Is my hamster pregnant? What are the signs and how do I prepare?

With these pictures, I would guess she is pregnant. Gestation for a hamster is 15-18 days. On the third photo, it appears as if her mammary glands are developed. Usually hamsters start building a nest site in a corner. I would definitely separate her from the male as they can be aggressive during birthing. It is important to allow the female to have a quiet, minimally disturbed environment, especially during their first litter, to decrease the chance of rejection of babies by the mother.

Hello. I would guess that Smidge is indeed pregnant. Hamsters reach breeding age at 6-10 weeks & are pregnant an average of 13-22 days. Since she is new to you & her environment, it is important to not disturb her too much once she has her brood. Hamsters will often kill their litter if they feel threatened, so observe her carefully before reaching in to grab her. Good luck & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Separate Bambi from Stitch for now. Her presence may be causing stress as the due date approaches. Clean the cage and replace bedding with fresh bedding. Provide a large enough hide for her and her litter. Remove and wheels temporarily to prevent injury to the pups (baby hamsters). Block off upper levels as well if necessary. Stitch should be eating a high protein diet and have plenty of water available at all times. Once she has the litter, do not disturb her for the first two weeks, this includes cleaning. You can find more information here: http://hamsterhideout.com/forum/topic/61545-crash-course-on-accidental-pregnanciesbabies/

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Indeed this may be just Rosie preparing herself a place to rest. I would not be too concerned as of now though if you wanted to check for a possible pregnancy, you would have to have her checked by a veterinarian for radiographs for example to see if that is the case. Best of luck!

Thanks for reaching out about Hazel and including photos. I assume she has had access to a male in the last 2 weeks. If labored breathing and pregnant, than probably close to delivery. All other hamsters should be removed to allow her to have quiet. If not pregnant, a respiratory disease, abdominal mass or infection need be considered and a veterinary visit is highly recommended, ASAP. Good luck.

Gestation in hamsters averages about 16 days. Labor and delivery can be quick or can take a few hours. It really depends on the size of the litter. If she is nesting, leave her be. Stress or excessive handling may delay labor. Simply provide clean bedding and materials for her as well as food and water.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You are correct in planning for the arrival of the pups. I recommend separating the male as soon as you are sure that the female is pregnant, because females can get pregnant again very shortly after giving birth. It is important to keep the pups quiet and calm, to prevent the mother from eating them when stressed. You should also not touch the pups until they are about 14 days old. There are several types of nesting material available in pet stores, or you could use pieces of paperCut up into small strips. The pups should be separated from their mother when they are about 14 to 21 days old. At this point they should be able to eat normal adult mouse food. I hope this helps and I’m happy to answer any additional questions you may have!