Mom is more used to parenting and you helping her. You worked with her last time so she trusts you now. I would supplement feed the babies and Elly since this is a second litter. They are good at multiple litters, but you want her to stay strong. I developed a receipe that works. SPECIAL FOOD: 3 cups raw peanuts(shell removed) 3 cups raw sunflower seeds(shell removed) 2 cups rolled oats(dry) Blender or process this with dry hard bread pieces(the more whole wheat/multi grain the better)using the bread keeps the peanuts from becoming peanut butter. You should end up with a rough powdered mix. add:1 cup bran, 1 cup yeast flakes, 1 cup wheat germ 1/2 cup ground flax seed(if you can get fine stuff, I sometimes omitt this) 1 cup dry cereal like cream of wheat, corn meal or Red River cereal......this is optional Mix it all in a big bowl by hand. It is good for babies, moms, the old and the sick. It gives a balance of food sources to animals that lack the strength to eat all of the seed mix. It has taken years to get the mix right and I still refine it. You can vary it some and it still works. The important thing is having a mix of food sources. The hamsters love the taste.  This mix will pull through orphans at an early age. They can eat it by 5 days old(maybe sooner). Orphans need liquid as well, but peeled mashed grapes work. |