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Cannibalism
Why does my hamster eat her pups.
Why does my hamster eat her pups?
This question is asked many times. The answer in full is not known. Even scientists and ethologists have never been able to give a satisfactory answer to cannibalism. Only a few of the more obvious reasons within our perception of our understanding of these animals we only have some of the answers. There are many reasons that are beyond our understanding why a female hamster will cannibalize her young. We can only suggest or surmise the reasons behind cannibalism to better understand what we already know and possibly how to prevent it.
One of the main reasons the female cannibalizes the litter is the intervention of humans in the early stages of the birth. Once the pups have been delivered she should be left in peace and quite without any human interference. After the first 7 days it is usually considered safe and she will not cannibalize the litter after this time, but 10 days is the norm. Physical disturbances are the most destructive to litters: A female hamster is very protective of her young pups and her territory. If she feels the nest may have been discovered or disturbed, possibly by a predator the female may become fearful for herself and her litter and therefore abandon the nest and the litter. If she feels she is unable to raise her young in complete safety she may become concerned for their safety then dispose of them by eating them. This is called cannibalizing the litter.
If the female is too young to start breeding from, she may not be mature enough to cope with a litter of pups.
If the pup is born malformed, with an affliction in which some part of the body is misshaped or malformed i.e. missing limbs joined body parts. Or the pup may be born dead in that case she will dispose of that pup’s carcase by eating it.
If food is in short supply and not enough to go round she may cull some, or all the litter depending on how much food there is.
Cleaning out the cage prior to the birth will inadvertently destroy the nest she has painstaking prepared for the pups. If the nest is touched, cleaned or destroyed in any way at all just before the birth, or immediately after the chances of her keeping and rearing the litter is very slim. The nest plays a very important part of her environment and is just as important as food and water. Because of her parental investment in the nesting site the nest is a place she associates with safety and security in which to raise her litter. The female is very protective of her nesting site. Cleaning the animals' cage will remove or add different scents causing her to stress and feel threatened.
At some stage in the young pup's life the female herself may become sick or ill. In that case she may not feel able to raise the litter and may cannibalize them.
If the pup is a runt: A runt is an undersized animal, the smallest and the weakest of the litter. Cannibalism is also a way of rooting out weak offsprings that take too long to mature with very little chance of survival, and requiring too much parental care.
Having a predator in the vicinity a cat, a dog, or a pet bird flying around will make her fearful for the safety of her litter.
Pup's can be born with genetic recessive disorders. The mother is fully aware of this and will therefore root out any carriers. Before they are weaned, the pup's immune system is only just beginning to develop, this leaves them vulnerable and very susceptible to many infections the mother and some of the stronger pups in the litter are immune to. There are many diseases and infections that can affect the pup during it's infancy before weaning that may not be obvious to us. This is one of the most common causes for the seemingly unexplained cannibalization of the pups.
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