Baby hammies

Question
I have a Campbell's Russian dwarf mother hamster with at least 6 pups which are 6 days old. Why do the babies squeek so much? Is it normal for the mother to move them from the birth place to another location in the cage? The babies are all alive and doing well as far as I can see. NO I HAVE NOT TOUCHED her or the babies at all. Thanks

Answer
Hi Millie

Apologies for the delay in replying to you - I didn't have Internet access.

Campbells are quite vocal hamsters and often chat - however this should be a chirping/soft squeaking sound, or when the hamsters are a bit bigger, play fighting.  However, if the sound is more aggressive then that usually indicates a problem.  When the babies feed they often make a very soft sound too - I often listen to the 'nest' and if I hear that gentle sound I know they are all content.

Russian hamsters do tend to move their nest around anyway as they like to sleep in different areas, so it doesn't surprise me that mum is relocating the nest.  I've not had one who has done this with a litter, but providing she is moving the nest with all the babies (not leaving any behind) then it shouldn't be a problem.  If you do happen to notice a baby out of the nest, gently warm it in your hands and return it to the nest.  If you have to do this, gently place your hand on the other babies too - try not to spook mum - but you need your scent everywhere rather than just on one baby.  

When the babies are around 2 weeks old they will be leaving the nest and at this time it is good to handle them (and mum) as much as possible as this will help tame them quickly.  They will be very jumpy initially so always do this sitting down so they don't have far to fall if they spring out of your hands.  Also, make a fuss of mum.  If mum doesn't know you, then be careful with her - she may become aggressive with you handling her, or going near her babies.  If this is the case, always rub a little of their bedding on your hands first so that they recognise their scent.  If mum doesn't want to be handled, don't bother her as such as you can concentrate on her when the babies have been weaned - you don't want her abandoning the babies or turning on them.  In order to handle the babies, you might need to separate mum away from them, and discretely pick up one baby at a time to handle for a minute or two, before returning it to mum.

Remember that at 4 weeks you need to sex the hamsters and take the boys out - the girls can stay with mum indefinitely providing they don't fight, and the boys can live together.  Sometimes they all get along fine, but if there is serious fighting (that can occur from the age of 6 weeks) then you would have to consider splitting them.  If you are re-homing any I suggest you wait until the babies are close to 6 weeks old.

You can feed the litter baby food - if you buy a packet of 'creamy porridge oats' baby food or similar, and mix a little with water each day - if you put this in a low dish/jam jar lid, then mum will enjoy this and the babies will eat it when they start leaving the nest.  Also make sure the babies can reach the water bottle when they are about 2 1/2 weeks old.

I hope you get on OK.

Regards
Sheila