New hamster just had pups - HELP!!

[haziebabie]

Hi,
I'm new to the site, hello fellow hammy lovers! I had many hamsters years ago but haven't for a few years as have young children that take up a lot of time. Anyway 2 weeks ago we decided to get a new family pet hamster. The kids picked her from the pet shop and called her Mavis. Then yesterday we no warning (she really didn't look big) we found 3 pups in the cage when Mavis was out for her exercise (!). She has never gone back in so quick. I haven't touched the nest fortunately (all washed thoroughly out on Saturday) and she has been good with them. Just don't really have a clue, have put in extra bedding and dry food.

Just my luck though that we have a fairly elaborate but fun Rotastak set-up, which we and Mavis love and she decided to nest in the upstairs dining room. I left them till just now and have moved the entire unit down, replacing the scary hole down with a bung and everything is on floor level. Also taken away scary tubes that Mavis loves to zoom up. Will this be okay, I was so worried when the babies get a bit mobile they would come crashing down the hole. Luckily they did have food and water on that level. Please tell me I have done the right thing please, am so stressed about them and just want to do my best.

What food should I offer, haven't even successfully got Mavis used to fresh food as I started too then stopped as it was too much too soon and she was a bit loose. I have cooked some egg and I was going to offer that to her, just a little though. Any tips would be gratefully received. The pet shop were rubbish when I called, they just said to bring in the babies when they were 6 weeks!!! Surely that's too late to start sexing them and removing them..?

HELP!! HELP!!! HELP!!!!!

[haziebabie]

Meant to say also that she is 12 weeks old, which I know is very young but tell me some good news that she is old enough to care for them...?

[Zeppelin]

Hiya welcome to the site,

Your situation is not unusual, pet shops tend to be useless at sexing hamsters and often mix them up.

Marvis is a very pretty little lady and quite young to have a litter. That's probably why she's only had 3 (or got 3 left) as they average 8 or more in normal litter.

Sounds like you've done the right thing with the rotastack, does it have a wheel built in? As I usually take the wheel away whilst mothers are nursing.

I give my mums a little bit of porridge in a water/milk mix, also lots of protein rich food like nuts, they particularly like sunflower seeds. Make sure you don't give her too much too soon as it may upset her belly. Have the porridge in a separate compartment and change it often.

Most importantly for the first 2 weeks make sure her home is quiet and not disturbed, do not clean anything out and just make sure she's well fed, watered and warm.

You're doing the right thing and I wish you lots of luck.

Let us know how you get on as things will quickly develop

[haziebabie]

Thanks for your replyZeppelin, I am just so fretful. I end up just sitting in the room watching..!

I keep trying to discreetly peek when she has nipped out and see if the babies are still okay but she has built her nest very well with the extra bedding although I thought it was wriggling. The wheel was a runner that sits externally with a tube connection. I have taken it off for now so I could move the dining room (or nesting compartment) down with as little disruption as possible, she hasn't been on it really since the babies were born anyway. Feel bad for all this distraction but I guess it's the best I could do, I left the nest where ir was at first hoping she would move them herself.. At least all is done now I can leave her to it. I bought some jar baby rice pudding (saw it somewhere), will this be okay for them all. When do they start wandering? When should they be split and taken from Mummy (jumping the gun I know..) Just not sure I want to return them to the pet shop so may try to find good homes or room and money for more homes here!

[leedsgurl]

I found this article on breeding particularly helpful, as it says what to feed them, how they should be developing, and how old to separate etc.

With regards to where she's had the babies, perhaps you could put the whole dining room bit into a large tub (as large as you can), then when the babies do start wandering out, there is an open space for them to explore, rather than them finding lots of tubes and hidy places.

I don't know if anyone else can advise about this though?

[Zeppelin]

Whenever my ladies are pregnant, I do move them to the 'birthing box'. Which is a very large plastic box, which lives in the spare room which temporarily becomes the nursery away from all the others and noise...

I don't know about moving her now as she may get upset with the new place. Maybe you could take out the extensions and leave just the large tank section of the rotastack (I don't trust babies and bars!).

She may move the nest about with time, sometimes when it's not clean enough or when they're wandering about. They tend to amble about from 2 weeks but usually only get really active when their eyes open which can happen from 2 weeks or later...

It's all very exciting, I absolutely love watching them develop and their little characters come out.

I would try and find homes for them, mine go to friends, colleagues, someone who knows someone.... so I can always keep up with them.

[haziebabie]

Thanks for all your replies guys. That article was really useful too. I haven't made any more changes to the layout yet. I thought I would see how we go. I will definitely be blocking the bars on the pod unit if not removing it at some point, Its been quite a few changes already though, firstly I was actually adding on the pod unit when I discovered the babies so that was new and over exciting, then moving the dining room down and taking out tubes (food storage). I have seen all 3 babies getting quite wriggly in the nest today, so day 3 and looking good so far, fingers crossed.

Went to speak to the pet shop again today, don't know why, guess I was hoping for some kind of apology or help. Basically they weren't bothered, said to bring at six weeks again, I said I thought they needed to be sexed and split by then and he just laughed at me, 'have you ever tried to sex hamsters..?'. Not much no but I don't work in a pet shop selling them..! Grrr. He said they didn't need anything extra or anything to supplement. I have decided the babies won't be going back there regardless. I hope to keep one ()and have two potential good homes with friends sorted already, so won't be too bad.

I am really enjoying my occasional peeks when she leaves a gap in the nest, joys of a clear plastic roof. I can't wait to see them grow and play.

[arikata]

Originally Posted by haziebabie

Thanks for all your replies guys. That article was really useful too. I haven't made any more changes to the layout yet. I thought I would see how we go. I will definitely be blocking the bars on the pod unit if not removing it at some point, Its been quite a few changes already though, firstly I was actually adding on the pod unit when I discovered the babies so that was new and over exciting, then moving the dining room down and taking out tubes (food storage). I have seen all 3 babies getting quite wriggly in the nest today, so day 3 and looking good so far, fingers crossed.

Went to speak to the pet shop again today, don't know why, guess I was hoping for some kind of apology or help. Basically they weren't bothered, said to bring at six weeks again, I said I thought they needed to be sexed and split by then and he just laughed at me, 'have you ever tried to sex hamsters..?'. Not much no but I don't work in a pet shop selling them..! Grrr. He said they didn't need anything extra or anything to supplement. I have decided the babies won't be going back there regardless. I hope to keep one ()and have two potential good homes with friends sorted already, so won't be too bad.

I am really enjoying my occasional peeks when she leaves a gap in the nest, joys of a clear plastic roof. I can't wait to see them grow and play.

Pet shops like that really make you wonder. From what I've read it seems pretty straight forward to sex syrians, I've not done much of it though so can't say for sure!! I'm glad that you have taken it upon yourself to give the pups a good start in life

I've had 3 suprise robo litters so far and it's really not as difficult as it seems! I've really enjoyed the experience and learnt a lot. I hope you do too!

Good luck and keep us updated!!

[souffle]

I think you are doing a great job with her. She looks like a chocolate banded hamster and very pretty. As you have found out they can breed very young. Hamsters are quite easy to sex by the time they are 4weeks which is when they should be separated into males and females. They can live together with their siblings till about 6 weeks or so. Our females start standing to mate from around 6 weeks so it is no wonder you got poor Mavis already pregnant from the shop if they are keeping them together til 8 or 9 weeks
You can start sprinkling chopped nuts and small bits near the nest for the pups from about 7-10days. Mavis should take food in to them. Make sure the water bottle is low enough for the pups to reach as they do start to drink quite early when they come out of the nest.
I am so glad you have got some nice homes lined up. Are they showing any fun coming through yet? I would not give them back to this shop either as they do not sound at all responsible.
Good luck and looking forward to seeing the babies when their eyes are open at around 15-17days.

[haziebabie]

The babies are doing great, I haven't seen them for a couple of days but my husband saw a tiny slightly furry brown (like his Mum) head poke up yesterday and we have had a few cheeps and squeaks..