HAMSTER (MOTHERHOOD BEHAVIOR)

Question
YEARS AGO I GOT A HAMSTER FOR MY 2 OLDER KIDS WHO AT THE TIME WERE 6,& 10 AT THE TIME. ANYHOW IT WAS PREGNANT WHEN WE BOUGHT HER SO SOON AFTER GETTING HER SHE HAD A LITTER. ABOUT 2 DAYS LATER WE WERE LOOKING IN THE CAGE TO SEE HOW EVERYTHING WAS GOING AND TO OUR SURPRISE SHE WAS EATING THE BABIES. WHY WOULD SHE DO THAT? I NEED TO KNOW BECAUSE I NOW HAVE A 10 AND A 9 YEAR OLD WHO WANT  A HAMSTER AND BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPEND I'M A LITTLE UNSURE ABOUT GETTING ONE IF YOU COULD HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED MAYBE THEY WILL GET A HAMSTER AFTER ALL

Answer
Hi Valerie,

    There are a few reasons why a Mother hamster will eat her babies, She was to young when she had them and was not ready to take care of them (a female hamster should be at least 4 months old before having babies), The Mother felt threatened or that her babies were in danger (this can happen if the nest or around the nest is being touched or disturbed by the owner or family members). Or if the Mother feels she has too many babies for her to take care of, she will eat some of them. This is all natural behavior for hamsters. It is in their nature.
    I would suggest if you decide to get a hamster, make it a boy, then you will not have to worry about getting a female hamster that may be pregnant.
    If you have anymore questions, please write again.

Thank you for writing and best of luck!