My dwarf hamsters have several litters of babies and have eat them...Why are they doing this?

Question

My dwarf hamsters have several litters of babies and have eat them...Why are they doing this?

Answer 1

The reason why mothers eat their babies, is that, they feel that the babies will not live long or because they are ill or unhealthy, so instead of prolonging their suffering, they eat them. They don't do this because of hate, just because of caution.

And why i suggest not to touch the babies, is that the mother can pick up new smells, and may think the baby will not be healthy.

Answer 2

Well not only do dwarf hamsters eat their babes. Mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, gerbils, almost all small rodents eat their babies, because either they smell a new scent which is not of the mother or father, or they feel like the babies will not make it through life and they will suffer and become sick. And somtimes they do it jus because.

If thet have another litter, please watch over them !

Answer 3

How about you stop breeding?

Answer 4

The world may never know

Answer 5

There are multiple reasons why a mother might kill or eat her babies:

1.STRESS – Many things can cause stress in a new mother hamster, including:  disturbing her and her babies, age of the mother (she’s too young), or leaving a Syrian (non-dwarf) hamster father with the litter.  In the last case, the mother or the father might be responsible for the babies’ deaths.  

2.NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY – If the mother hamster is lacking nutrients, such as protein, she might eat the babies to fill that dietary need. To avoid this, supplement a new mother's diet with extra vegetables and milk or low-iron infant formula. This is especially important if there are a lot of babies.

3.BIRTH DEFECT/INJURY – Hamster moms have a sixth sense about their babies and seem to innately know if something is wrong.  In that case, she my kill the defective baby as a natural instinct.  Also, if a baby is injured and bleeds, even an originally healthy baby, she may respond to the smell of blood and kill the baby by instinct.

4.SANITARY NEEDS – A hamster mother will often eat a dead (or dying) baby to prevent having a rotting body around her nest.  If you notice that there is a dead baby in the cage, you should remove it as soon as possible.

However there is nothing you can do about this, the mother hamster would behave as she deems right and you cannot separate the litter from her before two weeks since the pups are dependant on the mother for their nourishment and would die if they are weaned so young from their mom.

Answer 6

There could be a couple of reasons. One is becuase they are first time mothers and feel unready and didn't know/didn't think they were ready to be a mother. Another reason is she felt they were in danger and ate them thinking she was taking them out of harms way. If there are any left or if she has more then put her in a secluded room and leave her and the babies alone (no touching, staring, messing with the cage) for atleast 2 weeks. let nature run it's course. take the males out of the cage, as well.

Answer 7

You might be touching them.

Answer 8

you need to separate the male