How long after birth should I leave my pregnant hamster alone?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is important that you do not disturb Snow, as even a small amount of stress can cause her to neglect or even canibalize her pups. If this is her first litter, she may be a little confused and not necessarily know what to do. I recommend moistening her food a little bit with water and placing it closer to the nest, without disturbing it. This will provide her with some extra hydration. This moist food should be changed daily to avoid mold from growing in the cage. The pups should start eating food on their own by the time they are about 3 weeks old, and can be removed from the cage at this time. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Hamsters can get aggressive, especially around their young. I recommend handling the young as little as possible to prevent Khaleesi from being aggressive towards you or from taking it out on her pups. While it is less likely at this age, hamsters can even canibalize their young when they are stressed. Hamsters can typically be weaned (start eating dry food, no longer needed milk from the mother) at about 3 weeks. I recommend separating them into different cages or homes to prevent the hamsters from reproducing. You should also separate Khaleesi from the male hamster if you wish to prevent further breeding. Once the pups are gone, Khaleesi should resume her normal behavior towards you. I hope this helps!

Yes, usually after about 2 weeks you can start tohandle them . They can reach sexual maturity between 4 and 6 weeks old so make sure to separate males and females by that time. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Typically no, the mama hamster will not harm her babies. To be sure, keep a close eye on her in the first few days after giving birth. Make sure she is nursing her babies and that she has plenty of food and water to drink. If you become concerned that she will hurt the babies or if she is not feeding them, then you will need to separate them from her to keep her safe. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of 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.

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 reaching out about Nibbles. We can't determine whether the babies are alive or not. You might have to gently disturb the nest and observe the babies for breathing or moving. Do not touch them unless determined dead, to remove, as humane scent on the babies might cause mother to further neglect. I still not sure, the whole cage can be quietly moved and taken to a veterinary clinic for assessment. Good luck.