Sneak peek of Wildflower’s litter! This is one of just 2 litters going home before my maternity leave/hiatus 😅. I’d be ok with pausing time for a bit and enjoying watching 3 week old hamsters for a while longer!
Breeding around here has been a bit rocky lately. Out of 5 planned litters it’s looking like we’ll get one.
The main issue has been the boys… some of them just aren’t cut out for baby making for various reasons.
This is going to significantly skew waiting times for adopters. Until breeding is looking more predictable, the waiting list is closed to new applicants.
Video of Pumpkin being Pumpkin just for fun.
Too tired for morning snacks? Maybe.
I caught most of these busy babies in one place for a mini video while I cleaned their cage. This litter is curious and active, I’m going to have fun getting to know them!
To say I’ve been busy would be an understatement! Tomorrow I spend ALL day answering emails and then I’ll spend all of Thursday getting to those overdue applications.
In the meantime here’s some babies eating!
Here’s the second of our 3 litters. There are 9 pups, 8 of whom are GIANT! When the smallest pup is a thriving, normal sized baby is she a runt? I’m loving these babies! Can you spot the 2 curly rex pups?
Rowdy’s giant litter has opened their eyes (just a crack) and they’re very busy eating, zipping around, nursing and eating some more.
Miss Piggy’s babies came out for a late breakfast.
So. Many. Babies!!! Turn on the sound for some major baby drama about a walnut.
While this litter is obliging and is up and about all at once, there are two more litters just a tad younger who come out one or two at a time. I can’t wait to really meet them all!
Do you ever have a fridge full of food but nothing to eat until someone else puts it on a plate?
Got my first glimpse of one of the young litters! Mama did a good job with them!
Everything about this litter is always a bit different without a real hamster mom.
They’re wild and rowdy during the day and sleep most of the night (we’re working on getting them on a more normal schedule).
Also, they’re not very brave about exploring and utilizing their space above ground until I hang out with them in a particular area. Without a mother to show them certain areas and activities are safe, getting a confident sibling to follow my hands seems to pave the way for everyone to come explore.
What a fascinating experience raising these little sweeties has been so far!
Attempting to nurse on “mama” stuffy and big yawn.
A first here at Hubba-Hubba Hamstery: Hand raising a litter.
Mama and her babies are all fine, but through no fault of her own she was not able to feed her babies from the time they were 12 days old.
Luckily the babies were strong and hungry and accepted bottles as well as ate solids when hand fed.
Now, at 17 days old they’re eating hamster mush and cucumbers for hydration and don’t need additional milk.
They do seem to need some assistance remembering to eat regularly, getting calm and settled and with grooming but other than checking in on them every couple hours they’re pretty self sufficient for babies!
They’re already energetic and vocal little critters! I can’t wait until they’re big enough for a sand bath to help clean their milky fur.
This cute little rex baby escaped his warm nest while his momma was asleep when he was 10 days old. I found him cold, but alive and gave him back to his mother.
Since then he’s been smaller than his siblings and struggles to compete for the best spot at momma’s milk bar but he eats like a champ. He gets hand fed hamster mush multiple times a day while hanging out in a snuggle sack.
Using a snuggle sack/cuddle pouch is a great way to handle your new or baby hamster. They eliminate the risk of dropping a jumpy baby, provide a feeling of safety allowing for the hamster to come out when they are comfortable and are a great tool for humans who may feel a bit timid about lifting a skittish hamster.
Pro tips for using a snuggle sack:
-Put treats inside! Hamsters learn quickly that they get treats in there so it becomes a pleasant experience.
-Try using it when your hamster is sleepy, they may just curl up for a nap (making an excellent opportunity for cuddling).
These babies haven’t had a snack in sooo long! It’s been at least an hour.
