It is best to start petting baby hamsters about 20 to 30 days after they are born. Here are the reasons:
Coat Development: By this time, their fur has grown to a certain length. So, the likelihood of them being abandoned or eaten by their mother hamster due to getting other odors on them is relatively low.
Independence Ability: Most baby hamsters at this age can eat hamster food independently and no longer rely on their mother hamster for feeding. Even if they are abandoned, they can survive on their own.
Safety Considerations: Touching them too early may make the mother hamster feel threatened, causing her to attack the babies or refuse to feed them.
If you need to touch them earlier (for example, after 7 days), it is recommended to smear the whole body of the baby hamster with the mother hamster's urine first to reduce the impact of human odor. However, if you have no experience, it is better to wait until 15 to 20 days later before trying.
In addition, when touching baby hamsters, the following points should also be noted:
Avoid direct exposure to the sun. Hamsters are afraid of heat, so in summer, take measures to prevent heatstroke. In winter, use cotton balls as bedding to keep them warm.
Do not bathe hamsters with water. They will clean themselves through sand bathing.