[DuFrane]

I have a golden hamster that had 5 babies and We left them alone util they opened there eye about 2weeks they were moving eating. I cleaned there cage and everything seemed find but yesturday I woke up to her trying to eat a baby. I toke her out and the realized that she ate 2 of them. So far the babies are eating carrotts and some soften hamster food. I have water in there and I am not sure that they are drinking so I have a eye drop and I am giving them water that way. My question is, Am I doing all I can do to save the 2 1/2 week old baby hamsters? If she has other babies in the future will she eat them too? Thank You, Ms. DuFrane

[hammy]

Hello
I am a breeder of the Syrian (Golden) hamster. It is very unusual for the mother to eat (kill) her babies after the first 7 days. After this period they are considered safe, and she will not harm them. Unless the babies have died from other causes then she will dispose of the bodies by eating them.
You say you left them alone until they opened their eyes, did you see all 5 at this time?? Or had they gone by then. Did you observe her actually "eating" the baby??
Have you permanently removed the mother?? As the babies still need her until they are weaned at around 21 day's, (18 day's at the earliest.)
It is possible to hand rear them from this age but not always successful, they still need mums milk until weaned.
They will not be able to use the water bottle at 2 weeks old, but leave it there anyhow, they should soon learn, don't drop feed them water. If the babies are on their own then they can be fed Lactol, this is milk specially formulated to closely match mums milk. If there are plenty of fresh veggies around i.e. carrots, cucumber, etc: they will get enough from these.

Hammy