First time breeder.need tips

[hammysrule04]

:hamster1:Hi I have a 5-6 month old hamster.I have done alot of reserch and everything I just wanted to get a couple of tips from you experienced breeders out there.:hamster1:Thanks,
Timothy

[phoenix feather]

1. if the male and female get along then leave them together overnight.

2. after one night take the male out.

3. don't touch the babies untill 14 days passed or the mother will kill them
4. give the mother bread and milk if the babies eat it that's fine.
5. the mother will eventually start attacking the babies

[LilSnooPydOG]

Are you planning on breeding? If so, I really wish you wouldn't. You need to know a lot about genetics, the history of your hamster (which means if they are from the pet store DON'T breed them), and just basic knowledge on breeding.

Few things that may be overlooked:
make sure both syrians (m+f) are not satins as babies will b satinized.

make sure both syrians (m+f) are not white bellied or roans (in the source of light, eyes are actually red but appear black in our naked eyes) as babies can be born eyeless whites.

make sure both syrians (m+f) are preferably long haired if only interested in breeding long haired babies.

make sure both syrians (m+f) are not a combo of black, black DS, black tort, black tri, black banded with the greys family as babies will cme out off color.

make sure that the female syrian is at least 4 months old and not above 6 months old if breeding for the first litter.

make sure that the male syrian is not very much bigger in size as compared to the female syrian, she may have difficulty delivering bigger babies and complications will occur.

^That is why you need to know the history of the hamster. A lot of that you would never know if from the pet store.

[Revenge]

I thought it was 21 days for the babies not to be touched?

[Revenge]

Gosh your just telling people to give up when they haven't tired something in there life. :-/

[Revenge]

lilsnoopdog can you put that in to plan english because I can understand a single word your saying

[amber88]

hey, my hamster had babies 10 days ago, and ive heard i could touch them at birth, 12 days, 14 days, and 21 days and i have no idea. i havent touched them yet, im scared madison (the mother) would eat them. i know nothing about hamsters. i had bought this hamster as a present for my cousin and i used sand as bedding for a one night home but come to find out she was pregnant when i bought her and had babies so i kept her at my home. they are pretty fat and started eating food at 6 days old. they are walking around the cage and stuff. i dunno so could someone please clear up when i can touch them and when i have to take them out of the cage with momma?

[Halogengirlie]

I appreciate what LilSnooPydOG was saying. She / he is not telling anyone not to breed, but if you choose to breed she is showing how complex it can be to do it PROPERLY. Thank You LilSnooPydOG for your open minded and thoughtful response.

If anyone chooses to breed, it really should be done after massive amounts of research. In order to do it properly (to ensure healthy babies, to avoid lethal genetic combinations, difficult pregnancies and inbreeding) the breeder must have a certain amount of knowledge.

If her post is difficult to understand then it only illustrates how complicated understanding genetics can be.

.

[LilSnooPydOG]

lilsnoopdog can you put that in to plan english because I can understand a single word your saying
It's in English alright, but it's showing that breeding isn't just sticking a male and female together, and that it is really complicated.

I wasn't saying "you should never ever breed", but in my opinion there really is no need to. A lot of people think it is just real simple, and they can put two hamsters together and get really cute babies, and then give them to a pet store. And on top of that, only lightly read about genetics and basic breeding information. I don't ever want to breed, and I sometimes know more than people who are planning to do it.

And thank you Halogengirlie for saying things better than I could have. :laughing:

[hammysrule04]

Thanks for everything.I was just "THINKING" about breeding.I had done research about it ever since I had gotten my hamster.I have decided "NOT" to breed my hamster because I'm a little bit unsure of her genetics and I only want the best life for her possible.

[LilSnooPydOG]

Eh, I didn't mean to make people think they were in the wrong for breeding, BUT, it is good to hear that you realize you don't know some things and are waiting for a while (well, that's what I interpreted :o ).

[Krazie4pets]

Lil snoopy has covered the basic facts and I know it'll be hard to even attempt an explanation of everything. Just as a reminder/forewarning if your having some minor complications of the breeding terms then maybe you're not as informed with the subject as you think. Especially since Snoopy didn't even begin to describe the whole multitude of genetic patterns and variables.

Even if you are just thinking about breeding make sure you have the right budget for supplying every hamster; even if you know you're not keeping them

This includes housing for each syrian, food (especially), bedding, space, whether it is okay with your parents(not directed to anyone), whether you;ll have enough times, supplying their exercise needs

To be quite honest with you most breeders are retired or unemployed (except for breeding of course) so they would have enough time for their hamsters.

I personally would not suggest breeding unless you are absolutely positive that you can put forth these minimal requirements as well as become sufficiently acknowledge of hamster breeding and its factors. Again, this was nothing more than a general statement.

*Ana

[Revenge]

Sorry if I sounded rude I just wanted it in tiny parts of pharses I could understand

[hammysrule04]

Well if I breed I will breed a brown and white and a black and white hamster.They both have a brown (or black) head and tail and white mids.How do you think they would turn out if I bred?

[Revenge]

probley mixed colors

[LilSnooPydOG]

Well if I breed I will breed a brown and white and a black and white hamster.They both have a brown (or black) head and tail and white mids.How do you think they would turn out if I bred?
That's where genetics comes in. You need to know what recessive genes they are carrying, because if they both are carrying a recessive for the same gene, there is a chance one or more of the babies will show that gene.

Let me think of an example...say they are both long-haired, and long-haired is dominant (I don't know if it really is or not). If neither of them are carrying the gene for short-haired, all the babies will be long-haired. It's really tough to explain.

It's complicated without knowing their background. I bet no one here would be able to correctly tell you what the babies will turn out like. That is why breeding is such a complex thing, you have to know SO much about the male and female.

[Spakplug]

also, besides knowing every possible thing about breeding, make sure you have homes for all of the babies before you breed!

You need to always look towards the future and think of all the possibilities. For Example: What if you have 14 babies, will you be able to find homes for them all, what if you can't find homes for any of them, are you able to house 10+ hamsters seperately....etc...

[LilSnooPydOG]

also, besides knowing every possible thing about breeding, make sure you have homes for all of the babies before you breed!

You need to always look towards the future and think of all the possibilities. For Example: What if you have 14 babies, will you be able to find homes for them all, what if you can't find homes for any of them, are you able to house 10+ hamsters seperately....etc...
I completely agree! It can get so expensive having to buy more cages, food, bedding, etc. If there are complications during the birth, you need to be ready to take the female to the vet, and I'm sure that isn't cheap.

Breeding is something you leave to the people who know TONS about breeding, genetics, etc. and can care for all the babies, and have the right funds to do so. It's harder than people think.

[Zouave]

Breeding tip: DON'T. Go find some abandoned and unloved hamsters and care for them.