OK. what happens if my female hamster has babies and how do i tell when theyre there?

Question

ok its been about 16 days how long until my syrian hamster has her babies by the way there in seperate cages and there both syrian hamsters. how do i know when the babies are there and what time will she have them??? thank you for answering this is higly apreciated by me.

Answer 1

The gestation period for a syrian hamster, if I remember correctly, is about 16-18 days- so she should have them within the week. That's assuming that she was indeed pregnant the day you started counting, as sometimes it can take a couple days because of her cycle. Birth can also be delayed by several other things, so it could take a little longer.

You might here small squeaking noises coming from the nest soon after they are born. My first litter of mice made almost no noise until only a few days ago (they're 10 days old now) but I had another litter born only two days ago and I heard them right away. If the female hamster is really building up her nest, then that's another indicator that it'll happen soon.

I breed mice, not hamsters, so it's a little bit different. Baby mice can usually be handled as soon as 3 days or so after birth (as long as the female has left the nest and you take her out of the cage while handeling them) but I would wait longer to even look into the hamster's nest as hamsters usually aren't nearly as social or trusting as most mice.

When you do go to check on the pups (I would do a bit of research online and check both the recommended handeling age as well as weaning age) first rub your hands around in the bedding so you don't smell as much like a human, and be very gentle with the pups. Don't hold them for long periods of time.

The pups will likely be born at night or early morning, although there are always exceptions. I would add a piece of cat or dog food to the mother's diet each day, as well as a small animal yoghurt treat. This will give her more protein and calcium which will help in the nursing of the pups.

Answer 2

Just chek her cage everyday. You won't be able to tell. **WARNING***
Whatever you do, DO NOT touch the babies or she will eat them. When i was younger, i had 2 and when they had babies, the first thing i did was pet them and hold them and i learned the hard way that they smell the babies as if they weren't theirs so they eat them. When i woke up one day, all i found were heads. I've been traumatized since then and can't own or even see hamsters without that picture coming up in my head.

Answer 3

hampsters are solitary creatures and tend to do best when they are left to do what they do instinctively. If she is stressed out or if the babies have something wrong with them, she may eat them but don't freak out... its just what they do sometimes. You'll know she's had them because you will hear high pitched squeeking. Make sure she is alone in her habitat.. sometimes if dad is around, she will refuse to take care of them or he may eat them. good luck

Answer 4

You won't know until she has them. Don't freak out, if you see her eating some of her babies. They are known to do this sometimes.

Answer 5

Yes keep her in a plastic bag then you will see them for sure.

Answer 6

You wont know exactly what time she will have them... but once she does, you'll hear them "chirping"