Advice with hamster taming much appreciated!

[Yorkie]

Oh and I can carry her around the house,as long as I hold her cupped in my hand against my chest . She goes all still and just sniffs my chin as she knows she is going on an adventure. Lol

 

[Amy]

Oh and I can carry her around the house,as long as I hold her cupped in my hand against my chest . She goes all still and just sniffs my chin as she knows she is going on an adventure. Lol

She is a special little girl and you two have a one in a million bonding

 

[Socks' Mum]

This is my (and my hamster Bagel’s) first time on this forum! I recently got him at 13 weeks old and so far it’s been 5 days of him moving in and getting himself familiarised with the enclosure. After some observation I noticed he’s very nervous and freezes at the smallest sounds, which is understandable coming from his previous conditions but he’s especially hesitant to interact with me. I’ve been doing the scent tissue trick and have been talking to him when he’s awake, though today i regrettably attempted to stroke him a little which scared him and caused him to scuttle back into his burrows. Will he forgive me I might be a little impatient but so far I’ve seen little progress from him getting used to my presence. I’m worried that since I got him relatively old it would be quite difficult for him to fully warm up to me or even get on my hand voluntarily… Anyone else has a similar experience with a big aged skittish hamster, and how long did it take for your hamster to really get used to you? Any stories would be greatly appreciated!

View attachment 13791

Such a cutie

 

[Yorkie]

She is a special little girl and you two have a one in a million bonding

She really is,it was worth the time

 

[Amy]

She really is,it was worth the time

I think some hamsters will never be completely tame, they have such different personalities
My hamster will let me stroke him, he will climb into my palm if he wants to come out and i don’t offer a taxi (because he’s already been out). But otherwise he doesn’t really want to „cuddle“. But he loves to listen to me and sits listening and talks to me (bruxing). And i have not yet tried to pick him up. But i do realise he may never accept it.
It would just be better incase of a vet visit, it would make it easier.

 

[Yorkie]

I think some hamsters will never be completely tame, they have such different personalities
My hamster will let me stroke him, he will climb into my palm if he wants to come out and i don’t offer a taxi (because he’s already been out). But otherwise he doesn’t really want to „cuddle“. But he loves to listen to me and sits listening and talks to me (bruxing). And i have not yet tried to pick him up. But i do realise he may never accept it.
It would just be better incase of a vet visit, it would make it easier.

If he has gone as far as bruxing ,you need to try picking him up. Take it slow,and do what I did with Robin. I can honestly say,in thirty odd years of keeping hammies on and off I have never had one I couldn't tame. The only difference ,is that some are more nervous than others ,and take longer

 

[Amy]

If he has gone as far as bruxing ,you need to try picking him up. Take it slow,and do what I did with Robin. I can honestly say,in thirty odd years of keeping hammies on and off I have never had one I couldn't tame. The only difference ,is that some are more nervous than others ,and take longer

I don’t know how should I pick him up? Scoop him up gently? he’s so tiny
I can lift his bottom up if he faffs around climbing in the taxi and only half climbs in because he’s busy sniffing
I am worried to do it wrong

 

[Amy]

If he has gone as far as bruxing ,you need to try picking him up. Take it slow,and do what I did with Robin. I can honestly say,in thirty odd years of keeping hammies on and off I have never had one I couldn't tame. The only difference ,is that some are more nervous than others ,and take longer

I wish I could beam you over for a tea and a biscuit and you could show me the best way to pick him up

 

[Socks' Mum]

Socks would clean his fur fastidiously if I touched him. If I tried to stroke him he would swat at my hand and do a big flump which made me jump. He would also jump straight up into the air to avoid being held for too long. I assumed he wasn't keen on contact. But when he wanted out of his cage at 3am to go to the playpen, he would jump off his cage wheel and hurry over to the cage door. If the hamster tube / taxi was too slow, he would start trying to climb up my arm. No concern about contact then . They seem much more comfortable in very low light, so he loved 3am. But it was hard on my sleep to wake up in the middle of the night

 

[Amy]

Socks would clean his fur fastidiously if I touched him. If I tried to stroke him he would swat at my hand and do a big flump which made me jump. He would also jump straight up into the air to avoid being held for too long. I assumed he wasn't keen on contact. But when he wanted out of his cage at 3am to go to the playpen, he would jump off his cage wheel and hurry over to the cage door. If the hamster tube / taxi was too slow, he would start trying to climb up my arm. No concern about contact then . They seem much more comfortable in very low light, so he loved 3am. But it was hard on my sleep to wake up in the middle of the night

I don’t know how you managed it did you have to get up early in the mornings?
I am lucky Nibbles comes out at around 10, but my sleep is very short so I take a nap in the afternoons
that flumping jumping is scary

 

[Socks' Mum]

I got up at 6am feeling a bit sleep deprived 🫩 I could drink tea in those days so that helped

 

[Amy]

I got up at 6am feeling a bit sleep deprived 🫩 I could drink tea in those days so that helped

Oh that must have been hard. Can’t you drink tea any more? I love a cup of Yorkshire tea, cost my fortune to buy it on Amazon

 

[Yorkie]

I don’t know how should I pick him up? Scoop him up gently? he’s so tiny
I can lift his bottom up if he faffs around climbing in the taxi and only half climbs in because he’s busy sniffing
I am worried to do it wrong

Aww bless,well what I do,if they allow me to stroke them I just put my hand around to see if they will accept this and if they do,I just pick them up off wherever they are and then put them back down. I increase how long I lift them for them,little by little . This is inside the enclosure . I know they say to not take from above ,as in put your hand over them,but all have soon realised I am not a threat . Robin is one of my best examples ,if I pick her up,she goes all relaxed in my hand cus she knows I am not a threat. Yours will learn this,they are so.clever,once he will let.you lift him,put him straight into a playpen . He will associate this then with free roam. And like on good treats . Robin even asks to.come back out when she is ready,if she isn't ready ,she won't relax to let me pick her up,when she is ready ,she raises herself a little so that I can get my hand around her. I put her to my chest then,and then straight back to her enclosure . You won't hurt him by oicking him up

 

[Yorkie]

Also,all mine have always learnt that getting up in the day gets them good treats ,I have never disturbed them. My previous one,Penny ,would even be waiting for me on the side when I came home from work

 

[Yorkie]

Socks would clean his fur fastidiously if I touched him. If I tried to stroke him he would swat at my hand and do a big flump which made me jump. He would also jump straight up into the air to avoid being held for too long. I assumed he wasn't keen on contact. But when he wanted out of his cage at 3am to go to the playpen, he would jump off his cage wheel and hurry over to the cage door. If the hamster tube / taxi was too slow, he would start trying to climb up my arm. No concern about contact then . They seem much more comfortable in very low light, so he loved 3am. But it was hard on my sleep to wake up in the middle of the night

My Penny was like that "how dare you touch my fur" lol But she gave in in the end and would even go to visitors for a cuddle.

 

[Amy]

My Penny was like that "how dare you touch my fur" lol But she gave in in the end and would even go to visitors for a cuddle.

Thank you so much for your help I will try that out
I will have to try it in the playpen as he comes to the door in the cage, he is so impatient he will climb onto my hand if I don’t have his basket but jump straight onto the cushion under his door. That’s the problem, he knows he can just jump out of the cage without being in danger of hurting himself. But I stroke him
In the playpen and I will try it there. They are so clever aren’t they I have added a foto, as you can see he’s taken over a large amount of my kitchen

 

[Amy]

I am used to big animals, horses dogs cats ect…
I worked at the vets and once an old budgie died when I got him out of the cage the vet said it had nothing to do with me getting him out, he was old and poorly. But it left me with a bit of a trauma with tiny animals

 

[Yorkie]

I am used to big animals, horses dogs cats ect…
I worked at the vets and once an old budgie died when I got him out of the cage the vet said it had nothing to do with me getting him out, he was old and poorly. But it left me with a bit of a trauma with tiny animals

You are very welcome,and I get your nervousness ,but your set up is Def ideal for this taming process. Your playpen is close by and you can quickly move him between the cage and the playpen due to this. It's a great idea to keep picking him up and back down within the playpen ,your confidence will grow.

 

[Amy]

You are very welcome,and I get your nervousness ,but your set up is Def ideal for this taming process. Your playpen is close by and you can quickly move him between the cage and the playpen due to this. It's a great idea to keep picking him up and back down within the playpen ,your confidence will grow.

Thank you I will pluck up my courage and start training he lets me stroke him without any issues. But he’s so small, I never knew how to start. I will do it as you explained, he’s not frightened of me so it should be okay

 

[Socks' Mum]

Oh that must have been hard. Can’t you drink tea any more? I love a cup of Yorkshire tea, cost my fortune to buy it on Amazon

My heart races because of the caffeine. I've had tests and it's not dangerous but it's best to avoid caffeine. Decaff isn't the same as proper tea