8 1/2 wk old Pregnant Hamster Sisters! Advice Please

[lmh]

Oh my! A lady called me today and has two pregnant Syrian girls that she wants me to take - the girls are only 8-9weeks old!!! I think she is wanting me to take the 'dad/brother' also.

She said they look like they are about to pop but has no clue when they bred or the due date....but they are huge!

I am going to pick them up today at 4pm!!

The story is: The mom of these three little ones died when the babies were only 3 weeks old. (mom escaped from the cage....unfortunately the dog found her). The lady kept the babies all together, didnt separate them, and now the two girls are pregnant by the brother.
They were without a mom, nobody to care for them, teach them, socialize them etc......not sure if they can truly care for themselves or their new babies. I am hoping for small litters so its easier on them.

Will they be able to nurse at such a young age??? Are they developed enough? Any suggestions to help the milk flow??

I know to keep these girls in a quiet, dark room and suppliment with fresh foods, oatmeal, veggies - should I add high protien foods like wet kitten food??

I will keep you all posted on the outcome of this situation.

Wish me luck!!

[souffle]

They will manage fine as teenage mums and their bodies will tell them if they cannot cope and they will cull the litter. You just have to provide as best you can and then see how they go on.
Get them settled in quickly in their nursery bin and then leave them in total peace to settle, nest and prepare.
Good luck

[Colby and the Dwarfs]

Oh dear! Don't worry though, as Soufflé said, they'll either cull them or raise them. They won't hurt themselves or let babies suffer. I had a young mother, accidentally pregnant, do just fine and raise a healthy, large litter of pups. She's an adult now, had a second litter, and is doing fine in retirement! And thank goodness someone rescued these babies! Keep us updated!

[kyrilliondaemon]

Souffle has said it all, but good luck!
I remember when we fostered a heavily pregnant hamster, in the end we found that we had sheer luck on our side and I hope you do too

[lmh]

I havent seen them yet - but I am hoping that they are just 'pleasantly plump' because they eat alot! lol (but from the way she talked - she said they are most definately pregnant).

4pm cant get here soon enough!

I have their new cages set up and ready to go. I also have a third cage on stand-by in case the brother is coming with me also.

[kyrilliondaemon]

I'll keep my fingers crossed for just really plump, I hope 4pm arrives soon

[lmh]

OMG! I got there and she still had both pregnant girls together and ? one ? of them was already having babies!!

I found two dead ones (culled) and three alive. Have NO CLUE which hamster really birthed them.....I was assuming the smaller of the two?? I put them in the car and raced home - the smaller of the two was nursing one baby.

I have no clue if anyone will survive.....

I cant believe both girls were still in the same cage!

Pray for a good turn out.

I have them in seperate cages, in a dark, quiet room. They are very frantic right now.....

[BrainGirl]

Good grief! I'm not surprised that they're frantic, I don't doubt that you're a little frantic yourself. They must be so confused, poor little things

[kyrilliondaemon]

Oh no I'll keep my fingers crossed that it works out, but if the pups are culled it will be because its best for the Mums

[DrKMcK]

Wow! This was a real mess. Thank God you have them now. It may be very likely that the babies won't survive. The females are very young, it's their first litter, and they've been stressed from the day their mom left them; what with being kept all together when they should have been separated at 4 weeks old. Being pregnant and being forced to live with their sib...it's amazing they didn't kill the male. All you can do at this point is to follow everyone's advice and, just maybe, some may make it. If they do, it will only be because you stepped in. Poor little hammies.