My Hamster Just Had a Baby, What Do I Do?

Whether you breed hamsters for profit or accidentally receive a pregnant hamster from a pet store knowing the proper care techniques for baby hamsters is vital for their health and survival. Much of the process involves patience and allowing the mother to care for her children instinctually. However, there a few steps you can take to make the ordeal easier on the mother and help the newborns to adapt to life as a hamster.

  1. The First Two Weeks

    • The first two weeks of life for a little of baby hamsters should be left entirely to the care of the mother hamster. Do not touch the babies under any circumstance during this period of time. Touching the babies changes their scent and can confuse the mother hamster into thinking that they are not her children. If this happens she may abandon or eat them. It is also important to avoid cleaning the entire cage. Focus on cleaning up soiled areas only. Feed the mother hamster more than usual to keep her strength up as she nurses her young.

    Week Two to Three

    • By this point the baby hamsters' eyes should have opened and they will be in the process of learning how to drink from the water bottle. If the any of the babies have trouble accessing water, give them small pieces of cucumbers or lettuce to avoid them becoming dehydrated. You should continue spot cleaning the cage, only. Keep fresh food and water available at all times. Also, keep in mind that the mother hamster may behave differently towards you because she is protective of her young. This is only temporary and no cause for concern.

    Week Three to Four

    • At about the three week mark the baby hamsters will have begun to wean away from their mother's milk and start relying on normal, bagged food and vegetables. If any fights break out between hamsters and they come to harm, try to keep the aggressive babies apart from the calm ones. You may completely clean the cage at this point, if you feel it is necessary, but extreme care should be taken to avoid making the mother or babies anxious during the process.

    Week Four and Beyond

    • Infant hamsters should be kept with their mother for at least four weeks after birth. This is to ensure their health and proper development and so that the mother can teach her children to eat and drink normal food and water. If all of the young hamsters appear healthy and able to live independently by five weeks of age, place them into individual homes and care for them normally. At this point, male and female hamsters should be separated, unless you intend to raise and care for more baby hamsters. Hamsters begin to mate by eight weeks old.