Little pep and her big surprises

[Omalleyoh]

Hi, im actually looking for some advice, we have a syrian hamster that has popped out a bunch of jelly beans. Pep had her babies at least a week ago when we noticed them. At the time pep seemed to be in good health and the babies from what little i saw were moving. Since then pep has built up quite the impressive nest with the babies securely inside which is great but she has done a little too good a job as we cant see or hear them to keep an eye on them.

As it wasnt expected pep remained in her actual enclosure and was not moved in to smaller more sparse cage as seems to be what otjers do going by what ive seen online so she is very effectivly hiding them so my questions are

First how can we check on the babies to be sure everyone is doing ok without stressing pep out? Other than a quick glance the day after she had them we have not seen or heard them.

2nd pep seems to be doing great and will come out in the evening to get her attention, food and treats from us but has not been taken out of her enclosure since she had her babies 8ish days ago she does seem to want to come out though and will climb on to our hands and try to climb up our arms should we take her out for some time as we used to or continue to have her stay in her enclosure?

3rd when the babies start to adventure out of the nest when should we try to socialise them? And also at what age should they be removed from pep? Ive seen conflicting information about this and would just like to clarify so pep doesnt end up mobbed by what appeared to be a very large litter

Thanks and if anyone is able to advise it would be very much appreciated

 

[Maz]

Hi. Quite a surprise!

First thing is - don’t disturb the nest or the babies or do anything in the cage except put food and water out daily - otherwise she could cull them.

In fact it’s best to keep well away from the cage altogether except to put food and water out once a day - ideally when she’s asleep. It just needs a bit of patience.

When they are two weeks old they will appear from the nest and be out and about - once their eyes are open (around that time) you can start handling them.

She is fine where she is but

1) remove the wheel (if you haven’t already)
2) don’t clean, move or disturb anything.
3) put plenty of food, veg, chopped hard boiled egg out each day - she needs to eat well - and when the pups start coming out they will all be eating it.

Fingers crossed!

 

[Socks' Mum]

Congratulations on your little hammy family. Hamsters are able to breed at five weeks, so it's wise to separate the male and female pups before then. Maz's advice is very good. I hope all goes well

 

[Maz]

Yes they need to be separated into boys and girls at four weeks old (they are usually weaned by 3 weeks old but that's a bit too soon to separate). So the boys can stay together but need to go into a different cage. The girls can stay in with the Mum. They can be rehomed separately at 6 weeks. At 6 weeks they can potentially starting squabbling/fighting a bit so having homes lined up ready for when they turn 6 weeks is a good idea.

 

[Omalleyoh]

Hi, thanks so much for the info.

We dont have dad we only got pep as we had read they were solitary animals, we have removed her wheel and sand bath which we did after looking online when she had the babies.

We have been giving her her usual food plus some chicken or tofu as that is what was advised online, theres so much conflicting information its difficult to know whats right. Just want to make sure pep is ok and handeling it ok as im pretty sure she is still young.

Also had a fright last night when i went to put in her fresh food there was a baby out in the open, i think it has crawled out of the nest and rolled down the slope created by peps impressive nest/fortress. I used a spoon so as not to make it smell different and placed it just inside the opening tp the nest and pep pulled it right in. I hope its a case that it tumbled down the hill rather than being dumped there by pep but she was quick to pull it back in so fingers crossed

 

[Maz]

There is a lot of conflicting information - my suggestions comes from NHC breeder advice. Basically just let it happen Keep putting the food out - don't do any cleaning - not even spot cleaning. Wait till they start emerging from the nest at about two weeks old. Avoid being too close to the cage/enclosure, however tempting it is. If a Mother hamster feels her babies are threatened she can cull them to protect them basically.

That was an excellent idea using a spoon to move the baby back and sounds very positive that she took it back into the nest. Did it still look like a bean or did it have fur yet or walking at all?

It's excellent that Mum seems well and had no complications giving birth.

 

[Socks' Mum]

Good thinking with the spoon. Hopefully the pup will be out and about in a week or two. You are doing all you can for them and being a good owner

 

[Tulsi]

How exciting albeit a bit nerve wracking. Can't wait to see the babies!

 

[Omalleyoh]

No the baby was very much mini hamster looking now lol i could see its pattern/colour though not sure how much of that was hair or just skin pigment. It wasnt so much walking as wobbling but her or she looks so much like a mini pep with its pattern and colour im going to be in big trouble wanting to keep them all if they all look like pep