Page:The Golden Hamster Manual.djvu/63

 VIII

Even though one’s hamstery may be a hobby, he prefers that it may operate at a profit. Thus, each money-saving or money-producing idea has real value. The hamster is still comparatively new to wide and general usage. While a steady stream of laboratory markets is opening, the stream is not a flood but a gradually increasing flow. The bang and boom are only in commercial advertising, and those who fall for such may "go boom.”" Nevertheless, a conservative investment in hamsters, wisely handled, may bring highly satisfactory returns. For those who already have small animal and poultry stock, and merely wish to supplement such income, hamsters may offer an attractive addition to their set-up.

Operating on a strictly honest basis, the larger the hamstery the smaller the per cent of profit on investment, due to the fact that a larger per cent of increased production must depend upon laboratory markets, the lowest priced sales. A small hobby hamstery, 6 to 8 breeding females, with production sold for breeders and pets, brings the highest per cent of profit.

Control of sex ratio in weaned young, as previously presented, is one of the most profitable practices. As stated in Chap. 6, most of the author's work with hamsters is after 9:30 p. m. This includes matings of breeders. The most productive matings recorded occur between 9:30 and 11:30 p. m.

A female hamster does not always successfully breed with each mating. She may be tried again with the male 3 or 4 nights later. Some may remate although already bred.

A mating room temperature of 74 to 78 degrees makes highly favorable quarters for females from time of weaning litters until such mothers are to be rebred. Slow mating females may be helped thereby. Normally, 70 to 90 degrees is considered conducive to good matings, although many do remarkably well from 60 degrees upward, and exceptionally well from 65 degrees upward.

Do not overlook saving and preserving nest culls for fish bait as per Chap. 37.

Sub-standard stock producing for pets, culls to be used for baits, etc., may wean litters of 6 to 16.

Full standard animals for choice breeding stock are best raised in litters of 6 to 8, not more than 10. The amount of mother's milk per animal during the first 10 days of litter life is too important to overlook earliest possible culling for sake of increased milk supply per kitten to be weaned.

Superior, extra choice, and exhibition stock weaning averages vary from 3 to 7, according to quality, care, and production purpose controlled by the handler.

In determining the production purposes (Chap. 30), three profit angles enter according to standpoints of hamsteries operated. A small hobby hamstery produces to sell small numbers, but in the highest possible fair price range. A small commercial hamstery may wish to sell best grade breeding stock at best current prices for same, but also may pool or cooperate with another producer to fill laboratory orders. The large