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For the most part, mother hamsters do a superb job of caring
for their young. Sometimes, though, there are things you can do to help her along. Below is a list of things you can do after
her litter has been born. Do not touch the babies untill day 14. Scroll down to the very bottom and read why.
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Days 1 - 7: Leave the cage completely alone. Don't bother the
mother. Only get in the cage to change food and water.
Day 8: Cut up tiny pieces of apple (or carrot) and put them
in the nest with the pups. It's very funny to watch them eat the pieces! These foods will help keep the babies from becoming
dehydrated, which is crucial when they are this age. Don't touch the babies.
Day 9: Offer mom snacks and let her have
a break from motherhood. Take her out of the cage and hold her for a few minutes or let her run around in a ball. Don't touch
the babies.
Day 10: As with Day 8, offer the babies more soft fruit pieces. Don't touch the babies
Day 11: Lower
the water bottle to 1/2" - 3/4" from the bedding so the babies can reach it. Don't touch the babies.
Day 12 - 13: Continue
to offer very small amounts of apple and carrot, but do so sparingly. Around the 12th, be sure to always have plenty of their
regular diet (seeds and pellets) available because the babies will start to eat this. Also, let the mother have some alone
time by handling her or putting her in her ball. Don't touch the babies.
Day 14- You may hold the babies!!! Continue what you
were doing day 12- 13
Day 15 - 18: Make sure the babies are eating the
regular seed/pellet diet, just like the mother. Watch to make sure they have found the water bottle and know how to drink
from it.
Day 19: The babies are now ready to be separated from mom. Though it might seem upsetting, the mom will be
glad for the rest and relaxation time
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note: YOU CANNOT HOLD YOU'RE HAMSTERS UNTILL 2 WEEKS AFTER THEY ARE BORN! IF YOU TOUCH THEM THE MOTHER
WILL EAT THEM!!! I KNOW IT SOUNDS ODD BUT HAMSTERS ARE CANNABALISTS- WHICH MEAN THEY DON'T MIND EATING EACHOTHER. IF YOU TOUCH
THE BABIES THE SAME SCENT AS THE MOTHERS FOOD WILL BE ON THE BABIES BECAUSE YOU ALSO HAND TOUCH THE HAMSTER FOOD YOU FEED
HER SO SHE WILL PROBABLY EAT HER YOUNG!
note2: this cannabalism only happens with babies. This will not happen if you get another dwarf hamster and put them
in the same cage, and hold both hamsters. |
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