything

[Louby]

Ooooooohhhhhh How EXCITING!!!!

I can't wait for an update!!!! You must both be so excited...I am, and i'm not even there!

I agree, 7 weeks is fine for the sales table, and to be honest, I can't see you needing to take any there anyway. Particularly if you end up with some Rex's .

I'm off to sterilise myself after handling the rescues so my babies can have a cuddle...will be back soon...all updates welcome!!!

[Spuds Mum]

Good luck Mollz and Mum and Amelie and Doodles!

I think that 7 weeks is a good age to go to sales to be honest Mollz, it gives any smaller ones that final chance to catch up to brothers and sisters and they are still small enough and cute enough to be 'babies' to potential buyers, while giving people a better idea of how they will look. They'll also be a little bit stronger and older which will help them settle into new homes.

Plus you get an extra week or two of loving them before they leave! Not something to be ignored in my eyes.

[Mollz]

Well, Amelie is standing so we are going ahead within the next few minutes - I can't believe that I can be SO excited and SO nervous at the same time. It's all owrth it in the end though