A week in the life of my hamsters - February

[Member ID2]

Day 2:

'Good night, world, i'm off to bed'.
Eddie was still up when i went next door just now. His pouches were full and he had a drink so i knew he was getting ready for bed.
Must go to B&Q to get a small tile to go under his bottle.

 

[Member ID2]

Made porridge for the boys. We've always called the Syrians 'the boys'.

This porridge is great, 1 scoop porridge, 2 scoops water and 35/40 secs in the microwave. I use dunelm egg cups for bowls.

The tube is a good size as a play tunnel and the scoop handy for food.

 

[elusive]

Had a good night then Eddie
That porridge is the best

 

[RainbowBrite]

Sweet dreams Eddie.

 

[Member ID2]

Eddie looks happy and not too stressed by the cage move. He loves the bigger sandbath that's in a very sheltered corner. I watched him sitting in there last night, eating, grooming and doing the odd roll.

I just cancelled Jack's vet appointment for tomorrow. His poops look normal and his slowing down could be age related. I feed him a smaller amount of fresh food now and need to keep an eye on his weight. He doesn't seem to be in pain so doesn't need metacam and there are no symptoms of an infection but need to keep an ear out for the little squeaky noises he makes sometimes but don't think they are heart related wheezes. Could be though. Nothing a vet could do about anyway.
Jack gets stressed at the vets and there isn't enough for a vet to go on so will observe him for the time being.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Aww it is so heart warming to hear how happy Eddie is.

It is really good Jacks poops are back to normal.

 

[Member ID2]

Eddie is up again. He's working on building a hoard, haha. I love it when they show natural behaviours. Shows they are settling in.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Aww he really is so happy.

 

[elusive]

Lots to do Eddie! I’m not surprised he’s settling into the new cage so well, it’s a lovely set up & must feel very safe for him as well as loads of great things to explore.

Sounds like the right way to go with Jack, hope he continues to do better.

 

[Member ID2]

Just been to my favourite shop, B&Q.
They have these 150l grey storage boxes. I'd love to make one into a bin cage but don't need one or have the space for one as a playbin.

 

[RainbowBrite]

They are such a great price! You seem to live near a lot of great shops.

 

[Member ID2]

I do and i work in different locations which is great for checking out small, independent pet shops.

 

[Member ID2]

Stopped off at the park with some food that came with a recycling cage. There's always somebody about.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Aww I love squirrels!

 

[Maz]

Eddie is such a gorgeous fluff ball. He has settled in quickly with you. I think that's the right decision with Jack - just see how he goes.

Nice to see a squirrel photo!

 

[Member ID2]

I need to spend the odd hour in the garden and tidy up after the winter. I'm not into gardening and attempting to grow things. I've tried but never worked. Something always eats it before me.

The one area that's important to me is the hamster graveyard. I'm not into flowers but like heather and fuchsia. I need some for the pots but don't know when they are available. I may go and have a look in a couple of garden centres tomorrow.

The graveyard is below the washing line so i often reflect on our dear friends when i'm hanging the washing out.
It makes me sad because their lives are so short but it also reminds me that i did my best to make them as happy as they made me.

 

[Maz]

It's a lovely spot for your plant pots and hamster memorials, and I especially like the decorative things hanging from the tree. What are they? I have never found Heather a thing that grows well. It is incredibly slow growing and dies off easily. Fuschias can also die off easily - but partly that depends on your part of the world. Even hardy fuschias don't survive where we are, but they might in your neck of the woods If pot grown though I think fushchias would need watering daily.

I think something like Skimmia Japonica might be good - it's evergreen and has lovely glossy green leaves with lots of tiny red buds through the winter, which turn into pinky white flowers.

Skimmia japonica 'Perosa'PBR (m) | skimmia 'Perosa' Shrubs/RHS

Find help & information on Skimmia japonica 'Perosa'PBR (m) skimmia 'Perosa' Shrubs from the RHS

www.rhs.org.uk

Also pot grown shrub roses are nice - but they only flower in spring and summer

Lavender looks amazing and grows well in pots if you get the basic old fashioned type. Next door has a stone taken out of their patio with a section of lavender that grows every year and it looks amazing. And smells quite nice too. It's also evergreen but only flowers in summer, but for quite a long time.

Best Lavenders for Pots and Containers

Dozens of Lavender varieties are available and finding the right Lavender plant for your favorite containers is not always an easy task. To assist you in selecting the right plant, we have

www.gardenia.net

I know some other people have pots for hamsters and they might have suggestions for good plants for this as well.

 

[Maz]

Also the shrub Daphne. Also evergreen with nice flowers. This one doesn't get too big

Daphne × burkwoodii &s;Somerset&s; | Burkwood daphne &s;Somerset&s; Shrubs/RHS Gardening

Find help & information on Daphne × burkwoodii &s;Somerset&s; Burkwood daphne &s;Somerset&s; Shrubs from the RHS

www.rhs.org.uk

 

[elusive]

That is a lovely spot to reflect on past times with the hams.
Fuschias aren’t the easiest to grow but as Maz says they might do ok where you are, it’s mostly spring frost they don’t like.
My heathers are in flower now & do look lovely, easy to grow in pots as long as you use ericaceous compost but they do need pruning or they get very leggy & look pretty rubbish.
Bulbs are easy & nice too, even though it’s still cold & grey I have lovely yellow crocuses coming up in some of my ham pots, just stick them in the pot & forget them, they do the rest!

 

[Maz]

That is a lovely idea, having bulbs - they just come back year after year. Only in Spring though. But you could have a plant in there as well as bulbs. A small evergreen plant that flowers in summer and autumn and some daffodils coming through in spring.