Our hamsters babies

Question
QUESTION: Hi Sheila
I have written to you a couple of times in the past and I see you have loads of baby experience so I thought you would be the best expert to ask.

Our hamster Pinky had babies some time during wednesday night (8th) It wasn't a suprise birth so we have done our reading and everything has gone well so far, Pinky is a great mum and only leaves her nest to gather food before dashing back in again!

Just a few questions though that I never considered, We don't know how many she has had yet as we daren't interfere with her nest, we can't really see into it much as she has built it so well under her platform which we had positioned really low in preperation for the birth. I read that in most litters there are usually a few that die, is this true and if one was to die how would we know and would she get rid of the body or would we need to?  

Also when exactly will it be safe to have a look and to touch them as I have read differing things such as some say 10 days some say 14 I don't want to get it wrong and cause her to kill them. When is safe to give her a cuddle as she does poke her nose through the bars to say hello and my daughter is dying to get her out though she knows she can't yet.

Final thing we are giving her plenty of fresh fruit and veg and baby rice mixed with milk (which she loves!) as well as her usual hamster mix and treats is there anything else we could be giving her?

Any other tips you may have would also be appreciated!

Many thanks Lindsey

ANSWER: Hi Lindsey

In my experience, most times everything goes really well with the litter.  However, occasionally something goes wrong. The only reasons why a mum would kill her babies are if she is afraid, if they are ill or if she doesn't think there will be enough food to go around.

If any are ill, they are too young to intervene anyway at this stage and therefore you need to let nature take its course.  Once they reach 10-14 days sometimes it is possible to intervene, but it is often an uphill struggle.

Make sure she has plenty of food close to the nest. You are doing the right thing in giving her baby rice.  This is the best thing you can give her - mine also love baby porridge.  When the babies are around 12-14 days old they can eat this too, however I would suggest mixing it with water, rather than milk for them as milk can be indigestible, unless you get a special milk powder from the vet which is designed for orphaned animals.  When the babies are around a week -10 days old, start dropping tiny pieces of bread or raw porridge oats and seeds directly into the nest.

I'm assuming Pinky is really tame.  In which case, you can get her out for a play - just remember a couple of important points - firstly, she must not escape - if she does and you can't find her for a day the babies will die at this young age, and secondly, don't keep her out for very long at a time - may be 5 or 10 minutes.  Then return her to her nest.  If she wants to come out for a play - it is good to make a fuss of her.  I would advise not touching the babies until the end of next week - then you need to somehow get under the platform.  The best way to do this is if you can separate the base of the cage from the top.  Get Pinky out and make a fuss of her, then gently, open up the nest and see what is happening.  Gently hold the babies, but remember that they can't be out of the nest for very long (just minutes) as they are very vulnerable at this time and cold is a killer at this age.  Tuck them is as you found them.  Make sure you handle every one, and put your hands over all the bedding so that your scent is everywhere - then return Pinky to the nest.  If you can remove the platform, then this would be good so that you can see what is happening.  By the time the babies are 14 days old they will be leaving the nest anyway.  Pinky might get a bit stressed when they start leaving the nest - all good mums do as they desperately try to get their babies back into the nest, but this usually wears off after a day or two.  By the time the babies are 3 weeks old it is best to be handling them all a few times a day if possible.  They will go through the 'pingy' stage at around 3 weeks in that they catapult out of your hands, but if you persevere they will go beyond this stage and become really tame.

If you have any doubts about touching the babies, or Pinky's reaction to you touching them, then it is worth erring on the side of caution until the babies are 14 days old.

I hope this helps you.
Regards

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

QUESTION: Hi again
thank you for your reply it was very helpful though I just wanted to clarify a couple of things.

Should we be mixing pinkys baby rice with water rather than milk also or is that just for the babies?

You suggested moving the platform, did you mean now or when the babies start coming out of the nest and are ready to be handled, we would love to have a good look at them (and count them!) though we have seen little glimpses of them when Pinky gets up, but I don't want to upset her.  

Thanks again for your advice
Lindsey
ANSWER: Hi Lindsey

I always mix the baby food with water rather than milk - only so that it doesn't go bad during the day if any is left.  Giving Pinky milk is fine - but depending on how hot it is where you live, you might need to remove any uneaten food fairly quickly so the milk doesn't turn.

When I know I'm going to have babies, I always move everything out of the cage - i.e. platforms, houses, etc.  This is just so I can keep an eye on what is happening - and I'm very nosey!  If Pinky is friendly, it might be worth trying to remove the platform - next time she wants to come out for a play or to see what is happening, take her out of the cage and try and remove the platform then.  I would suggest putting her straight back into the cage when you've done that before you look into the nest.  This way, she will see that her nest hasn't been touched, it's just the cage that has been changed slightly.  Assuming she doesn't get stressed by this, then you could try looking in the nest to get a rough idea of how many babies.  Obviously you know her better than I do - and this is something that you really need to gauge.  I tend to make any changes one step at a time.   I also assess each situation - sometimes I look in the nest a few days after the babies are born - just for a quick headcount - although I don't actually touch the babies at this stage unless any have drifted out of the nest and need returning.  Other times I wait a good week before I go near the nest.  The main thing is to make a fuss of Pinky.

Also, I would strongly advise that you don't change her bedding/clean her out for at least a couple of weeks.  If there is any soiled bedding/wood chippings, just remove this, but if you were to change the entire cage contents, this could seriously stress her.  When the babies are a few weeks old you will probably need to clean them out daily because the bedding/wood chippings will get soiled quickly, but if I am emptying the cage daily I don't usually use disinfectant - just a quick wipe round so that their scent remains in the cage.  When you know how many babies you've got, you might want to think about entertaining them in respect to wheels.  Don't use any wheels that have drainage slits or bars - they must be solid as you'll find they will all want to run together.  The more wheels you can fit in the cage the better to save arguments - but it can get very noisy with them all going at the same time!

Good luck with this - please feel free to ask any other questions.

Regards

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

QUESTION: Hi again Sheila

Pinky is very friendly and I'm sure she will be fine if we move the platform, we did remove every thing from the cage in preperation but we thought the platform would make her nest nice and cosy! I'll wait until tonight as she gets out of her nest more then in fact last night she seemed a little restless for a short while and started to chew her bars! Anyway we'll have go and keep our fingers crossed!

Could I also ask a totally unrelated question? Only our other hamster Guinness (the proud father!) has seemed a little lathargic this week, he seems to sit in one corner for ages unless you get him out. He hasn't been going into his wheel much he just seems to sit cleaning himself. I was a little concerned about his testicles, he's always been a "big boy" but they now look huge, when he cleans himself he sort of sits on them and his little legs are up in the air! Is it possible theres something wrong, I could forward you a picture if this helps.
Many thanks for your speedy replies, Lindsey
ANSWER: Hi Lindsey

Regarding Guiness - some male hamsters do have extremely large testicles, and these are especially noticeable in the warm weather.  It is very rare that they get tumors in this area - and if they do it tends to be one sided. I don't know where you are writing from and how hot it is right now, but if there has been an increase in temperature this week, it could just be this, and any increase in heat could also be making him lethargic.  Is he still eating/drinking?  Has there been any change in this at all?  Apart from the lethargy, if you get him out and about does he rally round at all - does he look bright or dull?

My hamsters get very lazy (especially males) in the warmer weather, but when it cools down a bit in the evenings they usually come out for food etc - but often don't want to play.  It is always the girls who want to have a run around in their exercise ball.   

Unless there are any other symptoms, I would think it is just this.

Regards


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

QUESTION: Hi

I am writing from the East Midlands UK, yes it has been warmer over the last few weeks.

He does like to play and run around when he's out of his cage, though I don't think he's a bright as he used to be. He is eating lots as normal, he's been enjoying the baby rice too as we don't like to leave him out! But I was worried he doesn't seem to be drinking I know I don't watch him 24/7 but he used to get up during the day for a drink but now he just seems to get up to eat and have a wee.

I watched him last night on his wheel he only ran round a few times before stopping and just sitting in it washing himself, I wondered if his tescticles rub on it when he tries to run?

Could it be likely that mating him has changed him, and would it cause his testicles to grow?

Thanks again Lindsey
ANSWER: Hi Lindsey

Mating shouldn't have caused a problem.  I'm in the UK too, and last week was about the hottest of the year and I definitely noticed my male hamsters' bodies changing!  Providing there are no sore areas, or discharge, then it is probably the warmer weather.  If you're worried about the amount of fluid he's taking in, you could water down the baby rice to make it runny - this way he'll be eating/drinking it and getting some additional moisture.  Are you feeding him fresh vegetables every day?  If not, it would be good to do this, but avoid lettuce if you can as it can cause diarrhoea.  You could also try and get him to drink a little bit more - if you mix a drop or two of Ribena with some water and use a pipette/dropper - he might take this.  In severe cases you can use human oral rehydration powders - but you have to use these with caution as they can cause serious damage if the hamster isn't actually dehydrated.  For the time being, I would be tempted just to monitor him - and see how he is in a week's time.  Obviously if he suddenly shows signs of being unwell, he'll need to see a vet, but for the time being I wouldn't worry too much.

Please let me know how he gets on, and if you're successful with moving Pinky's platform.

Regards

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

QUESTION: Hi Sheila

the babies are 2 weeks old tonight and have started to come toddling out of the nest, you're right Pinky has been dashing around collecting them up and putting them back in the nest it is so funny to watch! We did a head count at the weekend we have 14 babies and they all seem healthy so well done Pinky.

We had no problem removing her platform she didn't seem worried by it at all and she has been out of her cage  most evenings for a play in her a ball and lots of fuss (we haven't touched the babies yet). The cage is really starting to smell now, I have been cleaning out the corners where she wees. When can we clean it out properly? Would it be Ok to put her platforms and tubes back in as she seems relly restless at night and her cage is really boring for her at the moment, we did put her wheel back in but high enough so the babies won't get on it for now.

Could you confirm exactly when we need to seperate the boys from the girls as some on the site say 3 weeks and some say 4. I am just dreading the time when we have to give them all away it will be hard to see them go, I would love to keep them all but 14 is far too many!

Guinness is much more his old self now, he is a lot more active though he seems to be getting up later and later. I think it was probably just the weather as you said, his boys bits don't seem as big now thank god!

Thanks again for all your advice any other tips on other kinds of food we can give the babies would be great, they love the baby rice & porridge, we have also been dropping rice crispies, weetabix, raisins, fresh peas, yoghurt drops and hamster mix around the cage and nest.
Regards Lindsey

Answer
Hi Lindsey

It's great to hear that the litter is doing well.  Pinky is obviously a great mum - especially with so many to care for.

I usually handle the babies from this age.  Make a fuss of Pinky though, and make sure you handle all the babies.  Each day you can increase the handling.  Try to handle them all the same amount of time - it is easy to always pick up the same one, but in a week's time that one will be tamer than the others.  At this young age I tend to pick up several in one go - and have a handful of babies as they are all pretty delicate and wobbly on their feet.  You don't have to handle them for long (just a few minutes at a time) - little but often is best as you want them to get used to being touched. When they are 3 weeks old I usually move them all into a carry case, then handle them one at a time before returning them to their cage.  This way I know they have all been handled.

With this size of litter the cage will be smelly.  I would suggest putting Pinky and her babies into a carry case or similar, then cleaning out her cage.  If you can, save some of the bedding to put back.  At this time I don't normally disinfect the cage.  A quick rinse with water then dry thoroughly before putting some wood chippings in is usually sufficient.  Returning some of her bedding will help the situation.  She might be a bit stressed initially, but she should settle down - especially once she sees her nest is still there and if you put loads of food in the cage.  The babies will take it in their stride.  By next week you will probably need to start cleaning them out every couple of days.

With regard to returning her platform - I would be inclined not to do this - only because it obstructs your view of the cage.  What type of wheel has she got?  Is it solid, or does it have a 'drainage slit' in it?  You need a solid wheel as in the next week the babies will all be climbing in it and bars or drainage slits in wheels can cause serious injuries.  If you can, I would suggest investing in a few small wheels - as many as you can fit in the cage to avoid fighting.  Once these are in the cage there will probably be little room for much else - hence another reason why I would advise against putting the platform/toys back in.  

Does Pinky have an exercise ball to run in?  If so, she could come out in this for a short time each evening to give her a break from her babies.  But I would recommend only keeping her out for about 10 minutes at a time - but as the babies get older, this time can increase.  

With regard to separating them - I always do this 4 weeks to the day that they were born. The only exception is if the litter is small and the babies large for their age, in which case I might separate them a day or two before, but I never separate them at 3 weeks.  When you do separate them, you can leave Pinky in with the girls, but this depends on how she is coping. This is a large litter and she may be tired from feeding them. Also, sometimes they start picking on the mum if they know she is weak.  In which case, you can take Pinky out and return her to her own cage - along with all her toys etc as her job is done.

After separation, the babies should ideally be kept in two separate cages for another 2 weeks - unless they start fighting.  In my experience if you can keep the babies together until they are 6 weeks old they tend to do a bit better, but if they are all fighting at 5 weeks, then separate them and re-home them.

Food wise - babies can also have scrambled egg or tiny pieces of cheese.  I usually give mine this every 4-5 days, along with brocolli (which is a favourite), sweetcorn, bread, or other vegetables.

Glad to hear Guinness is more his old self now.

Good luck with this.