Thu, 24 May 2012 00:28:24 -0800WeeblySun, 25 Mar 2012 05:59:56 -0800http://wyeside-hamsters.weebly.com/2/post/2012/03/25th-march-2012.htmlWell we went to our first show this year yesterday at Willington.  Had a lovely day and met up with lots of old friends and also le to meet some of the people I know online but haven't met before.
The hamsters did rubbish in the show, first show for a very long time when we didn't bring home any cards at all but hey ho, some days are good and some not so. 
One of my hamsters, Isabelle, went to another breeder to have babies but unfortunately she decided motherhood was not for her.  She has now come home, via the lovely Rachel at Vectis Hamsters, who babysat her for a month or so.
I also collected 3 young girls from my friend Teresa at Mad about Hamsters.  They are all closely related to each other but not to my young boys here, so should hopefully produce some nice babies for me later in the year.  They are MiniHaHa - LH Satin Sable, Blossom - SH REC and Sorrel - LH Satin REC.  I'm really pleased with them, they are all lovely girls.
Congratulations to Hurtle Hamsters - BIS Syrians yesterday and Rachel @ Vectis Hamsters - BIS Dwarfs. ]]>Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:46:34 -0800http://wyeside-hamsters.weebly.com/2/post/2012/03/1st-march-keepers.htmlHave had a very nice problem - I like so many of my babies from my recent two litters I have struggled to decide who to keep. As my numbers are down a lot from a couple of years ago and it's been so difficult to choose, I've decided to keep 3 girls from Fey's litter and 2 from Shirley's, for the time being at least.
Shirley's name theme is Hollywood actresses, so the two girls I've kept I've named Clara Bow and Ginger Rogers.
Having named Fey after my Fairyland alter-ego, I was struggling for names with her babies. Fairy names are not the most appealing to me.  In the end I decided to start a new theme from Dad's name (Starman, named after David Bowie's record). So they are the Glam Rock girls, with very Sweet names! Teenage Rampage, Blockbuster and Ballroom Blitz. Well you try thinking of loads of hamster names a year.........
]]>Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:35:55 -0800http://wyeside-hamsters.weebly.com/2/post/2012/02/22nd-feb-update1.htmlWed, 22 Feb 2012 12:35:51 -0800http://wyeside-hamsters.weebly.com/2/post/2012/02/22nd-feb-update.htmlBabies are now separated from their Mums, boys and girls in different cages.  They are a lively lot, quite jumpy but very friendly.  Having a lot of trouble deciding who to keep!
Mated Taj Sunset last night to Yoda, so fingers crossed for sable/cream & satin babies on the 8th March :0) ]]>Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:12:41 -0800http://wyeside-hamsters.weebly.com/2/post/2012/02/14th-february.htmlWell I've been handling the babies as much as possible, this week. They are growing well, the minks are particularly big and chunky, but there are some lovely cream roans in the other litter. I particularly like the SH mink girl and a LH cream roan girl, think I have at least 2 keepers in these litters.
We've had a sad week, lost my 2 remaining 2009 hamsters - Tristar's Callisto, SH BEC and Designer's Gabriel Agbonlarhor, LH Mink. Both of these boys have been with me a long time and were much loved. Sleep tight lads, sweet dreams xxx ]]>Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:30:43 -0800http://wyeside-hamsters.weebly.com/2/post/2012/02/babies-are-out-and-about.htmlCleaned both litters out tonight and had a look to see what we've got.  Fey has got 3 cream boys and 1 roan boy, 4 roan girls and 1 cream girl.  It looks as though a few of them are going to be longhaired.
Shirley has 3 minks, 2 are definitely girls the third could be a boy but I'm not sure at the moment.
Have given them all cuddles and they are very cute. Love baby hamsters at this stage. ]]>Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:58:24 -0800http://wyeside-hamsters.weebly.com/2/post/2012/01/28th-january.htmlSad day today, I found Ziggy Stardust passed away at only 7 months.
Had a good look in both girls nests, Fey has 9 babies and Shirley has just 3 babies. ]]>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:13:34 -0800http://wyeside-hamsters.weebly.com/2/post/2012/01/babies.htmlWell we finally have babies here again! I was convinced that Fey and Shirley had missed as they didn't look pregnant until 2 or 3 days ago, when they suddenly blew up like barage ballons.
Fey gave birth yesterday and it looks as though Shirley will have her babies today - so New Year, new babies - Yay! ]]>Sun, 08 Jan 2012 08:12:03 -0800http://wyeside-hamsters.weebly.com/2/post/2012/01/shirley-temple-x-nadal.htmlNow have 2 girls mated up, following Fey's date with the Starman night before last, Shirley Temple, LH BEC Rex met up with Nadal, SH Mink last night and if I'm lucky we should have litters of Wyeside babies on the 22nd and 23rd January.  If babies do arrive we should have some sables and possibly mink along with cream in Shirley's litter and maybe some rex as mum is rex and dad should carry rex. Fey would have cream and cream roan and they will probably all be shorthaired.
Watch this space. ]]>Sat, 07 Jan 2012 00:00:20 -0800http://wyeside-hamsters.weebly.com/2/post/2012/01/1.htmlI can hardly believe that this is my 7th year of breeding and showing hamsters, it only feels like yesterday when I bought my first hamster - a yellow banded I named Basil.
The end of 2011 was a bit of a downer, 5 missed matings, including litters due on Christmas Eve and Christmas day, which would have been very nice had they happened.  Escada was mated twice and missed both times so much as I'd like a second litter from her I won't try again.
I also decided to stand down as the Midland Show Manager due to family circumstances. Frail elderly parents and very young foster children were making it difficult to commit to all the shows plus the time needed to do the job properly. Dan Brown is the new Show Manager and I think he will do a great job.
So now it's a new year and a new start now so I thought it was about time I tried for another litter.  Last night I mated Fairy Fey to the Starman so fingers crossed that we have some babies in the nest on the 22nd January. ]]>