dwarf hampster babies. how to care for?!

[chichibi]

Hi. My friend's chinese dwarf hampster just had 6 babies but the thing is, she didn't know when they got pregnant. I think the mom made a nest in the wheel but it got ruined and now the mom is freaking out. She keeps carrying the babies everywhere, dropping them everywhere, stepping all over them, freaking out. My friend taped the wheel so that it doesn't run but now the mom keeps trying to run in the wheel with a baby in her mouth. Any suggestions?

[Padfoot]

Try to leave her be for a while. Do not change anything else in the cage, as hamsters are pretty nervous and tend to eat the babies if the think something is wrong. Do not touch the babies until they open their eyes, cause your smell will probably cause that the mom eat them. She is probably looking for someplace safe to re-locate the nest, which is perfectly normal. If you see one of the babies (without moving anything in the cage) try to see if they have a white spot on the belly. That would be milk in their stomachs and if you see it it would mean that mom is feeding them and if she's feeding them, then everything is OK. Good luck with the babies.

[chichibi]

thanks for the advice. she's finally settled down and now she's burrowed under the nest and the babies are snuggled in a circle. is there any recommendation to certain foods or anything to add?

[Padfoot]

something with a bit of more protein than her normal food, like kitty kibble or doggy bisquits, but not too much.. Also, make sure that she has fresh water all the time, since water is really important for milk production and if there's not water, she'll probably eat a couple of babies to get moisture.

[Revenge]

Maybe hamster food,Carrots,healthy cereal such as (Cherrios,Corn Flakes ETC.)

[Misty1964]

Maybe hamster food,Carrots,healthy cereal such as (Cherrios,Corn Flakes ETC.)


would corn flakes be ok for a dwarf hammie??

[Revenge]

I gave them to my first hamster and she liked them meh that have likes and dislikes though right?