Baby hamsters weaning early

[kyukidojen]

So the babies are about 20 days old... mom seems utterly sick of them, an' she actually ate one yesterda... i'm separating them out from mom, as they are eating other foods quite well now... anybody have any great advice to help ensure their survival?

[Jerica]

Hamsters do wean when the babies are quite young. Even when not weaned babies will eat other foods. Its odd for her to eat a baby that is that old! One thing you can do if you really worry about them is to get some kitten milk replacer and use and eye dropper or 3 cc syringe (of course without needle) to feed the babies for an extra boost. Otherwise if they have been eating regular food for a few days now they should be ok. Just watch them. If you are purposely breeding then wait a long while to breed her again, if this was her first litter she may have not really known what to do. Good luck with your babies!

[kyukidojen]

Jerica:
Thanks! Actually, we didn't purposely breed her... we saw her at the petstore in a cage marked "males" and she was clearly not a male and also clearly pregnant. We bought her so that we could make sure her and the babies were properly cared for, and didn't end up getting hurt or put through a bunch of homes because someone ended up suprised. The babies were enormous when they were born, compared to other hamsters... I've been giving them lots of other food, but also every 4 hours doing some fresh KMR stage II in a little dish... all 8 gather round and lap it up. It's really quite cute!

[Jerica]

Sounds like you are doing a great job! I'm always here to help after having so many animals in my life I know a lot plus now going through this first year of vet tech school I know more (not to sound cocky lol).

[kyukidojen]

At their afternoon an' early evening feedings, they were all doing great. TOnight, one was dead, an' another curled up w/ it was cold an' stiff... we've warmed the baby up, and it's breathing an' moving more... giving it KMR, watered down significantly, w/ a tiny bit of honey in it...
I'm fairly certain the poor baby has wet tail... fortunately, the remaining six are fiesty, fuzzy, an' bright eyed... I've got the sick bab on a warming pad, giving it tiny drops of formula every 15-20 minutes...

UPDATE:
Unfortunately, they've both died... I've carefully checked the remaining six, an' two of them look a little "off" so i've isolated them in their own cage... with lots of fun toys an' a heat lamp in one corner since they're used to being w/ at least 6 others...

Will keep posting, as this is all new to me - i've never not been successfull rearing animals, an' i feel like this is somehow my fault b/c i removed them from mom so early. But at the same time, the alternative was to let her continue munching on them... By the way, the baby w/ the hole in its head is all healed up... just a little bald spot now...

[kyukidojen]

now down to 5 babies. :confused: I don't know what's going on. Mom is doing great, healthy... the babies seemed like they were too, but obviously, they weren't...

[kyukidojen]

This is horrible! Out of the original 10 babies... one got eaten on the first night. Then, on day 19, one got eaten. ON day 20, one lost a piece of his its scalp. Day 21 - all were well. Late evening, one was dead, one was very sick. Early morning on day 22, two more were sick. By mid afternoon, they were both dead. By tonight, two more were dead. The remaining two, i'm so at a loss for what to do, that i've put them back with mom. I feel like a murderer. I know i did what i thought was right, but... just the same, maybe if i'd left them w/ mom, they'd all be okay. Or maybe they'd have gotten her sick, too... I don't know. We'll se what happens w/ these final two, now that they're back with mom. I just hope she doesn't kill them... an that she's still lactating at least a little for them...