When do babies leave home?

[NaomiR]

Probably sounds like a stupid question but I always thought it would be around 6-8 weeks old, I was shocked when I collected a Campbells who was just 4 weeks old but the breeder insisted they were fully weaned at 3 weeks and taken from their Mum just after this.

I've not had any problems with her at all (she's fabulous) but I was just wondering what age Syrians should be when they leave (a) their Mum and (b) their born homes?

Thank you x

[Bourne Valley Hams]

I usually take babies away from mum at 4 weeks old, although occasionally it has to be a few days earlier if mum is starting to get snappy with them. At that point boys go in one cage and girls in another. They are ready to go to new homes at 5 weeks plus although I prefer them to be at least 6 weeks if possible if going to an inexperienced hamster home.

Was this Tasha and Jemima?? Tasha's wrong. The earliest they should leave mum is 4 weeks. Preferably the girls stay with mum until 6-8 weeks and the boys stay together until 6-8 weeks. Hamsters who run on with their littermates seem to do better in terms of growth, or so I've found.

[Basia]

I don't know anything about dwarfs but I do the same as Sue with the syrian pups.

[Bourne Valley Hams]

I would be amazed if you managed to get a Syrian mum to put up with keeping her girls with her until 6-8 weeks old to be honest!! Syrian mums really have had enough of their babies by 4 weeks. I rarely even manage to get sisters to stay together much beyond 7 weeks.

[NaomiR]

Originally Posted by East London Chick

Was this Tasha and Jemima??

Yes and funny enough Jemima's stopped growing, as far as I can work out. She's also not as active as I would like. I don't have any health issues with her and she's wonderfully friendly and tame I love her to bits, but as a dwarf she really should be more "active"

Thanks for the information on syrians everyone, I'll make sure to NOT take any pups under 5 weeks - you'd be amazed how many I've been offered at 4/5 weeks and they don't know me from adam

[Tammy22]

Hiya,

With my Robos i sometimes let the females have two litters back to back, which means that i have take the first litter away from the mom usually as early as 21 days old - the babies are absolutely fine in same sex groups after that, although it can take me a few weeks to accurately sex them!

I usually keep my Robo babies until they are 7 or 8 weeks old, just to be 100% on the sexes, but once i am completely sure of the sexes then i believe they are safe to go to their new homes as long as they are over 6 weeks and are going in pairs or small groups.

This is just my personal procedure to follow, and i am sure other people do things differently, but sometimes there are only two of each sex in a litter (or less!) so i suppose that from 21 days old they would be safe to go to new homes if the sexing was accurate and they were already in a pair, but, personally i would never let any of my babies go before 7 weeks old. I like to feed them up and give them plenty of handling and plenty of toys to play with and also to sex them accurately before they go to their new homes

Just my personal oppinion though

I am sure your two hammies will be fine, especially if it was a small litter and they were the only two of that sex - they will be completely happy and used to being the way they are.

Good Luck with them,


When i had my litter of Syrians i removed the male babies at 3.5 weeks old as this was already an accidental litter and i didnt want any more 'accidentals'
but the males stayed together for the longest amount of time without fighting, but the females had to be split into separate cages at around 6.5 - 7 weeks old. Most of the babies went to their new homes when they were between 7.5 and 9 weeks old.



Kind Regards,

Tammy x

[Bunsey]

my robo babies were removed at 21 days and lived with dadda for a couple more days until going in single-sex groups (boys with dadda). I had to take mine out as Tammy was clearly massive and about to drop. Then she started dropping before i'd got the last 2 out

I'd never sell a baby at 4 weeks old. they need a bit of time with siblings. I sold mine at 6-8 weeks

[Mollz]

I agree with Sue (and the others who have said the same things).

This is obviously my first litter, but they won't be going to their new homes until they are 6 or 7 weeks old. I just feel they are helped by spending a few more weeks with their siblings, I can also make sure they are fully tame and are the right sexes and I get to spend more time with them Everyone wins!

Originally Posted by NaomiR

Yes and funny enough Jemima's stopped growing, as far as I can work out. She's also not as active as I would like. I don't have any health issues with her and she's wonderfully friendly and tame I love her to bits, but as a dwarf she really should be more "active"

Thanks for the information on syrians everyone, I'll make sure to NOT take any pups under 5 weeks - you'd be amazed how many I've been offered at 4/5 weeks and they don't know me from adam

I'm sure Jemima's fine. Dwarfies are just like people - some are more active than others. And we're seeing her at Andover tomorrow so we can all check her out.

Tasha always lets her Campbell's go young at 4-5 weeks. She just wants our money!!!