The gestation period of Chinese Hamsters is 21 days and if mating was observed then the time of the expected arrival of the litter can be roughly calculated. If mating was not observed then it is often not possible to know tell when the litter is expected. Many females do not appear pregnant until a couple of days before the birth but female Chinese Hamsters can become particularly aggressive towards any males when pregnant and this can often be an indication of pregnancy. There may also be an increased aggressiveness towards other colony hamsters or humans when pregnant. Therefore as soon as it is noticed the female is pregnant it is best to clean the cage.
The female will often banish the male or other hamsters from the nest once pregnant and/or after the birth. It is not necessary to remove the male when the female is noticed to be pregnant but the cage should be arranged so as to provide him with protection from the aggressive pregnant female by way of a separate nesting area and plenty of hiding places.
The hamsters will often mate immediately after birth so if it is not intended to breed further litters the male should be removed prior to the birth.
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