Page:The Golden Hamster Manual.djvu/66

 Other supplemental nest feeding materials: If difficult to provide ingredients for the forcing feed mixture, other food may be used as a second choice. Clean cracked grains, or rolled oats; or cracked grains and rolled oats mixed may be used. No oil need be fed unless desired. But cut or diced vegetables should be fed in same manner as advised with forcing feed mixture. While this substitute lacks the rich minerals and vitamins afforded by the previous mixture, such supplemental feeding furnishes enough extra nutrition to tend to prevent kittens over-suckling the mother. Since their teeth are sharp, over-suckling may make the mother cross and rough with her kittens. Some mothers become cannibals when over-suckled to the point of desperation. Large commercial hamsteries, without 3 to 5 day nest culling or supplemental nest feeding, may have a high per cent of cannibalism and many low litter average production pens. Too little of the mother’s milk per animal during the first 10 days under such mass production.

If desired, a glass caster glide, small size, as an additional waterer may be placed on pen floor about the 12th day of litter life and remain there until kittens are observed to use the regular watering device of the pen, longer if convenient. If available, whole milk for its nutritive qualities may be used instead of water in the caster glide. Such practice helps prevent large litters over-suckling mother.

HEAVIER STOCK: A good field is opening for highly superior stock. It Is doubtful whether the large commercial hamsteries may do much toward stock exceeding 5$1/2$ or 6 oz. until such handlers do more rigid selective breeding and early nest culling than has been in evidence thus far in stock shipped from the large commercial hamsteries. If one desires extra heavy males he may write various producers for prices and guaranteed weights on heaviest prime breeding males they may have available for sale and immediate shipment. One should remember that it is customary for the buyer to pay shipping charges on breeding stock.

For obvious reasons, higher education laboratory courses using small animals for dissection studies are seeking larger specimens of the Syrian Golden Hamster. Specimens 6$1/2$ oz. or over are uncommon; 7 oz. or over, rare indeed. A half-pound hamster, reproducing in that weight, would be ideal for such usage, and may appear in the not too distant future. It is a job for fanciers and hobbyists. The following discussion gives the pattern for weight improvement of major importance.

Bring Sub-Standard Stock to Standard In Two Generations: Suppose you now have only sub-standard, 3 to almost 4 oz. stock. First, buy one or more strong 4$1/2$ to 5$1/2$ oz. males. Next, select from your substandard females the largest ones with best production records. Mate them to this new male stock. Cull litters down to count of 5 to 7 as early as you may distinguish sex. Not later than the 7th day, cull litters again, down 3 to 4 each, keeping only the best. Use supplemental nest feedings as per Chap. 50. The likely mature weight is determined while young are still with mother. Leave kittens with her until 25 to 27 days age unless she fights them earlier. Under such practice, it is normal to obtain from 3$1/2$ oz. mothers young