Hamsters are very popular pets. They are fun to watch and easy to care for. Many are breeding hamsters. But it is quite difficult for an inexperienced breeder to determine the pregnancy of a hamster.
Instructions
Step 1
To understand whether your female hamster is pregnant or not, you need to know some of the breeding characteristics of these animals. First, the age of the hamster. The female must be at least 4 months old. The male may be a little younger - 3-3, 5 months old. If the rodents are younger, pregnancy most likely will not occur.
Step 2
It is better if the animals live in different cages and meet only for mating. This is due to the fact that hamsters, in principle, do not tolerate the presence of strangers in their shelter. Therefore, add the female to the male only at the time of mating. And then transfer it to its usual habitat.
Step 3
Pregnancy lasts 16-20 days, depending on the type of rodent. But it is very difficult to determine it by external signs. Only small smooth hamsters of the Dzungarian breed have a small tummy at the end of the gestation period. But in fluffy, artificially bred animals, pregnancy is not visible. There is only one way out - watch. If, 16-20 days after the alleged conception, the female began to look for secluded corners, hide, equip a nest, it means that the birth will be soon. If not, the mating was unsuccessful, try again.
Step 4
Hamsters usually give birth to 6-8 cubs. Unfortunately, young females very often do not perceive them as their offspring. They may refuse to feed babies with milk or even eat them, perceiving them as something alien. There is no way to prevent this. Newly born hamsters are absolutely helpless, naked and blind. And if you put them in a separate cage, they will simply die. Therefore, during lambing, try not to come close to the female's house. Better yet, move the cage to a quiet, peaceful place. Never touch newborns! Smelling someone else's smell, the mother can simply kill them.
Step 5
After about 10 days, the hamsters become almost independent. They begin to try adult food and eat less and less mother's milk. Don't miss this moment! Change the water in the sippy cup as often as possible and put enough food in the cage. Don't forget about vegetables and fruits. They are very tasty, and so kids like them.
Step 6
You can look for a new home for the cubs after the first month of life. During this period, hamsters will grow up and gain independence. In addition, they will very soon begin to divide territory among themselves, and this will lead to fights and quarrels. Therefore, do not delay the search for new owners for your animals.
