New Hamster Mom

Question
Hi -
My hamster just had babies on the 26th of May. I wasn't sure she was pregnant, so I left her in her small "first home". It's two floors and has a wheel and a chewing toy. Because the cage is so small will the mother get irratated by her babies and eat them? Late at night she seems like she wants to get out, but her babies are only a few days old. Is it too soon to let mom out and have her play in her ball? Also, should I buy a new cage and try to make them all relocate? I'm afraid the cage is too small and also once the babies start moving around they might escape or get caught in the bars. Can they climb when young? I've been reading up as much as i can but feel like I don't know enough. The last thing I want to do is find out she ate all of her babies. Please tell me what I should do!

Answer
I've owned one of these cages before, so I know exactly which one it is. It is possible to move the babies to a bigger cage, but do it very quickly and very carefully. I bred hamsters for years, and out of numerous births, only one ever ate her babies.

I wouldn't worry so much about her eating them because it's a cramp enviroment, but more so about them escaping when they're older, as you mentioned. Because more than likely, they will be able to squeeze through th bars.

So, I definitely recommend that you go ahead and get a different style (non-wire, obviously), bigger cage, and transfer them. Right before you transfer, make sure to wash your hands very thoroughly, and rinse well to make sure all the soap is off. This will help eliminate any smells you have on your hands when you pick up the babies. You can also get a pair of plastic (not latex!) medical gloves to grab them with. Make sure you pick the mom up and transfer her first, so that she is not able to witness you picking her babies up one by one. It'll ease the stress on her.

Also, after they are moved into a different cage, I would recommend you putting a towel or sheet over the front of her cage, as to block out some of the distractions going on around her. It'll make her more comfortable and less likely to be scared or stressed out to the point of wanting to harm her babies.

Hope all this helps!