Hamsters can be fun little pets to have around, especially when they have babies! However, the unfortunate truth is that some hamsters will eat their babies. While this is shocking and sad to many people, it’s normal for hamsters—but why do they do it?
Hamsters eat their babies when they’re stressed or fearful. Like mothers of other species, hamster mothers are very protective of their young. In the case of hamsters, stress can cause mothers to eat their babies. Hamsters will also eat their dead babies to keep the nest clean.
The rest of this article will discuss what’s causing hamsters to eat their young or what’s preventing them from eating their babies. I’ll also discuss various tips on caring for hamster parents and new babies, so read on until the end.
Stress Often Causes Hamsters To Eat Their Young
Unfortunately, there are many reasons why hamsters eat their young, and sometimes there isn’t much you can do about it. Both domestic and wild hamsters eat their young occasionally, typically due to stress.
However, other factors, including fear, lack of proper nutrition, death of the baby, and being territorial, are also the reasons.
Your Hamster Is Stressed Out
A female hamster feeling extremely stressed is a probable reason for it eating her babies. Humans can’t always control when their hamster is stressed, and you may not even know your hamster ate one of its babies if you didn’t count them.
A hamster’s stress can be due to many reasons, most of which have to do with its environment and nutrition. Its cage being too small, dirty, and lacking adequate food and water are all reasons for stress.
Too much of any stress could cause the hamster to eat its young, so it’s essential to keep your hamster as stress-free as possible.
Lack of adequate exercise can also cause hamsters stress. If you don’t already have one, I recommend getting a hamster wheel, such as the Niteangel Super-Silent Hamster Exercise Wheel from Amazon.com in the United States. This hamster wheel is quiet and comes in various colors. It will keep your hamster busy and, hopefully, stress-free.
Read How To Play With a Hamster
Your Hamster Is Scared
Like stress, fear is a big reason why hamsters eat their young. Many species have the protective instinct to protect their young, and usually, this instinct translates into being aggressive toward others near their babies.
While hamsters still have these instincts, fear can make them react differently, such as eating their babies instead.
However, hamsters eating their babies due to fear isn’t the most common reason.
The Mother Hamster Is Hungry or Lacking Nutrients
Not providing your mother hamster with adequate food and water and the proper nutrients can result in many issues, including her eati