Content
- animal cannibalism
- Why does a hamster eat its puppies?
- How to prevent hamsters from eating their puppies
Few rodents are as cuddly as the hamster. Therefore, it is not surprising that this rodent has been one of the most common pets for decades, especially in homes with children.
The hamster as a pet is an excellent companion and requires specific care (like any other pet). In return, he will give you company and give you a good time, although that is not always the case.
You've probably heard of a case in which the mother eats her offspring. Although this cannibal behavior is not unique to this species, it is very common for hamsters to eat their young. In this PeritoAnimal article, we'll give you some tips on how to avoid it and we'll explain you why the hamster eats the puppies.
animal cannibalism
Most animals, with the exception of humans, behave by instincts and their way of acting makes it even clearer how nature works.
The phenomenon of animal cannibalism, especially when it comes to mother and offspring, has been the subject of many scientific studies due to the concerns that this issue can cause us.
All the studies carried out did not serve to establish a clear cause, but even so they are very useful to elaborate different theories that try to explain the reasons for this behavior.
Why does a hamster eat its puppies?
The mother, hamster, does not always eat her offspring after giving birth. However, we can say that this phenomenon is common. Scientific investigations conclude that this behavior can occur for different reasons:
- The puppy was born with some anomaly and the mother wants to ensure that only the most suffering offspring survive.
- The mother observes the offspring so fragile and small that she considers them incapable of survival.
- A very large litter can cause a lot of stress for the hamster who decides to eliminate 2 or 3 cubs to feel better able to care for the litter.
- The presence of the male hamster in the cage can also cause a lot of stress on the mother, causing her to ingest the offspring.
- If any chick is born far from the nest, the mother may not recognize it as her own, the chick and choose to eat it because she considers it only a good source of food.
- The mother feels weak and uses some of the offspring to get all the necessary nutrients.
How to prevent hamsters from eating their puppies
If you are living with an unborn female hamster, you should know that it is not always possible to prevent it from eating any of the puppies after giving birth, however, if you apply the necessary measures that we will explain to you, it will minimize the risk that this behavior happens:
- When the chicks are born, remove the male from the cage.
- The mother and the offspring should be in a very quiet place where neither you nor other people pass near the cage.
- Touch the cage exclusively to provide them with food.
- Do not touch the cubs until they are at least 14 days old, if they smell like you the mother can reject them and eat them.
- You must feed the hamster enough protein. For this you can give him a boiled egg.
- The mother must always have food available.
