Ethical Hamster Breeders

An Ethical breeder will breed an animal for their health, temperament, blood line etc.
When starting their journey they will often shadow under another ethical breeder.
Ethical breeders will have a vet to check on their animals when needed.
They will not over breed an animal and they will keep them in a perfect enclosure and feed them a healthy diet etc.
They will have very high standards for their animals and they will be very interested to see what care you will be giving; they will help and advise you on your animal care. For example, discussing appropriate cage size.
They will keep records of their animals, even the ones that have been sold.
A Ethical breeder will care more about the animal than the money.
You can tell a hamster is ethically bred by their eyes, ears, coat, overall temperament of the hamster and also the care the breeder gives to their hamsters.

Here’s what Strong Brew Hamstery an Ethical Breeder says on their website:

“Why Adopt from SBH?

We understand that you can easily go to the pet store for a hamster. However, choosing a pet from Strong Brew has many benefits:

Strong Brew Hamsters are raised ethically and with love – this means that we do not overbreed our females, breed too young, or house improperly – most importantly we are not back yard breeders
We are committed to providing the best care possible to our hamsters
We strive hard to have good genetic temperament – this means our hamsters are naturally friendly with minimal handling. However, we love our pups dearly, so any hamster born at SBH is handled frequently, and should be well adjusted to humans and handling
We know almost everything about a pup’s genotype, and their phenotype as well – this means we can tell you what genes they carry, and what the hamster’s colour/pattern/fur type is called
You will adopt your pup with a care package, and we will provide a pedigree to the best of our knowledge
Should you wish, and I am able, I will show you baby pictures of your pup
We will carefully go through proper care with you, and help you select the best pup for your lifestyle and wishes
Our hamsters are bred with a specific goal in mind and not simply to “produce more hamsters”
You will know the hamster’s lineage, and likely their parents, should the sire be in house
You will have constant communication with us about husbandry, care, etc. should you so wish

How does this differ from a pet shop animal? Well, just like puppies are in puppy mills, rodents are bred in rodent mills.

Rodent mills are an integral part in the North American pet trade. Our pet shops are supplied by distributors, who get their animals en masse from “breeders”. These breeders run mills. They put no thought into the health, temperament and longevity of these animals. The animals are money making, profit machines. They are overbred and wildly neglected, mistreated and abused.

Every time you buy a hamster from a shop, you are putting money back into the hands of this store, these breeders, and making more space for more animals to be abused long term. You aren’t rescuing that hamster, though you might provide better for them – you are opening up that space for more hamsters to be born into this hell. You are tacitly and financially approving rodent mills.

“

Please Avoid Backyard Hamster Breeders

Backyard breeders will be only breed for the money.
They will not look into the mum’s and dad’s genetics like the ethical breeder would.
They tend to over breed their animals until they cannot breed anymore (like pet mills.)
The animals may be in horrible conditions and in a stressful environment.
They will not look into your care knowledge before getting an animal.
Backyard breeders will put two store brought hamsters together and make them breed.
They will not look into ethical breeder’s research into breeding.