Experienced hamster owners recommend that it’s okay to handle newborn hamsters 3-4 weeks after they hatch. The reason you shouldn’t handle newborn hamsters before 3-4 weeks of their birthday is simple: smell.

Why you should not touch them before 3 to 4 weeks

• This is because mother hamsters identify their babies by their unique scent. When you touch them you will leave a scent on them and their mom will not be able to recognize them and she will not feed or care for them. This will be fatal for the babies because the mother hamster may end up eating them or will leave them out of her nest and she will not feed them or keep them warm.

If you need to handle baby hamsters before they are weaned, wear a clean, non-abrasive pair of gloves because baby hamsters have very sensitive skin. Do this only if necessary because this will increase the risk of her mother abandoning or eating her baby hamsters.

3-4 weeks is the time when newborn hamsters are weaned and they are only safe to handle after that. The reason you shouldn’t handle newborn hamsters before they are weaned is because you will take away the unique scent that their mother recognizes them by.

I hope you have learned something new from my article and I want to emphasize that you should handle your newborn hamsters, with a pair of gloves, only if necessary. I wish you and your hamster happiness!