How to Take Care of a Hamster That Just Gave Birth

The gestational period of a hamster generally lasts anywhere from 18 to 30 days. After this time, a mother hamster will give birth to a litter that includes up to 26 pups, depending upon the hamster's breed. After the trials of labor it is crucial that the mother hamster is properly taken care of to ensure that she will in turn take care of her new babies.

Things You'll Need

  • High-protein foods
  • Damp cloth
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Instructions

    • 1

      Provide the new hamster mother with foods that are high in protein, such as sunflower seeds, pieces of hardboiled egg and hamster pellets that are infused with protein. The birthing process takes a lot out of the mother and she must be replenished in order to care for the babies.

    • 2

      Make sure the mother has easy access to the water bottle. She needs to have a constant supply of fresh water.

    • 3

      Remove any male hamsters, including the father, from the cage immediately after the mother has given birth. The mother has the possibility of becoming pregnant immediately after birthing her pups. The father will also immediately reject the babies, which will lead to stress in the cage.

    • 4

      Keep the cage in a calm, quiet area of the home. Avoid allowing any loud noises in the room as this could stress the new mother. Any stress felt by the new mother could lead to her cannibalizing her newborn pups.

    • 5

      Avoid touching the new mother and the babies for at least three weeks after she gave birth. If the babies are handled during this time, the mother could reject them or possibly even eat them.

    • 6

      Clean the hamster cage only when necessary for the first three weeks after birth. Do not attempt to remove the mother and babies to perform a thorough cleaning. Instead, wipe down any areas of the cage that are not being used by the new family with a damp cloth.

    • 7

      Remove the babies from their mother's care at four weeks of age. This is when hamsters reach sexual maturity and could possibly mate if left together in the cage.