new born hamsters

Question
had a hamster that got pregnant she had them not even a day ago and the cage needs cleaning are you able to move the babies in order to clean the tank will it be a problem with the mom to move them and her to clean it or should we wait another day or so.

Answer
When there are new borns, I would advise not cleaning the cage out for at least a week - possibly two.  The mother will be especially cautious right now and any change in her environment can stress her and she could harm her babies - thinking she is under attack.  I know the cage can get a bit smelly - but if you need to change anything, gently try to scoop out a small amount of soiled wood chippings and replace them a bit at at a time - but I wouldn't do this for a few more days until she is a bit more settled.  Definitely don't use disinfectant at the moment and be careful not to touch any of her babies.  When you do clean her out in a week or two - let her have her nest back so there is some of her scent in the cage - just replace the wood chippings.  I never use disinfectant at this stage - just empty the cage, and if necessary a quick rinse with water - and dry it thoroughly.  When the babies start leaving the nest (10-14 days old) you will need to change the wood chippings every couple of days as they can get very wet - but the mum should be a lot more settled by then.  Make sure there is always plenty of food for her and her and her babies.  She might go into a bit of a panic initially, but just leave her and she should settle down.  Hope this answers your question.