My hamster is nesting, hoarding food, and has a lump. Is she pregnant?

With these pictures, I would guess she is pregnant. Gestation for a hamster is 15-18 days. On the third photo, it appears as if her mammary glands are developed. Usually hamsters start building a nest site in a corner. I would definitely separate her from the male as they can be aggressive during birthing. It is important to allow the female to have a quiet, minimally disturbed environment, especially during their first litter, to decrease the chance of rejection of babies by the mother.

If your hamster had contact with a male hamster within the past 2-3 weeks then it is likely she is pregnant. Hamsters sleep a lot during the day and they do likel to have a nice cosy nest to sleep in, so that would be very normal behavior.

Thanks for reaching out about Hammy. The gestation period of hamster is 16-18 days, so she isn't pregnant if you've had her for 30 days. It sounds as if she is nesting and defensive. Even without being pregnant, she can go through hormonal periods. It is also possible for rodent to have a condition called "pseudo-pregnancy" where hormones make her body believe she is pregnant, and she will nest. Rodents are induced ovulators and don't come out of estrus (breeding mode) until breed. The more you handle her to less scared she will be, but use a bowl or thick towel to gently scoop her up for handling. Be careful as they can obviously bite. If she appears sick or lethargic, seek an examination with a exotic animal veterinarian. Good luck.

Thanks for using Boop by Petco! Indeed this may be just Rosie preparing herself a place to rest. I would not be too concerned as of now though if you wanted to check for a possible pregnancy, you would have to have her checked by a veterinarian for radiographs for example to see if that is the case. Best of luck!

Hello. I would guess that Smidge is indeed pregnant. Hamsters reach breeding age at 6-10 weeks & are pregnant an average of 13-22 days. Since she is new to you & her environment, it is important to not disturb her too much once she has her brood. Hamsters will often kill their litter if they feel threatened, so observe her carefully before reaching in to grab her. Good luck & thanks for using Boop by Petco.

It will be difficult to tell if she is pregnant until the last week or so. You will generally see an enlargement of the abdomen and her mammary glands becoming more prominent. Right before she gives birth, she will lose her mucus plug and you may find that as well. Provide her with a clean cage, and material to make a nest. You may also provide her with a box (make sure it has a lid or no bottom so that you can check on things without disturbing the babies and mother). Mother hamsters can become stressed out easily and will fail to care for the young or even eat the young so it is very important not to handle the babies and mother after birth for the first 2-3 weeks. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Gestation in hamsters averages about 16 days. Labor and delivery can be quick or can take a few hours. It really depends on the size of the litter. If she is nesting, leave her be. Stress or excessive handling may delay labor. Simply provide clean bedding and materials for her as well as food and water.

It certainly is possible your female hamster is pregnant if she has been living with a male. Your friend is absolutely right to tell you to separate the male from the female. She should be on a cage on her own to reduce her stress levels. After she has her pups, you will need to remove the males when they all reach four weeks of age. That is the age when males become sexually mature and can mate. Separate all the pups from the mom when they reach six weeks of age.

This looks very suspicious of a mammary or breast tumor. These tumors can be cancerous or benign and do tend to grow very large very quickly. I would recommend that your veterinarian examine her and give you advice on whether it can be surgically removed.

Thank you for using Boop by Petco! Pregnant females can be kept, but I recommend taking care not to disturb them before and after they give birth. Depending on the type of hamster, the length of pregnancy is around 20-30 days. Pregnant females are easily stressed and should be left alone, with access to fresh food and water. Once the pups are born, try not to disturb them for the first 2-3 weeks, as this may stress the mother and cause her to cannibalize the pups. You can refill food and water, but take care when spot-cleaning the bedding. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!