Information about baby hamsters

Question
Hello. My roomates and I had purchased 2 hamsters, Salt and Pepper. Before we knew it... THEY HAD BABIES! We didn't know about the babies right away, so we arn't quite sure what age they are or what to do. As of right now, the dad stays with them ALL THE TIME! They already have hair, and the mom continuously brings them food, and they are eating it. I know we are suppost to move them away from the mother, but when do we do this? And how do we know when that is, not knowing how old they are? Also, we can't keep the 4 babies, its too many animals, when are we able to get rid of them? And a question about the mother... she used to be the biggest sweetheart! She loved to be in her hamster ball and loved to be held... but now, when we go near her (even when she's away from the babies) she bites! Is this normal? And is there anyway to stop her from doing it?


Thank you, I hope you can help!!!

Answer
Hi Cassi,

If you keep a Male and Female together then they will more than likely have babies so it is always best to sex your hamsters correctly before keeping two together.

I am assuming you have dwarf hamsters as you are housing them together, because Syrians should never be kept in the same cage - not even same sex pairs.  Please let me know what kind of hamsters you have.

The Father will make an excellent parent so dont worry about him hurting them but it is best to remove the father now because there will be more babies if not!

Female hamsters come into heat on the day they give birth so if the father was present at the birth then the female is probably pregnant again now!

When my hamsters are nursing young and i have let them get pregnant again straight away, i always take the older babies from the mother on the day she gives birth, so she doesnt have chance to miss them because she has a new litter to look after.

It is usually just after three weeks when i separate them and they are capable of looking after themselves then - they have most of their fur, have their eyes open and are running around too.  You might have to do this too if she has another litter - if she does then the babies will be about 3 or four weeks old when she does.

You can then leave a male with the father for company and leave a female from the new litter with the mother - then you can rehome all of the rest if thats what you want to do.

The mother may be a little more aggressive because she has young - after all she will be trying to defend them.

Good Luck and let me know how you get on.

Let me know how you get on.

Kind Regards,

Tammy