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Post by katt on May 28, 2011 13:43:00 GMT -5
So as many of you may remember, my little breeder female hamster Leelloo had 2 little babies Easter morning. I am sorry to say that the little Easter Miracles were eaten...  I guess I should not have named them "Jelly-Bean" and "Egg"  Anyways, went in for round 2. I was hoping to move her to the new place right before she popped so she'd be nice and quiet when the babies came. Unfortunately, she gave birth before I was able to move her. I am now waiting as long as possible to move her, so I am hoping babies will be a week old when they get moved. But I worry about the hassle and noise of unloading and cleaning the apartment, and then moving her to the new place, and unpacking there. I am really afraid that she will eat them! What I worry about the most is that I won't be able to catch it in time. Like what if the moving-noise stresses her and she eats them while I am at the cabin? Or eats them later after moving her but I don't catch it? I am willing to raise a baby or a few by hand if needs be, but I don't know when to intervene. Last time they just disappeared. I am afraid to check on them and stress her out by peeking. So please any input is helpful. They only have a few litters (3-4) in their lifetimes so I REALLY want this one to be okay as I worry about whether she can/will have another litter, and how healthy the babies would be. Plus I just want my baby hammy! ;D Tips, ideas, thoughts, input?   |
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Post by tayrawrrr on Jun 3, 2011 22:08:07 GMT -5
Sorry this is late--I'm sure you've already moved her  But she MIGHT be okay, seeing as this is her 2nd litter. First litters often get eaten, but they seem to always do A LOT better with their other litters. Then again, there is always a few who break the rules! ;D We have 2 female hamsters at my work who were both pregnant at the same time--one had already had a litter, the other was her daughter and it was her first. The daughter had a few babies and was taking care of them fine--then mom stole the litter, had her own, nursed all 11 of them for a week....and then ate them all I would just try keeping a towel over the cage to keep it dark when you move. If you've already moved, let me know how it went  |
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Post by katt on Jun 4, 2011 11:30:25 GMT -5
lol yeah a little late there we already moved her. BUT thanks for the tips! She definitely had a decrease in baby numbers... Either that or some are hiding. I counted 5, and now I count 3. They are a squiggly little pile though so it is possible one or two are in hiding. She has quite the elaborate little nest for them, so they could be under the bedding/other babies. The babies that are still there seem to be doing well... *knocks on wood* I peeked last night. There is one that looks like it might be all white!  I hope it is a male...  My plan is to keep one male from the litter as my special little hammy, and rehome the rest of the babies and the parents. Though I might let mommy Leelloo have one more litter before I retire her, but I haven't decided yet. She is in a nice quiet spot. The babies are almost 2 weeks old now so here soon (maybe this weekend) I will try to clean the cage for the first time. That makes me a little nervous but it really needs it. Soon I can start handling the little babies and getting to know them! |
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Post by tayrawrrr on Jun 4, 2011 12:26:35 GMT -5
Awww well I'm glad she's still taking care of them, hopefully you find the other 2 hiding somewhere  Generally 2-3 weeks is when it's okay to clean cage. Is Leelloo friendly and "close" to you? If so, she might not object or fuss too much over having her cage cleaned at 2 weeks. I would leave some of the old bedding that the babies are directly on in, and just clean that small spot when they start to move around...she'll be so busy trying to keep track of them, she won't even notice |
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Post by katt on Jun 4, 2011 12:51:31 GMT -5
Oh dang.... I just realized they are only one week old. They were born on the 26th/27th of May. Guess it just feels like it has been 2 weeks since it has been such a long week. Darnit! I might still try to clean the cage a little bit anyways in a few days. Just because it is very dirty. I was going to clean it right before we moved, but she had her babies a few days too soon, so it was already in need of a cleaning and now it really is... I just want to play with babies!!!!  As for Leelloo, she is a very calm little lady. She is not "close" to me though. She is pretty approachable and lets me pet her but does not like to be picked up. She comes to the door though when I open it and checks things out, and likes to watch me when I am in the room and she is out of the nest. As for the babies, 3 - 3.5 weeks is weaning age, but I plan to leave them with mommy a little longer just to be sure they have enough time with her. |
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Post by synu on Jun 4, 2011 16:31:34 GMT -5
Are you keeping the babies?
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Post by katt on Jun 4, 2011 16:38:58 GMT -5
I am keeping one. The rest will be rehomed. |
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Post by tayrawrrr on Jun 4, 2011 16:59:06 GMT -5
I would just pick threw the dirtiest spots, nothing too extensive, to avoid stressing her. Just be sure not to leave the males with her too long, they. Will mate with mom and the other females |
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Post by synu on Jun 4, 2011 17:00:06 GMT -5
Aww, I want one. If only you weren't in Alaska *grumbles*  |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2011 17:00:27 GMT -5
I need updates!!! How'd the move go? Did the RR help? *hopes they all make it this time* |
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Post by katt on Jun 5, 2011 4:37:45 GMT -5
Candice they seem to be doing well so far... *knocks on wood* I actually JUST unburied the RR tonight. I couldn't find it anywhere...naturally it was in the last box I opened/unpacked. There are at least 3 babies left. I peeked last night and still counted 3 but there could be more hiding. 2 seem like they have Daddy Sully's pretty blue-grey spots and one from what I can see seems to be All white! I have never heard of or seen an all white syrian hamster before... |
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Post by katt on Jun 5, 2011 4:42:04 GMT -5
Ok Mommy Leelloo came to check things out when I went to feed her, and I held a ball up and she climbed in. So, while she went for a little walk I snuck in a few pictures. I couldn't resist! And I put some RR in her water. There are 3 babies.   They look like little teeny piglets...   Closest I got to a face shot  Big Booty, big booty, big booty...oh yeah, big booty!  I can;t tell for sure if there are any little tan spots on the white baby or not, but then it looks like the other 2 are one grey one black. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2011 6:48:10 GMT -5
Oh they're so cute! Can't wait til they get older!!
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Post by Sherry on Jun 5, 2011 9:31:55 GMT -5
Oh, they really are little chubsters!
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Post by tayrawrrr on Jun 5, 2011 11:35:22 GMT -5
Awww Definitely little chubsters! I love it! Glad they're doing okay! |
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My plan is to keep one male from the litter as my special little hammy, and rehome the rest of the babies and the parents. Though I might let mommy Leelloo have one more litter before I retire her, but I haven't decided yet.