Dwarf Hamsters have their babies about 16 days after they get pregnant. Once you have taken out your female after the
5-7 days, keep an eye on her for signs of growing fat. It can be a little hard to tell, but after about 2 days she usually
will get fatter around the rear. She will also start to eat more, drink more, collect and hide food more than usual
and will start to make a nest.
Once you're sure she's pregnant start feeding her high protein foods like peanut butter, oats,
and cheese. Don't feed her too much though.
Make sure you wait 5-7 days until you decide if she's pregnant or not. Once she is pregnant
do NOT put her with the male again. He will probably eat the babies and not help out on taking care of them and he will mate
with the mother again once she has her babies.
A couple of days before the mother has her babies make sure you clean out her cage.
You can also give her some plain unscented toilet paper for her nest. When she does have the babies leave her completely alone
except to change food and water and to check up on them. Don't touch the babies until they're two weeks old. The mother may
eat the some babies, especially if it's her first litter.
Here are some reasons why the mother may eat her babies, courtesy of All About Dwarf Hamsters by Mary.
1) It's her first litter so she is inexperienced
2) A human has touched them so they have another smell on them.
3) The babies were disformed or had genectic disorders.
4) She was stressed by loud noises or the father (remember to separate her from him)
The babies may wander away from the litter, don't worry they will find their own way back or the mother will gather them
up.
Now, head on over to the next section for the next set of instructions!
