A week starting on a Wednesday 😅

[Amy]

I can only try this as he signs no intention at all in escaping the playpen. He’s not a big climber and luckily he doesn’t chew.

 

[Amy]

Adorable, he is so cute He reminds me of someone

The cheeky look on his face?

 

[Vanessa1]

Adorable drawing, can I ask what substrate you use for nibbles?Ness

 

[Amy]

Adorable drawing, can I ask what substrate you use for nibbles?Ness

Currently I have a German brand wood shavings, dust free for hamsters, in his bed there is Bucatstate paper and shredded toilet paper. But when the new cage arrived I will leave the wood shavings out. The Bucatstate is very good, no dust and it soaks very well. He really likes it, it’s a bit more expensive but I think it’s better than the wood.

 

[Vanessa1]

Thank you, appreciate that! Ness

 

[Amy]

I am thinking about using this hemp shavings as it is highly recommend and complete dust free, together with the Bucatstate

https://amzn.eu/d/0gxH9kUL

 

[Maz]

A few people used to use the Hugro hemp bedding. I think it got less popular because it didn't hold tunnels well. You could maybe mix it with something else though. Is it the chipsi wood shavings you have currently?

 

[Amy]

A few people used to use the Hugro hemp bedding. I think it got less popular because it didn't hold tunnels well. You could maybe mix it with something else though. Is it the chipsi wood shavings you have currently?

I think it’s the chip, I would have to check.
Nibbles only makes a small tunnel to sleep in, if I had known I would have bought the hemp straight away. And in his bed I would mix it with paper. And maybe a bit of Timothy hay? I am thinking of ordering the Hugro. 100 ltr. cost 23,- euros that’s not too bad.

 

[Socks' Mum]

I have been creative today. Last night i didn’t get to bed until very late. Nibbles just didn’t want to go back and he is very creative himself when avoiding his taxi
I was racking my brains all day thinking what I could do.
Last night after I finally got him back in his house, he turned around before I could close the door he hopped out! I always have a large cushion with the quilt over it, and it’s the door is not high, so I didn’t panic. I just slowly closed the kitchen door while he was scurrying about shouting freedom! But he only had one thing in mind! His playpen. He couldn’t get in of course, he came running up to me wanting a lift. He hopped in my palm and I put him back in his cage. he was not amused.
So today I have built a ramp: i sanded it smoothly and added cork to the running space (that little strip cost 14,- euros!!)
It is 48 cm long as to make it less steep.
I will place the pen around the cage and give it a test run to see if he uses it, and if he also climbs back. Maybe this way he will enjoy going back to the house? I will see. Of course there will still be a cushion under the ramp for safety reasons.
When I set it up I will try and make a video.

View attachment 13446

I can just imagine him shouting "playpen Mum, not cage, playpen, playpen!"

 

[Amy]

I can just imagine him shouting "playpen Mum, not cage, playpen, playpen!"

Exactly

 

[Socks' Mum]

The cheeky look on his face?

And his generosity with his biscuits

 

[Socks' Mum]

I think it’s the chip, I would have to check.
Nibbles only makes a small tunnel to sleep in, if I had known I would have bought the hemp straight away. And in his bed I would mix it with paper. And maybe a bit of Timothy hay? I am thinking of ordering the Hugro. 100 ltr. cost 23,- euros that’s not too bad.

Timothy hay is OK as long as it is completely dry, but if it is damp or even in a very humid atmosphere, it gets foosty and even mouldy I think it is kept in very airy conditions in stables, but keeping it indoors can be tricky. I had hemp under my piggies and found it a bit harsh and coarse. I thought Chipsi was very dusty, but it might have been a batch I got.

 

[Socks' Mum]

I h

I have tried a setup, nothing permanent just to see how he reacts to it today…
If it a no way, then back to plan a with maybe a nap in the afternoon. That’s not the best solution but we will see


View attachment 13447

I had a similar set up for Socks but with his Omlet cage inside the playpen. He was older and not very athletic by then, but he was able to use a cushion as a ramp and climbed back into his cage when he wanted to go to bed. Once I had helped him once, he remembered the route. He started trying to climb onto the cage roof, however as he wanted to jump over the side out of the pen. But I think Nibbles likes being in his playpen and as you say, never tried to leave it

 

[Amy]

Timothy hay is OK as long as it is completely dry, but if it is damp or even in a very humid atmosphere, it gets foosty and even mouldy I think it is kept in very airy conditions in stables, but keeping it indoors can be tricky. I had hemp under my piggies and found it a bit harsh and coarse. I thought Chipsi was very dusty, but it might have been a batch I got.

This hemp is supposed to be very soft, I have the feeling he doesn’t like the wood shavings
Do you think it would be best just to put the Bucatstate paper bedding in? I have ordered a big batch.

 

[Amy]

I h

I had a similar set up for Socks but with his Omlet cage inside the playpen. He was older and not very athletic by then, but he was able to use a cushion as a ramp and climbed back into his cage when he wanted to go to bed. Once I had helped him once, he remembered the route. He started trying to climb onto the cage roof, however as he wanted to jump over the side out of the pen. But I think Nibbles likes being in his playpen and as you say, never tried to leave it

I have a similar set up and he loved it
I couldn’t use the ladder as the bedding is lower than the door which would have meant he would have had to climb up on the ladder to go down. That was too risky. Tomorrow I will put a platform in front of the door so he can walk on to the ladder, if that makes sense. Hard to describe.
I couldn’t do that today as he was eager to get out. I showed him the way and he followed like a little dog
But I will be lifting him back up tonight with the taxi.
It is a change of scenery and I think he likes it.
He couldn’t climb on the roof, it’s too high. He’d like me, not good with heights no climber

 

[Socks' Mum]

This hemp is supposed to be very soft, I have the feeling he doesn’t like the wood shavings
Do you think it would be best just to put the Bucatstate paper bedding in? I have ordered a big batch.

I never had any problems with paper bedding. I can't use it on the guinea pigs as they really open the sluice gates, but if I could I would I think it is the best bedding for hamsters

 

[Vanessa1]

I did alot of research and paper is best as long as it's dust free. I've got a good 10 inches of paper substrate and teddy love's it and it holds his burrows fine! Ness

 

[Socks' Mum]

Ah yes. If I wasn't quick enough with the hamster taxi, Socks would do a little chin up onto the door, which opened up to form a sort of ramp, and start climbing down rather cautiously. Even when he was quite old, he would still rather proudly do his chin up if I was too slow

 

[Socks' Mum]

W

Ah yes. If I wasn't quick enough with the hamster taxi, Socks would do a little chin up onto the door, which opened up to form a sort of ramp, and start climbing down rather cautiously. Even when he was quite old, he would still rather proudly do his chin up if I was too slow

When I put him back and closed the door, he would rather hopefully do his little chin up and dangle, gazing at me pleadingly. He wanted to carry on using his wheel in the playpen

 

[Socks' Mum]

I have a similar set up and he loved it
I couldn’t use the ladder as the bedding is lower than the door which would have meant he would have had to climb up on the ladder to go down. That was too risky. Tomorrow I will put a platform in front of the door so he can walk on to the ladder, if that makes sense. Hard to describe.
I couldn’t do that today as he was eager to get out. I showed him the way and he followed like a little dog
But I will be lifting him back up tonight with the taxi.
It is a change of scenery and I think he likes it.
He couldn’t climb on the roof, it’s too high. He’d like me, not good with heights no climber

View attachment 13451

Clever Nibbles, he is a smart hammy