Pregnant Hamster - How to Tell?

Question
Thanks Kelly - that helps. i just have one followup question. My hamster has built her nest in her
wheel and completely freaks out when I take it off - she runs around the cage frantically and
chews constantly on her cage. Any alternatives to removing her wheel?

Thank you again. you have been very helpful.

April
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Followup To
Question -
Hi Kelly:

I bought a female Syrian hamster 1.5 weeks ago at Petco. She
seems to be getting fatter around her hips and I think she is
pregnant. I cannot keep her babies if she is pregnant and would
like to know what I can do with the babies after 14 days and how
to tell if she is pregnant or not. She also has made her wheel in
her cage her nest and very rarely comes out of her cage or
comes down to eat.

Thank you and I hope you can respond quickly. I am very
nervous about having a pregnant hamster.

April
Answer -
Hi April,

Don't be nervous.  It's probably not as difficult as you may think :)
First, try to move your hamster's nest to an empty corner of her cage.  You also need to remove
her wheel.  And, along with her regular food, you need to give her small amounts of high-protein
foods, such as scrambled or boiled egg, cheese, or wheatgerm.  You should clean out her cage a
few days before the birth, since you won't be able to for a little while.  Give your hamster plenty
of Aspen or Carefresh bedding.  (Pine and cedar are very dangerous and should never be used in
a small animal's cage, as they can cause respiratory infections.)

After 14 days, the hamsters will still be with their mother.  When the baby hamsters are 3 weeks
old, you need to separate them from their mother and put them in 2 separate cages: one for
females and one for males.  They should stay this way for 2-3 more weeks, and then you may
give them away.  Just remember *not to give them away in pairs, since hamsters are solitary.  
Here's a great website which will give you all of the information you need about pregnancy and
afterwards:

http://www.petwebsite.com/breeds.htm

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.

Kelly

Answer
Hi April,

Well, the reason for removing the wheel is so that the new babies won't hurt themselves.  However, I suppose that if you have a solid wheel (which is necessary anyway) and if you are able to move the wheel up a few rungs, then you could keep it in the cage.  But if it's a free-standing wheel, you really have no alternative because you don't want the baby hamsters to hurt themselves.  You can wait until a couple of days before she's due to give birth to remove it.  Maybe a couple of plain Cheerios will help calm her down :)

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.

Kelly