Hamster Babies (Russian Dwarfs)

[bigfish]

Hiya

Long time no see, sorry i haven't been around but i'm back now. My hamster has just give birth to some babies (number unknown) i would like some advice.

Cheers

...... Do i need to leave anything extra in the cage like different food etc?
...... How does it take for the babies to emerge?
...... I read that you shouldn't disturb nest for at least 10 days, is this true?

 

[Feline]

Hi again Bigfish, just sent you a PM before seeing your messages here. Besides the things i mentioned, browsed on the website I was talking about, and found some information useful to you...

1. Food:
scrambled egg (or boiled, either way, not putting seasonings into it)
tofu
rice, nuts eg peanuts but don't feed too much sunflower seeds
chopped cucumer and grated carrot, broccili, courgette, apple, melon
kitten milk replacement soaked with baby cereal or bread (to help mom produce more milk)
baby food (without onion, garlic or any citrus ingredients)
Fresh water daily
u can also try spreading a thin layer of peanut butter on bread (if it's in thick layers, it'll get stuck in their pouches)

2. Environment:
As quiet as possible
don't go near the cage if possible
somewhere warm and dark
Mom will move babies around if she doesn't feel safe and it's not good. If mom sense danger, she'll eat the babies in extreme cases. If all things go well, the babies will emerge from the nest in 2 weeks.

HTH! B)

 

[bigfish]

Feline your a life saver!!!!! i was worried that i might have had disturbed her and put her off. Certainely looks alot slimmer and at least she can get in the house now without too much of a squeeze.

She is abit shell shocked i think she comes running out of the house, scambles in the food dish and then the babies start squealing for mommy, just stops eating and rushes back too house to make sure everything is all ok.

Dad has been kicked out of the house and being made to sleep downstairs, well he's done his bit hasn't he!!!! should he be removed straight away do you think as i have notice when they are together, bubbles (dad) tries to mount her for abit of nookie!!!! but mucnchkin is wise and keeps her bum to the floor as much to say Give it a rest!!!!!

 

[Feline]

what I heard from my friend is that the dad will help taking care of the babies as well! Yours are russian dwarfs, so I don't think it's much of a problem having daddy and mommy staying together. BUT if the naughty Bubble keeps stressing Munchkin out, you may have to seperate them. Are they the only ones in the same cage with the babies?

 

[Pointy_kitty]

Feline your a life saver!!!!! i was worried that i might have had disturbed her and put her off. Certainely looks alot slimmer and at least she can get in the house now without too much of a squeeze.

She is abit shell shocked i think she comes running out of the house, scambles in the food dish and then the babies start squealing for mommy, just stops eating and rushes back too house to make sure everything is all ok.

Dad has been kicked out of the house and being made to sleep downstairs, well he's done his bit hasn't he!!!! should he be removed straight away do you think as i have notice when they are together, bubbles (dad) tries to mount her for abit of nookie!!!! but mucnchkin is wise and keeps her bum to the floor as much to say Give it a rest!!!!!

thats hilarious!

i think feline covered the basics
not much else to tell unless you have more questions
then feal free to post them

If mom sense danger, she'll eat the babies in extreme cases.

don't you love their logic?

Munchkin: "DANGER! MUST PROTECT BABIES! *GULP* "

 

[bigfish]

Afternoon all i thought i would give you an update in the baby boom box as i have now called it. I have a couple of questions to ask if i may as no else in my family have a clue!!!

1/ The babies are in the small little hamster house, this is where all the squeaking is coming from. Now the little house pongs widly!!!! simpley because Munchkin wets the bed!!!! and because i can't go any where near the house it's starting to whiff abit and smelling my bedroom out, plus i think munchkin is storing all her food in one corner!!!! How can i solve this?

2/ Bubbles the proud father has calmed down where sex is concerned but he still tries it on i don't want to rear another litter just yet i would like to give mom a rest between periods. The other cage i have is occupied with another hamster (female) called Jellybean would she accept another hamster or would she kill it? as she ued to share her cage with another female Snuggles but she died 2 weeks ago

3/ How many babies could a hamster like this have? as there is alot of squeaking going on? Should i peek to see if all is well while mom and dad are playing in the wheel?


I my babies

 

[Feline]

Hey~

The babies are in the small little hamster house, this is where all the squeaking is coming from. Now the little house pongs widly!!!! simpley because Munchkin wets the bed!!!! and because i can't go any where near the house it's starting to whiff abit and smelling my bedroom out, plus i think munchkin is storing all her food in one corner!!!! How can i solve this?

Tricky!

Is the roof of the little house removable? Is Munchkin friendly (like will she get nervous when you get near the cage)?

What bedding are you using for them? Toilet tissue +Carefresh or woodshavings? Carefresh can absorb the odour more effeciently so you might want to try that.

In this case it' better to remove the soiled bedding cause the pee pee's not good for the lungs. It'll be so much easier if the roof is removable. Hey you can also have a look on the babies as well!!

Anyway you can use a clean spoon to scoop the babies to dry bedding if they are on top of the soiled bedding. Then carefully take away only the soiled bedding and put back existing bedding from the cage so their smell will still be there.

But remember to rub your hands with their bedding to put on their smell before you do anything. You might also want to lure Munchkin to an exercise ball before approaching the babies.

Or you can put in dry clean bedding on top of soiled bedding for day 1, then in day 2, use the above method to remove the soiled bedding underneath.

That's what I can think of ... any other solutions guys?

 

[Feline]

2/ Bubbles the proud father has calmed down where sex is concerned but he still tries it on i don't want to rear another litter just yet i would like to give mom a rest between periods. The other cage i have is occupied with another hamster (female) called Jellybean would she accept another hamster or would she kill it? as she ued to share her cage with another female Snuggles but she died 2 weeks ago

Young females can usually be introduced to an older male. And females can be introduced to each other during young age. So it depends on how old they are.

But then problem again:

1. Jellybean might not get along with Munchkin and if they are, I'm not sure how she's react to the babies.

2. And if Bubbles is to live with Jellybean, then... possibility of baby boom again!

Which cage are u using to house them? In this critical period are there any chance to partition the cage until the babies are bigger?

You can also try and see if Jellybean gets along with Munchkin. Put Jellybean near Munchkin's cage and see what's their reaction Will be fun to watch!

 

[Pointy_kitty]

hahaha
beat me to it again feline
i guess i'm not much help

 

[bigfish]

Right yesterday, i changed the soiled bedding wot a mess and a pong inside!!!! i'm surprised the babies weren't gassed out i counted the babies and we have a nice little number of 8!!!!! hope theirs enough milk to go round!!!

Most of the babies have started to change colour they have darken and started growing hair and they are only 4 days old. It nice to see them all huddle up together

I put mum and dad in the ball and they help each other out to push the ball round.

This morning i went to take the hamster house lid off the babies were GONE!!!!! i started flapping around but it's ok mummy had buried them in the sawdust!!!!

Why did she do this?

Last night Bubbles was fighting with munchkin not even to cause injury but it was alot of squealing going on. I assume he wanted abit of nookie but munchkin was saying a big fat NO

One of the babies is still pink and bald and his eye sockets are white and not black like the rest,

Is this the runt of the litter or a blind baby?

It is the same size as the others just looks slightly different.

Thanks for all your help with this, i'm just glad that they are still alive. Munchkin is doing a grand job and she likes to play with me again and not biting me!!!

 

[SailfinGirl]

This morning i went to take the hamster house lid off the babies were GONE!!!!! i started flapping around but it's ok mummy had buried them in the sawdust!!!!

she probably buried her babies becuase you went in the house, so she moved them away from the *predator*!!!

Your pretty lucky she didnt eat them. but theyre getting older. The little one is probably the runt but if he doesnt develop properly a trip to vet may be necessary.

 

[rykitten]

How sweet!

I love reading about your lil babies! Keep it coming!

 

[bigfish]

Thanks for all your sweet comments, last night was pretty much quiet in the cage etc. Daddy sleeps in the house, think him and muchkin have had a barney coz they are avoiding each other.

Jellybean has taken an interest in munchkin from the cage next door. I'm not sure weather to purchase a 3 rd cage for the babies to grow out in or leave them where they are and just remove mum and dad into cage next door with jellybean.

Whats your opinion on this idea?

Is it 6 weeks when they should be re homed? or earlier?

I'm soooo new to this dunno where to start!!!

 

[plecoperson]

If you put mummy and Jellybean in the same cage, chances are theyll get on fine. If you put daddy in there too, he will probably mate with both of them and you will have babies coming out of your ears! buy another cage, and separate the. if you want you can try housing the baby boys with the daddy when they get to 4 or 5 weeks but watch out for fighting. get rid of them at about 6 weeks. the girsl need to be seperated from mummy or they will keep nursing from her.

 

[bigfish]

ok thanks for the infomation. Sounds like a good idea.