Well, at almost 3 weeks old, our baby dwarf hamsters have flown the nest this evening.  All eight of them were getting a bit of a handful for Sunny and Elly.  Sunny was starting to get a bit irritated with them and taking the odd aggressive nip.  It was a bit of deja vu really as the same thing happened with their first litter.  The big difference is that we had the confidence to know what to do this time.  A big thanks to Catherine for all her great advice in the past.

The babies are having a ball and running around like mad creatures and Elly and Sunny are enjoying some peace together again.  Lets just hope they have a cuddle and leave it at that - two litters is more than enough  

All the babies look like they're boys at the moment.  I'm sure once they are a bit bigger in a week or two that we'll be able to tell their sex with more accuracy and then it's on to finding home for them all. We have kept a couple of boys from the first litter, one named Harry - can't believe it's taken us this long to have a Harry hamster! and the other Gromit, named after the film "A Close Shave" starring Wallace and Gromit - see http://www.wallaceandgromit.com/ - as the poor boy did have a very "Close Shave" and was nearly killed following an ambush by the other boys).

We'll probably keep a compatable couple from this litter and then leave it at that although I know Laura would want all eight!

They really are ready at three weeks. I took a litter of 6 to the pet store today. It is tempting to keep them all, but not a good idea. When the couple is older and has one last baby rather than a litter, we end up keeping that one(yes in with the parents). That is how I know for sure they are past breeding. If Elly isn't pregnant now then hopefully you will get a bit of a break. It does get easier with each litter because you know for sure what to expect, as for sure as anything with animals can get. If you have found homes and don't need to place the babies at a pet store then you should let them go soon so they can bond with new people. I am glad my local pet stores are so reasonable about the right age for adoption. Harry hamster, hmmm, I think I did have a Harry hamster once. I know I had a Harold. Your litter could all be boys, it happens, but that can change. Dwarfies are very clever. They fool us until the first litter comes.

Quoted from catherine

Your litter could all be boys, it happens, but that can change. Dwarfies are very clever. They fool us until the first litter comes.

It's probably the latest microstep in their evolution as domestic pets to ensure breeding beyond the realms of just intentional hamster breeders. The ones with relative gender ambiguity, till a late stage have come to outnumber those of obvious gender types, so that people like us become unintentional hamster breeders  
It's a thought!

Very clever these hamsters. Much of the genetic shift in domestic animals has to do with their effect on us. If we can't tell gender, they get to breed. I know I've selected the cute ones by human standards and used them as breeders. A hamster that wants to breed just has to look or act cute and he's into the program.   The white on the chin is so cute that I can't resist it and after years of selection I now have a hamster with a white leg. Females that look like males get left in with their brothers and you know where that leads. They have us outsmarted. Guinea pigs train us, hamsters outsmart us. Which behavior shows more inteligence? Maybe it is more a matter of personal preference.

I sense of respect is show towards the hamsters, mostly Elly, shes just - great.  Our GP's are still timid but I am sure as soona s they figure we let them to bad things because they are cute, they will have us trained, and that Penny, well she is a right little girl! Snuggles really lives up to her name, her fur/hair is so lovely!

Pigbert could tell you how it works. Act cute or act timid, both get great results. We can't resist either and will fall all over ourselves to meet the needs of a timid animal. All the little spider had to do was look like a fragile little baby to conquer me and end up on the bed in its little container. I wanted to watch it some more. It is not that I can be trained, it is how easily I can be trained. Penny and Snuggles have trained you just fine. Pigbert sends his congradulations on a job well done.