the female

Question
QUESTION: ok so i live with my mom and go to my dads every other weekend. about three weeks ago i got a new female hamster and put it with my male and i thought they were fighting, so i separated them and put her in the bigger cage. and about 45 mins ago i found 4 little hamsters they already have fur so about how old do you think they are?? and when can i clean the cage, its really gross and dirty,

ANSWER: Hi Alysa,

Babies are sparsely covered in a short, fine fur when they're 10 days old, and they are fully covered in fur when they're 14 days old, so I would assume that your babies are around 10-14 days old.

It's safe to handle the babies once they're 14 days old.  (To be on the safe side, wait a couple of days before you begin touching them.)  Also, when they're 14 days old, you can clean the cage.

After you've cleaned the cage, scatter hamster food on the floor of the cage, so that the babies can begin experimenting with it.  Go ahead and lower the water bottle, as well, so the babies can reach it.

When the babies are 3 weeks old, they are fully weaned from their mother.  They should be placed in a different cage, away from their mother, when they are 3 weeks old.  Let them stay in this cage for another 3 weeks.  

Then, when the babies are 6 weeks old, you can give them away.  If you have Syrian hamsters (the larger, more common type of hamster), you should give them away one at a time, because Syrian hamsters can't live more than one to a cage.  If two adult Syrians are in one cage, they will fight violently.  If you have Dwarf hamsters, then you should give them away in same-sex pairs.  Here's a website which will further help you:

http://www.petwebsite.com/hamsters/rearing_syrian_babies.htm

http://www.petwebsite.com/hamsters/breeding_russian_hamsters.htm

Have a great weekend, and a happy holiday season!

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask :)

Kelly


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: OK so i have notice that the female has been running around like she use to before i pulled her out to put her in her ball. is it OK for me to do that when she is not nursing?

Answer
Hi Alysa,

It's okay for you to let your hamster run in her ball to let off some energy.  However, make sure it's not for more than 5 minutes at a time.  For example, when she's awake, let her run in her ball for 5 minutes every 1-2 hours.  That should help her work off some energy.

Be careful that when you take her out of the cage, you're not touching the babies.  Your scent on the babies might make her reject them.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask :)

Kelly