* Do not disturb mother and babies for at least 2 weeks.
Do not handle the babies or even peek at them for at least two weeks. Their eyes will not be open and they will not be fully furred. The mother hamster will only feed and care for her young if she feels safe and undisturbed. If she feels at all stressed, she could kill her entire litter.
* Give mom privacy and ensure she has nesting materials.
Provide a quiet and private place for the hamster mother and the babies. Remove any other adult hamsters from the enclosure, as they could harm or kill the babies. Provide a clean, safe nest box line with soft material, such as shredded paper or cotton.
* Ensure mom is getting enough protein.
Provide the mother with high protein foods, such as uncooked meat, boiled egg, kitten food, or hamster food that has been fortified with extra protein. It is also important that she has unlimited access to fresh water. Ensure she continues to eat and drink normally. A pregnant hamster will need additional food; nursing females will need to double their normal intake. Weigh her regularly to ensure she is maintaining her weight. If you notice any weight loss, increase the amount of food you are providing.
* Check for and remove dead babies.
Sometimes baby hamsters are stillborn. If you see any dead babies, remove them from the cage so the mother does not consume them. This is common to hamsters because they are a prey animal and hiding the newborns is essential for their survival in the wild.
* Give babies time to wean.
The majority of hamsters are ready to wean around 20 days of age. Allow them to stay with the mother unless they begin to fight. Hamsters are usually ready to move out of the nursery around 4 weeks old. At 4 weeks, it is generally safe to separate males from females. Males that remain with their mother and sisters may attempt to mate with their mother or sisters, which can lead to fighting.
* Separate hamsters by sex.
Hamsters are sexually mature at around 6 weeks of age, so it is important to separate males and females at this time. Males can impregnate females as young as 4 weeks of age, so this is crucial to prevent litter after litter of hamsters.
* Ensure each hamster has its enclosure.
Each hamster over the age of 4 weeks will need their own enclosure. These enclosures should be at least 450 square inches and provide a variety of enrichment items, such as hides, tunnels, wheels, and toys.
* Socialize your hamsters.
Handle the babies regularly to socialize them and help them become accustomed to human interaction. Make sure to let them set the pace of interaction. Some babies will be friendly from day one, while others will need time. Continue feeding mom extra protein. You can gradually reduce the amount of extra protein you give her once the babies start to wean to help her return to her regular diet.