When can babies be held?

[Deanna]

I have five hamsters which I bought several weeks ago from Petco. A very ignorant guy worked there who told me nothing of the different species. It wasn't until I got home a read up on hamsters that I realized dwarfs had several different species. I would like to know just when thew babies are old enough to be handled my humans. About a week ago,one of the females had seven babies. This female is very light brown (tanish beige)with red eyes and the father is black. The next day, another female had babies. She (and the father) are grey-coloered. I took a chance when the babies were about four days old and switched one out of each litter to the other litter. In both cases, the mother and father have recievec the adopted baby very well, although there is considerable size difference. I am guessing that the fifth hamster - who had no babies - is a winter white because it's white and grey.

[HamsterLova202]

If you havea dwarf it can be held at two weeks to 18 days from its birth date, and any other hamster can be held at 3 weeks, but for any reason at all if the hamsters are not moving on there own by two weeks, please wait another week. S0, wait until 2 weeks before handling all hamsters. (At Least)

[This message has been edited by HamsterLova202 (edited 09-28-2001).]

[Angelgirl0606066]

You can never hold the pups when they are that young!!!! Wait untill they have fur and their eyes are open!!! or the mom will eat them!!!

[angelfire1966]

I currently raise dwarfs, teddies, rats and gerbils and have many many more pets. All hamsters are not alike and it depends on the mother as to when is a good time to handle the little ones. My mothers are very comfortable with me and I always hold my little ones when they are still pinkies. I have found that doing so helps them to grow into friendly little ones. I supply my babies to local pet stores and they all tell me how my pets are so much friendlier than the others they get in. Of course if the mother is not very tame she could very well eat her little ones. It is best to be careful and I am not so sure that I would be switching babies around without a need. It could cause trouble and you just dont need to look for such things. It sounds like your hammy's are comfortable with you and I hope that you have fun with your furry family. I have heard many people say not to hold babies until they are older...but it really depends so much on the mother...I am 35 and have owned hamsters and other animals all my life.