cleaning the cage

Question
hi, it's been 2 weeks since my baby hamsters were born and i just want to know is it okay to clean the cage now w/o the mother getting stressed?

Answer
Hi Shanna!

Yes, by fourteen days most mommas are now sufficiently relaxed in the routine of being a mother that they won't be very upset if you handle their babies.  So clean away!  This is usually the time breeders will record the number of new babies, the sex of the babies, and the tentative color of the babies (you should be able to see what color they are now) for their records, because by this time any weak babies have already died and the ones that are surviving are likely to grow up just fine.

If you are very worried about leaving a scent on the babies, rub your hands in some of the dirty bedding (just don't forget to wash them when you are done) to transfer the hamster smell to your hands, or, you could pick them up using a spoon.  You'll want to be careful doing this at this age, though, because they can and will move around now and you wouldn't want them to fall off the spoon.

Also be careful picking mom up.  Some mommas are cranky when they are nursing a litter and much more apt to bite than they normally would be.  I have one momma who, while she is fine when not nursing a litter, will bite to draw blood any time she is.  What I have to do with her is shoo her into a cardboard tube or plastic cup and then gently tip her into my hand or whatever container I am using to temporarily hold her until her cage is clean.

Thanks for the question!  :)