- Messages
- 468
- Reaction score
- 660
- Points
- 638
It's a very secretive tunnel that was hidden by the oversize roof of the cardboard MCH!
A Week in the Life of - Socks the Syrian Hamster
- Thread starter Socks' Mum
- Start date
F
Frida
Beautiful fish 
- Messages
- 468
- Reaction score
- 660
- Points
- 638
It's a very secretive tunnel that was hidden by the oversize roof of the cardboard MCH
Thank you!Beautiful fish
- Messages
- 16
- Reaction score
- 30
- Points
- 553
I can just imagine Socks digging away and then looking back thinking hey, who made that mess. I’d often wake to a tipped up carrot cottage, in the end I decided Ham just preferred it on its side to nibble away at the roof. Great how socks likes to sit in his bowl to eat, I think that’s really cute.
- Messages
- 468
- Reaction score
- 660
- Points
- 638
Thank you! I'm glad that over turned Carrot Cottages are a common thing! I think the tunnel is so secret that the digging only happens when I am asleep
- Messages
- 468
- Reaction score
- 660
- Points
- 638
Day 6
A gentle start this morning, feed fishy and laze around in pyjamas. All right for some
Socks was up at 4am and did some wheel running while I watched and patted him when he took a rest. He loves to sit in his sand bath or under his Happy Henry platform after a run and just commune with me. If I go to the loo or for some water, often when I get back he has gone into his MCH. It is clearly important to him to make contact with me every day and to spend time hanging our with me, although he doesn't like being picked up and doesn't sit still for long in my hands.
Socks in contemplation in his sand bath
A gentle start this morning, feed fishy and laze around in pyjamas. All right for some
Socks was up at 4am and did some wheel running while I watched and patted him when he took a rest. He loves to sit in his sand bath or under his Happy Henry platform after a run and just commune with me. If I go to the loo or for some water, often when I get back he has gone into his MCH. It is clearly important to him to make contact with me every day and to spend time hanging our with me, although he doesn't like being picked up and doesn't sit still for long in my hands.
Socks in contemplation in his sand bath
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- Messages
- 468
- Reaction score
- 660
- Points
- 638
Saturday, a good day to just sit and watch the flowers grow 
🏵
🏵
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- Messages
- 468
- Reaction score
- 660
- Points
- 638
Pats! 
- Messages
- 19,959
- Reaction score
- 37,033
- Points
- 1,373
Beautiful flowers 
It's lovely Socks is so comfortable and interactive with you He must be comfortable as he even accepted a stroke in his cage and a hand coming from above! I find the handling doesn't come until I've done some in the playpen as it seems to work better than trying to do it in the cage - which is their territory.
It's lovely Socks is so comfortable and interactive with you He must be comfortable as he even accepted a stroke in his cage and a hand coming from above! I find the handling doesn't come until I've done some in the playpen as it seems to work better than trying to do it in the cage - which is their territory.
- Messages
- 468
- Reaction score
- 660
- Points
- 638
Yes, he was quite sociable from the start, apart from chattering his teeth on arrival, when he first went into his cage. He loved eating from my hands and I think associates them with treats. He was a bit defensive of one back corner of his cage, but not very much, and soon allowed me to move around there too. But even now, if I move suddenly and clumsily, he sometimes startles and literally leaps into the air 
- Messages
- 19,959
- Reaction score
- 37,033
- Points
- 1,373
Yes they can "ping" before they're hand tame It's amazing how high they can go so fast! It can happen when handling as well - they literally wriggle free and leap 2 feet in the air all at the same time! Which is why people hand tame them low down over a cushion for example Even now, with a tame hamster, I never lift them from the cage by hand (if it's high up) as if something makes them jump they can still do it. So I still use a "taxi"
Socks seems very happy with your hand in his cage though
It's amazing how high they can go so fast! It can happen when handling as well - they literally wriggle free and leap 2 feet in the air all at the same time! Which is why people hand tame them low down over a cushion for example Even now, with a tame hamster, I never lift them from the cage by hand (if it's high up) as if something makes them jump they can still do it. So I still use a "taxi" Socks seems very happy with your hand in his cage though
- Messages
- 468
- Reaction score
- 660
- Points
- 638
Lifting using the taxi is a good practice, definitely. I think if they are tense being picked up could be uncomfortable. I have been handling him while kneeling on the carpet to get him used too being held though in case we need to visit the vet and to have a squiz at his bottom/tummy to check all is OK. He puts up with it but isn't keen! If I had to make a longer inspection I would need a clear container.
- Messages
- 19,959
- Reaction score
- 37,033
- Points
- 1,373
I use a rat tube The hamster walks into it, then I put my hands over either end and lift him out of the cage that way into the playpen. In the playpen I usually start with some food on the palm of my hand and gradually the hamster starts putting a paw on your hand or sitting on it and I move on from there. They vary though. Raffy never did accept being handled in the playpen but he did when I had him on the sofa! Because I was on the same level with him I think. Some people sit in the playpen but my knees are too creaky for that!
The hamster walks into it, then I put my hands over either end and lift him out of the cage that way into the playpen. In the playpen I usually start with some food on the palm of my hand and gradually the hamster starts putting a paw on your hand or sitting on it and I move on from there. They vary though. Raffy never did accept being handled in the playpen but he did when I had him on the sofa! Because I was on the same level with him I think. Some people sit in the playpen but my knees are too creaky for that!
E
elusive
Sorry to have been away for much of Sock’s week but I’ve enjoyed catching up with all the lovely photos & videos.
- Messages
- 468
- Reaction score
- 660
- Points
- 638
Thank you! Very pleased you have enjoyed them!
- Messages
- 468
- Reaction score
- 660
- Points
- 638
Day 7
Socks was drinking at his bottle at 5am this morning, so I opened the front door and he climbed out for some time in his playpen and a sandbath in the big bath, which he enjoyed.
Flower forage and flax seed sprays with a bum print where Socks sat down to eat
Socks was drinking at his bottle at 5am this morning, so I opened the front door and he climbed out for some time in his playpen and a sandbath in the big bath, which he enjoyed.
Flower forage and flax seed sprays with a bum print where Socks sat down to eat
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- Messages
- 468
- Reaction score
- 660
- Points
- 638
A little earlier (3am?) Socks was on his wheel and I thought I must get up to say hello, having last seen him briefly at 8 and 10pm last night, but went back to sleep instead 
Sunday morning, after all, is a good time to get up early (especially if you are a hamster parent)
My window box project:
Sunday morning, after all, is a good time to get up early (especially if you are a hamster parent
)My window box project:
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- Messages
- 468
- Reaction score
- 660
- Points
- 638
Socks 
- Messages
- 19,959
- Reaction score
- 37,033
- Points
- 1,373
Aw lovely to see his bum print in the forage He must have enjoyed sitting there. The window box project looks great - I especially like the little solitary green shoot in the nearest flower pot - it looks so promising and natural. Socks seems to have grown! It's lovely he walked out of the cage door - that's what's so great about the big front door isn't it?
He must have enjoyed sitting there. The window box project looks great - I especially like the little solitary green shoot in the nearest flower pot - it looks so promising and natural. Socks seems to have grown! It's lovely he walked out of the cage door - that's what's so great about the big front door isn't it?
- Messages
- 468
- Reaction score
- 660
- Points
- 638
Yes, easy access! When it gets reliably warmer I'll move his cage onto the floor to make our night time tete a tetes easier. The little shoot is an apple tree. I want to try some bonsai, but I've never done it before, so I'm not sure how well it will work out. It is rewarding seeing them filling out Worth all the work and care!
Worth all the work and care!