Since Peanut is pregnant and I needed to rearrenge her habitat to suit soon to be mother and her pups, here are few tips on how to do that:
1. Space. Consider a hamster is active, and pregnant hamster is super active. The usual advice is the bigger the merrier. But with pregnant hamster I wouldn't go for too big cage. Enormous cage could be too big for hamster that just gave birth since it can confuse them if there is too much toys and stuff. So, if your hamster's cage is stuffed with toys and is really large, I would probably separate smaller area (not to small) and let hamster get used to it on time.
2. Wheel and toys. Hamsters enjoy running on their wheel and playing with their toys. Pregnant hamsters are really energetic and enjoy it even more. But that isn't really healthy for pregnant hamster/mother to exercise too much. You should take out as all toys that could harm the mother or baby (pup) in any way. Be extreamly careful and don't take the risk of losing either mum, her babies or both. The safest thing to stick with in preggo's cage are paper roll tubes.
3. Bedding. Pregnant hamster need more bedding then usually. I put about three inches of bedding all over the place, but Peanut took half of her bedding in one corner and using paper tubes created tunnels. Having alot bedding is MUST because hamster will use it to provide better birthing nest for babies.
4. Food and water. Water bottle must be really low so babies can reach it and you should have one bigger/two smaller bowls in orderto provide your hamster both usual mix and protein-high food.
5. Cage Location. Imagine yourself raising a child in middle of highway. Hamster mother needs as much privacy as possible. Place cage somewhere you don't spend alot time talking/singing/studying. Future mother and her pups need peaceful and quiet place to live. Keeping cage under desk, walk-in wardrobe, attick/basement (if not too hot/cold) or garage.
These are my top five tips on how to make hamster's cage pregnancy and baby safe and secure. Hope I helped you. Have a nice morning/day/afternoon/evening/night.
-Marko
