My sisters new hamster gave birth to 4 hamsters, what should she do

we had no idea it was knocked up when we got it

Don't you just love some of the stupid answers you're getting? Then you have others who don't read the question and details through.

This is so typical of a pet store housing hamster of both sexes together or the place they were shipped from.

You need to not touch the babies or mom will eat them. Just feed mom and give her attention if she allows it. Some moms will bite if you mess with them also. We have a mom with now 4 babies out of 10, eyes just opened, and she will bite if you try to pick her up (my daughter got bit). Next don't clean the cage until all the babies eyes are open. When you clean it only use hot water and baking soda as a cleaner- it's very safe. Use of any chemicles will harm the babies lungs and burn their eyes even if rinsed well, the fumes will linger in plastic or in a tank. As for food make sure ther is ample amounts for all to eat, babies begin eating before they open their eyes as well as drinking water. Lower the bottle down or use a small flat bottomed glass or ceramic dish placed upside down as a platform for the babies to reach the bottle. Never use a bowl for water because they may fall in and drown.

At 13-16 days their eyes will start to open, now the cage can be cleaned Now mom will wean them by 3-4 weeks and at this time have 2 more cages for each sex to place them in. At this time start finding them new homes by contacting the pet store of mom's purchase or any other one to see if they will take some or all, place ads in the papers, place notices up at all the vets in your area and ask all friends if they're parent will let them have one. Now remember that Syrian hamster (large breed) must be housed one to a cage after 3-4 months of age or they will fight causing injury or death. You also need to be prepared to consider the fact you may end up not finding homes for some or all of them and you will need a cage for each one after 3-4 months. We have 24 cages of Syrians including one with the four babies and mom. In 2 weeks or less we need to separate the sexes into 2 cages ourselves, luckily there are many extra cages at my house, where I run a small- small animal rescue from it.