Syrian hamster breeding at home. Breeding hamsters at home
Hamsters are a pet that has a very typical breeding procedure. They have a natural tendency to mate every week. The months from April to October are known as the hamster's mating season. The most common breeds are the Syrian and Djungarian hamster, the reproduction of which is described here.
Syrian hamsters are inherently solitary, and this makes mating particularly difficult, as a female or male must only be introduced into another hamster's cage if the female is in heat to avoid serious fighting. Breeding Syrian hamsters requires patience from their owners.
Breeding Syrian hamsters requires patience from their owners
Estrus in domestic rodents
The female Syrian hamster goes into heat every 4 days (although this can vary from 3-5 days). At this time, she is more active and receptive to the attention of a man. Females come into estrus in the evening and can remain for 4 to 24 hours. Before this, the female usually emits a strong musky odor, and this is often noticeable during the summer months. The day after this, the hamster produces a thick white discharge from the vagina, and white discharge may sometimes appear in the urine.
During the winter, females may stop being in heat, and this can be helped by extending their daytime hours, turning on lights for 12 hours every day for a few days, and feeding vegetables.
Syrian hamsters should only be brought in for mating when the female is in heat. Even so, the male should not be introduced to the female on her territory, as she will be fiercely protective of her. The female should be introduced into the male's cage or she should be introduced into neutral territory.
It is best for mating to take place on neutral territory
If a female is suspected of being in heat, she can sometimes be "tested" by stroking her back towards her tail. The female will “freeze”, her body will be pressed to the floor, her head is directed forward, and her tail is in the air.
If there is any doubt as to whether the hamster is in heat, it is usually recommended to introduce rodents of both sexes into the cage so that they can be easily separated if a fight occurs. It is also wise to wear gloves or have a handy object that can be used to separate them if a fight does occur, as attempting to separate a female and male fight with bare hands is not recommended. If the female is not receptive to the male, she should be removed and repeated the next evening until she is receptive.
How do hamsters mate?
When introduced into the cage, the male should begin to fuss around the female, and if she is receptive, she should "freeze" her tail in the air. A male who has not yet bred may seem a little embarrassed and try to mate from all angles, but will usually take too long to think about it.
Females who have not been mated before are not always tolerant of this confusing mating attempt from virgin males. Females who have mated before appear to be more tolerant of these attempts. Mating is often more successful if the male or female has been previously bonded and experienced.
The male will mount and push the female several times before mating. The male will mate with the female several times, and the mating of the hamsters will continue for 20 minutes, unless they lose interest before this time, in which case they should be separated and returned to their cages. Gentle biting of the female's skin is common behavior for some males, but this is normal and usually nothing to worry about, although the female may become irritated in a very enthusiastic male.
The male will mate with the female several times, and mating hamsters can last for 20 minutes
It is not always the case that a hamster becomes pregnant after the first mating, and some males may need to mate several times before a successful pregnancy occurs. Very often males do not show interest in mating, and this happens most often in winter, when it is colder. Very rarely, a male may not be interested in mating at all.
Pregnant hamsters usually do not go into heat after pregnancy, and therefore the pregnancy can be "checked" if a white discharge does not appear from the genitals 5 days after mating.
The female usually becomes sterile once she reaches 12-14 months of age, but may still be in estrus.
The gestation period of Syrian hamsters is 16 days, so the female usually gives birth 16 days after the date of successful mating. Very rarely she will not give birth until the 17th or 18th day. The female usually begins to show pregnancy about 10 days after mating. Her belly will be swollen and her nipples will become more visible.
During pregnancy, she needs to be given high protein foods such as broken or boiled eggs, wheat, cheese and tofu. The female's feeding may continue until several days before pregnancy, when it is best kept to a minimum. It is also a good idea to remove the wheel a few days before birth and while the mother is breastfeeding. The cage should be cleaned two days before the expected due date and the female should be provided with sufficient suitable bedding. She should be disturbed as little as possible during the expected birth.
If a pregnant female does not give birth after 18 days, this usually indicates a phantom pregnancy or problems with labor. The vet can induce pregnancy, but it is very difficult and most vets will not want to do it. If the female is not showing signs of giving birth, this is usually not a big concern as the babies will be reabsorbed into the bloodstream without harming the animal. However, if the female appears to be having difficulty giving birth or appears sick, then a veterinarian should be contacted immediately. Syrian hamsters usually give birth during the evening, night or early morning, but sometimes give birth during the day. The female is active until the moment of birth. Before she delivers each baby, she tightens her abdominal muscles two or three times, then sits and squats as she delivers one baby within a couple of minutes.
If a pregnant female does not give birth after 18 days, a veterinarian should be consulted.
The placenta, which looks like a small red blood sac, can be released after each baby is born and is usually eaten by the mother as it is a good source of protein. Babies are born at approximately 10-minute intervals, and the mother may be active between each birth. Therefore, babies may be born all over the cage, but the mother will usually collect them all and place them in the nest once the birth is complete.
After the female has given birth, blood stains often appear on the bedding or around the cage. This is caused by the passage of the placenta and is normal and nothing to worry about. Heavy bleeding in a female, however, should be a cause for concern.
Baby hamsters are born naked, blind and deaf, weighing only 3 grams. They are born with teeth that allow them to suck, and their skin is transparent and milk can be seen in the stomach after feeding.
Crossbreeding and breeding hamsters at home
All 5 hamsters have different body shapes, bone structure and size. The most common confusion arises between Djungarian and "" hamsters. They are considered the same breed because they are closely related and can technically cross breed while none of the other species can.
Mating between a Syrian hamster and a Djungarian is impossible. These 2 types of hamsters do not “crossbreed”.
Pair of hamsters
All pet owners can be divided into 2 categories. Those who keep pets in their home because of their great love for them, and those who plan to earn money by breeding offspring from their pet. Well, we won’t try to shame anyone now for mercantile interests. In the end, there's nothing wrong with it. And, if someone had not been breeding hamsters at home, then your charming Hamster would not be living in your house now. Simply, in our publication we want to tell you how to do it correctly - with minimal moral and material losses, both for you and for your pet. So, how to breed hamsters at home...
What types of hamsters can be bred at home?
Do not rush to think that if hamsters are prolific rodents, then all you have to do is choose any species you like, purchase a pair, and you can begin the breeding process. Not at all. It's not that simple. Some types of hamsters are absolutely not amenable to breeding, no matter how hard you try and torture the animal. And, here, they just like to live alone, therefore, they do not lend themselves well to reproduction. And, the cohabitation of a pair of hamsters of these species in the same cage ends badly in 95% of cases, since between the rodents, even despite the fact that they are of different sexes, conflicts arise, struggle for territory, sharp teeth and claws are used, and as a result In such a showdown, one of the hamsters may die. The exception is Roborovsky's hamsters. They are paired animals that do not tolerate loneliness well. They can be kept in a cage as a pair. And, for all the rest, including the Dzungarians, if you are so eager to start breeding them, it is better to separate them into different cages and bring them together only for mating.
Regarding Roborovsky's hamsters, I would also like to say that in captivity they reproduce poorly; for this they need special temperature conditions. But, if you “catch” the temperature and pick a couple, your Roborovets will regularly delight you with offspring. True, sometimes it is still worth seating them for a certain period of time, since frequent childbirth exhausts the female hamster’s body.
Recommendations regarding breeding hamsters at home
- Most “breeders” of hamsters still recommend keeping the male and female in separate cages and bringing them together only for mating, and on neutral territory.
- Breeding hamsters younger than 4 months of age is not recommended. The offspring may be too weak, and early birth will weaken the female hamster’s body.
- If you seriously decide to breed rodents, then it is better to purchase. Moreover, for each female it is necessary to have a separate cage. You should also have an extra cage for hatching. By the way, do not forget that already at 4 weeks your grown-up hamsters are ready to reproduce, therefore, keeping babies of different sexes in the same cage is not recommended, since mating processes can occur uncontrollably, but the offspring from such early mating will not be viable.
- To educate yourself, be sure to take a short course on the genetics and species of hamsters. Then, you will be able to independently answer all the questions you have, and the result of your work will not disappoint you.
- Chinese hamsters are very difficult to breed. The fact is that they are so aggressive towards each other that in order to count on offspring from them, the couple must be kept together from early childhood. Only then will they react adequately to each other. Otherwise, when a male stranger is placed next to a female, she may even tear him apart...
Comfortable conditions for reproduction
Numerous offspring
Well, after you have figured out the type of hamsters, the number of cages for them, and the number of females and males, it’s time to create comfortable conditions for these small rodents to reproduce. To do this, you must take care, as we wrote above, about purchasing several cages or terrariums that are spacious enough (the floor area of the cage should be no less than 30 x 50 centimeters). This is necessary so that the animal has space to run and frolic. So, for dwarf breeds of hamsters - these are Djungarian, Chinese, Roborovsky and Campbell hamsters, it is necessary to adhere to these exact sizes, since they are very active. If it is not possible to purchase such a large cage, you can try to win by having several floors in the cage. As for the rods in the cages, in addition to the fact that they must be very strong, their optimal placement is horizontal. This way, the hamster will be able to climb them like a ladder.
Do not forget about installing a drinking bowl, feeder, and running wheel for play in such a cage. Many hamster owners often simply install a bowl of water instead of a drinking bowl - but this is not entirely correct. Since the hamster can tip the bowl over, the water will spill and you will have to clean and tidy the cage. You will avoid all this if you install a special drinking bowl - the hamster will definitely not turn it over. In addition, using a drinking bowl, you can easily dissolve vitamins and special additives in such drinking water, and you will monitor the amount of water that the rodent drinks. Well, a running wheel is a must-have for maintaining healthy physical shape. You won't believe it, but
In nature, a baby hamster runs up to 12 kilometers a day, and at the same time he feels good. But a passive lifestyle in your cell negatively affects it...
If you have the desire and the area of the cage allows, you can also install a house and a toilet in it. Don't forget about toys - you can see walking balls or pens in veterinary and pet stores. True, here it is necessary to take into account the individual characteristics of the hamster - one enjoys traveling in a walking ball, while the other is afraid of it for some reason...
As for the choice of filler for a cage with hamsters, we had a whole publication about this on our website, but we would like to remind you that it is still recommended to opt for sawdust - pressed or granular, at your discretion. If possible, you can use hay or special pressed cellulose filler. As for paper and napkins, this is a controversial issue. Although, some breeders claim that hamsters build nests from this material. But what is strictly forbidden to use as a material for such a nest is cotton wool. Moreover, any one, even one that may say that it is intended for use in cages with small rodents. The fact is that thin fibers of cotton wool can wrap around your pet’s paws and disrupt blood circulation in his limbs. As a result, the paw may completely atrophy, and the animal may die. Well, if the hamster “thinks” of eating cotton wool, it can damage its intestines with its fibers. A similar taboo for using in hamster cages is newspapers and magazines. The sheets of these publications contain “tons” of printing ink, a drop of which can kill our beloved hamster.
Don’t forget to place a special stone in the cage on which the rodent will grind its teeth. There are several types of such stones - chalk, mineral, they can have different shapes, sizes and colors. By the way, an alternative to such stones can be branches of fruit trees - a natural product.
Since you are already here, then most likely you have already read ours, reduced to one article. Therefore, today we will talk about such a breed as, about which we have already written.
Now it's time to talk about reproduction. Did you know that Djungarian hamsters reproduce very easily and quickly in captivity? Therefore, if you become the owner of a pair of such small rodents, then you should prepare for the fact that your hamsters will soon have abundant offspring, and they will appear with enviable frequency, which is what we’ll talk about today.
Peculiarities of cohabitation of a pair of Djungarian hamsters
Despite the fact that you decided to take a pair at once and motivated this by the fact that your hamsters would not be bored, experienced hamster breeders (there are such!) still advise keeping different-sex Djungarian hamsters in different cages and uniting the family only for mating periods. Why? The fact is that the male and female dzhungarik, despite the fact that by chance they are now husband and wife, will still fight for territory, and in the process of such a fight they will have scratches, bites and others injuries. Therefore, in order to avoid such family bloodshed, it is better to keep them separate. Although, as an exception, there are known cases when a male and a female live in perfect harmony and do not conflict over the centimeters of their cage, but this is extremely rare...
But, if you do not give up hope of living together (or you feel sorry for buying another cage), you can place the hamsters together, but at the same time carefully observe their behavior for several days. If there are no conflicts, that’s good; if the dear ones scold, put them in different cages.
It is noteworthy that, as the experience of hamster breeders shows,
Most often in such conflicts and battles for the cage and the showdown of “who’s boss”, the female wins, and the male almost always gives in to her.
In order to prevent the development of possible conflict situations, it is also recommended to have a couple at the same time and of the same age. It is not worth adding a new female who is younger than him to a permanent resident of the cage; the rodents may begin to conflict.
And finally, a little secret on how to encourage your hamsters to each other and help them develop a warm relationship.
Place the hamsters in one cage and shine a bright lamp light on it. Naturally, your hamsters will not like this behavior and the dwarf hamsters will try to hide from the bright light in the dark. But there is only one dark corner, so they will have to, willy-nilly, but make friends with each other...
When can you start mating Djungarian hamsters?
In order to answer this question, we will first answer the question of when puberty occurs in Djungarians. And, this usually happens when your hamster is 1-2 months old, but it’s better to wait a few months before mating, so that the hamsters “grow up” and the female is able to take care of her offspring.
Considering the peculiarity of these rodents - their love for nightlife, do not be surprised that they will also postpone such a crucial moment in their lives as mating until dark.
Once every 4-5 days, a female dwarf goes into estrus, and its duration can range from 4 to 24 hours. It is during this period that the female is ready for mating. How do you know when estrus has occurred? The female herself will tell you about this by her behavior - she will raise her tail, arch her back and respond loyally to the approach of the male.
True, it may happen that she doesn’t like the male, but as they say, for lack of anything better, sooner or later, perhaps not in this estrus, but in the next one, she will definitely give up.
Video about hamster breeding
How does pregnancy proceed in a female dzhungarika
Pregnancy in a female Djungarian hamster lasts from 17 to 21 days. If labor does not occur on both the 22nd and 23rd days, the help of a veterinarian may be required.
During pregnancy, the female should not be nervous or worried, and if the male irritates her, it is better to move him out of the cage to another place. Feed the expectant mother fresh vegetables and fruits, give her egg whites, you can give her a small piece of boiled chicken meat, dairy products, and be sure to provide her with a mineral chalk stone.
Also provide the female with building material for the nest - this material is suitable.
A few days before the expected date of birth, remove the cage and hide the running wheel - the expectant mother will certainly not need it in the coming days.
When breeding hamsters, the following main factors need to be taken into account:
- Hamsters kept together do not get along very well, so the male and female should live in separate cages and should be brought together on neutral territory, and under the supervision of the owner. An exception to this rule is Roborovsky's hamsters;
- at the time of the first mating, both the female and the male must be at least four months old;
- after the next birth, the female must have at least two months before the next mating;
- A female older than one year cannot be bred.
How do hamsters mate?
First you need to determine the female's estrus period. Estrus occurs once every 3-5 days, its duration is from four hours to a day. You can recognize its occurrence by the following signs:
- during the period of estrus, the female secretes a substance that has a sharp musky odor;
- mucous discharge is observed in the tail area;
- she becomes restless and may run around the cage from corner to corner;
- may refuse his most favorite treat;
- makes specific sounds.
As for males, everything is simple here, they are able to mate from the fifth week of life and this ability persists almost throughout their entire life.
As already mentioned, mating should take place on neutral territory, so prepare a cage or just a cardboard box in advance. Keep in mind that if the female has not yet come into heat, a conflict may well arise between her and the male - the bulls are ready to separate the fighting, and in this case it is better to prepare a pair of gloves.
If the time for mating is chosen correctly, and the hamster is quite friendly towards the gentleman, mating will occur, which can take 5-20 minutes. After everything happened, the hamsters are seated in their home apartments.
If the female does not come into heat 3-5 days after mating, then the mating process was successful and the female is pregnant. However, pregnancy does not always occur immediately after the first attempt. During the next period of estrus, you can try mating again until the desired result is achieved.
Most often for breeding it is recommended to have 1 male for 2-5 females. In some literary sources, cages with females are advised to be placed around a male’s cage. The male cell is connected to the female cells using special connecting pipes. The diameter of the pipes is selected so that the male can easily move along them (approximately 4 cm). So that only the male can get into the cages of the females, and the females cannot get into other cages, a collar made of synthetic material is put on them. This ensures that there are no fights between pets.
Pregnancy and birth of hamsters
A hamster's pregnancy lasts on average only 14-19 days, but in Djungarian hamsters the pregnancy can last up to 30 days. On the tenth day, visual signs of pregnancy appear, and it is from this moment that the rapid weight gain of the expectant mother begins. If the female's weight decreases during pregnancy, this may indicate illness or death of the embryos inside the womb.
Approximate duration of pregnancy for:
- Syrian hamsters and Roborovsky hamsters – 16-17 days;
- Campbell's hamsters and Siberian hamsters - 19-20 days.
Expectant mothers move very carefully, trying not to make sudden movements. Do not disturb a pregnant female unless absolutely necessary! Include more protein in her diet (this could be egg whites, cheese, cottage cheese, baby meat food, etc.).
3 days before giving birth, the female’s thirst increases. During this time, the water should be changed at least 3-4 times a day.
Labor usually begins at night. Set up a house or nest in the cage in advance (you can use a cardboard box). The hamster arranges everything inside the nest herself, just don’t forget to provide her with soft paper, napkins and hay. The cage where the hamster will give birth should be in a quiet and peaceful place.
Usually the pet copes well with the birthing process on its own, and in the morning the owners discover a new baby. Hamsters are born in a shell, the mother gnaws it in the area of the baby's head, and the baby takes its first breath. Each hamster litter can have anywhere from four to eighteen babies. Babies are born completely helpless, deaf, blind, tiny, their skin is thin and red. The only thing that babies have perfectly developed is the ability to distinguish smells.
Experienced breeders and veterinarians can help with the birthing process when a female is giving birth for the first time or when a large number of babies are being born.
But there are times when during the birth process the help of a veterinarian is necessary, namely:
- if, with obvious contractions and pushing after 15 minutes, there are no results
- After the birth of the first baby, after 30 minutes, the remaining babies are not born.
Within 30 min. After giving birth, a healthy mother will definitely eat before starting to feed her babies. Refusal to eat may mean the occurrence of any postpartum complications. The vaginal membrane closes in the first two days after birth, and at this time you may notice slight bleeding from the birth canal.
The first time a hamster usually gives birth to 4-5 babies, subsequent litters can include many more babies.
Caring for Hamsters
After birth, during the first week, hamsters cannot be picked up. Having smelled someone else's scent on the cubs, the mother will most likely eat them. The desire to pet the babies should be postponed until the fur appears, which will happen in a week.
For the convenience of mother and babies, it is recommended to put a napkin or soft paper in the cage, with which the female covers the cubs when leaving them to eat. 5 days after birth, the cubs can already squeak demandingly; on the twelfth day of life, the hamsters begin to slowly crawl out of the nest and explore the surrounding space. Babies' eyes open only 2 weeks after birth, and around this time they begin to feed on their own. At this time, you can put a little porridge and carrots, grated on a fine grater, in the baby's cage. A healthy mother with a large amount of milk can feed her cubs for up to a month, and this has a positive effect on the health and strength of the hamsters.
At the age of one month, hamsters are placed in cages: boys in one cage, girls in another. This is done in order to prevent early unwanted pregnancy. Hamsters live in their new home for another 1-2 weeks. During this period, hamsters are tamed and played with. Hamsters can move to a new home with new owners at the age of 5-6 weeks.
Problems when breeding hamsters
Cubs can be born dead, die during childbirth, or become victims of a negligent mother.
Dead cubs can be born to a healthy female for the following reasons: infection, disease, poor nutrition, poor diet during pregnancy, lack of essential vitamins and microelements in food.
Often a pregnancy, especially the first one, ends with the hamster eating the babies. There are quite a few reasons for this:
- improper diet during pregnancy, in particular, insufficient amount of animal protein in the diet;
- the failed mother is too young;
- stress or fear after childbirth;
- in the cage where the hamster gave birth, there is a male who poses a threat to her babies, and therefore she directs aggression either at the male, and if this fails, then at the babies;
- regulation of the number of offspring (a female hamster has 5 or 6 pairs of nipples, and so many babies can be born that she will not be able to feed them all);
- if the baby was born weak, sick or with a birth defect;
- if a person picks up a small hamster in his arms in the first week after giving birth, which causes the baby to develop a foreign smell.
There is also a situation when the cubs die due to the excessive care of the mother, when, worrying about the safety of the offspring, she constantly moves the cubs in search of a safer place.
Babies can be born completely healthy, and yet die in the first week of life. This may happen due to the fact that the female is not able to fully feed her babies (insufficient amount of milk or its complete absence).
Poor nutrition, lack of drinking water, heat in the room where the cage with a pregnant female is located and stress can cause the death of a hamster just before giving birth or at the very beginning of feeding newborns. This condition is often called hamster pregnancy toxicosis. Signs of pregnancy toxicosis in females: lack or decreased appetite, dull and tousled fur, muscle spasms, and drooling.
Attempts to cure this problem are unsuccessful in most cases. Prevention is important here - providing the most comfortable conditions for a pregnant hamster (constant humidity and air temperature, absence of drafts, peace and quiet, as well as a properly formulated diet and access to fresh, clean water).
Hamsters are fun pets that are very easy to care for. Therefore, their acquisition for many breeders can be a low-cost and interesting undertaking. Rodents are often purchased for profit, since breeding hamsters can bring significant income.
Before breeding Djungarian hamsters, you need to determine their breed - not all of them lend themselves well to successful breeding. Many beginners believe that after purchasing a male and a female, they will immediately begin breeding. This is a misconception. Dzungariki prefer solitude, so the neighborhood often ends in a fierce struggle for territory. The only possible breeding option is to house the rodents separately.
Hamsters are fun pets that are very easy to care for.
They are of no small importance. Optimal temperature conditions, proper nutrition and an active lifestyle will improve the health of the dwarf and ensure good reproduction. Although hamsters are considered to be very fertile, achieving maximum results requires a comprehensive approach.
Sometimes rodents reproduce spontaneously at home if a couple is kept in the same cage. To do this, it is enough to make a mistake with the floor when purchasing. Sometimes breeders purchase a female that is already pregnant. But if breeding is a conscious decision, the process must be strictly controlled.
Preparing the premises
Before breeding hamsters, you need to prepare cages and a compact carrier for mating. Adults are kept separately. In addition, it is advisable to have an additional cage to accommodate the offspring. The dwelling must be at least thirty percent wide and fifty percent long. To prevent the animal from becoming obese, it is necessary to install a running wheel. Another important attribute is the drinking bowl. In order for newborns to feel comfortable, the room temperature should be maintained between twenty-one and twenty-five degrees. It is recommended to place the cage in a quiet place, preferably in the shade. Particular attention should be paid to adequate feeding.
Before breeding hamsters, you need to prepare cages and a compact carrier for mating
Buying hamsters
To get full-fledged offspring, you need to buy one male and several females.
Rodents should not be related, and it is better to purchase them at an exhibition or from professional breeders. If the origin of the hamsters cannot be determined at the pet store, male and female hamsters are purchased from different places.
Experts advise choosing animals with a friendly character and ideal appearance.
Experts advise choosing animals with a friendly character and ideal appearance. The female should not be small - with a size of less than forty grams, she may not give birth. The same risk exists with obesity. Crossing is prohibited not only between relatives, but also between species. Djungarian hamsters are not allowed to be crossed with the Campbell breed. Despite the fact that they are similar and produce good offspring, large fetuses and complications during childbirth are possible, which can lead to the death of the female. In order not to confuse the species, you need to take into account the main feature of the Djungarians - a kind of diamond on the head and an expansion of the black stripe running along the spine.
Matching
Djungarian hamsters have a small number of colors, and the most popular is natural. Eyes are only black. Some breeders manage to obtain non-standard coat colors:
- pearl – white with gray;
- tangerine – reddish and sandy;
- sapphire – gray-blue.
Cubs of rare color are highly valued
Cubs of rare colors are highly valued, but when breeding, the genetic characteristics of rodents must be taken into account. You cannot cross two tangerine animals - they will pass on the lethal gene to their children. When two pearl animals mate, some of the fruits will not be viable. In all other cases, the colors combine well and give unusual variations.
Breeding conditions
Rodents will not reproduce in unsuitable conditions. Therefore, at home, to breed Djungarian hamsters, you need to arrange a living area:
- The cage should be spacious. You need to lay sawdust on the bottom. The bedding should not have any odor or moisture-absorbing elements, otherwise allergic reactions may occur in animals. It is important to organize a resting place inside the cage - this could be a flower pot, any container or other house. Equally important are ladders, ropes and other leisure devices. The feeder and drinker must be securely fixed.
- Nutrition – balanced food strengthens the animal’s immunity and improves its health, which has a positive effect on reproduction. A balanced menu should include vegetables and cereals. There should always be clean water in the cage.
- Other conditions - the room should be kept at a fairly high temperature all year round. Bright light and drafts should be avoided.
If hamsters are kept together, they begin to breed at four weeks of age. But mating such young individuals can be dangerous, so the female is first mated at five months. Pregnancy lasts up to twenty-two days, after which the female feeds the cubs with milk for three to four weeks. Bearing fruits and lactation greatly deplete her body, so the next fertilization is possible only three months after the birth of the babies. After three to six litters, mating of rodents is dangerous: the pelvic bones become more rigid, and the hamster simply will not be able to give birth normally.
If pregnancy has occurred, it can be determined by the rapid weight gain and gradually swollen nipples of the female. Throughout the entire period of gestation, it is important for the expectant mother to provide adequate nutrition. The menu should include low-fat cottage cheese, a boiled egg and unsalted chicken. It is better to move the male away, since the behavior of his partner can be unpredictable. Three days before giving birth, the cage must be thoroughly cleaned, after which it should not be touched.
You can get up to ten babies in one pregnancy
Childbirth usually occurs at night, while the female hides in the house. There is no point in interfering, as hamsters do a great job on their own. During one pregnancy you can get up to ten babies, but if among them there are weak and underdeveloped individuals, the mother eats them.
The hamster also takes care of newborns independently, so there is no need to disturb her. If the female smells someone else's scent, she may experience severe stress and then refuse to feed. It is unlikely that you will be able to feed animals weighing less than six grams yourself. Therefore, the further you stay from the cage, the better. The only possible help is to provide mommy with healthy and nutritious food.
Due to their good fertility, breeding Djungarian hamsters can become an excellent business. After just four weeks, the newborn offspring is ready for mating, but at such an early stage it threatens with unforeseen consequences. Therefore, a month after giving birth, the babies need to be separated from the female and each sex should be placed in different cages.
Possible problems
Not all breeders decide to breed hamsters and explain this for the following reasons:
- Cannibalism - often the female eats her offspring, especially if she smells foreign odors. Therefore, before the cubs move out, you should not touch anything with your hands. Sometimes this happens when the mother is mentally ill. In this case, there is no need to cross it again.
- Feeding problems can arise if there are problems with the hamster's mammary glands or if the litter is too large.
- Nutritional deficiencies and infections can cause early labor or stillbirths.
Other arguments against include a decrease in the life expectancy of pets. Hamsters do not live long, and with exhaustion of the body, which is inevitable during reproduction, they live almost half as long. need to be tamed so that rodents do not grow up wild. To do this, you will have to pick them up every day, showing patience and accuracy. In addition, it is necessary to organize feeding, regularly change water and clean the cages. All this takes a lot of time.
Before placing hamsters, you need to determine their gender and also look for hostesses. New owners will have many questions regarding nutrition and maintenance that the breeder will have to answer.
Breeding Djungarian hamsters can be a lot of fun. But until the nursery earns a good reputation, it will not begin to generate income. Until this point, the sale of offspring will only cover the cost of food and accessories.
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