Jas, the hamster formally known as Jasper
- Thread starter Hank
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It's one of the nicer things when they get older and can slow down a bit - they are also wiser and more tolerant sometimes and accept being handled or cuddled a bit more. Raffy was a bit different there!
I would try and tempt her out in a tube, even if it means moving a bit of bedding out of the way (and putting it back after). Do you think she'd be ok on a sofa with you? Or likely to jump off?
I would try and tempt her out in a tube, even if it means moving a bit of bedding out of the way (and putting it back after). Do you think she'd be ok on a sofa with you? Or likely to jump off?
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I was getting her food ready, I put the bowl with the seeds in, then opened the door to scatter her food and there she was, she popped up from behind her Sandbath. She stopped me scattering the food, so she could take her pick first 
I offered the taxi and she jumped in.
I offered the taxi and she jumped in.
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Gorgeous! A super cheerful cuppa with cute Jazz on it 
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Jas came out today for playpen time, for the first time in over two weeks. I was doing some cleaning, while she was in her home, and I had to go to the bottom. She normally pops her head out, grabs the treat I have and disappears back, but today she was in the hole I'd made and looking a bit perplexed. She was even squeaking, which was making me feel really bad. She seemed okay, she was having strokes but couldn't work out why she couldn't get out. I slowly started putting some bedding in, and she was rearranging it and then she went back to her burrow. So I carefully filled the rest, then checked her MCH, as I knew she wasn't under that. Then the little girl appears. She came over to her MCH and was surprised to see there was no top on it. That of course didn't stop her from climbing in from the side and rearranging some bedding. I offered her the taxi and in she got!
Luckily, my OH was here. I had only tidied up her playpen on the weekend, but the water needed filling and treats needed arranging. He watched her while I quickly checked the areas in her home that are hard to get to. We took the chance to weigh her as well, and she is losing some weight, so I might try adding some new things to her diet.
She was having fun in the playpen, seems to have more of a stroll now, rather than running around, but still happy to have strokes and it was so lovely to see her.
It's a bit blurry, but here's my beautiful girl
Luckily, my OH was here. I had only tidied up her playpen on the weekend, but the water needed filling and treats needed arranging. He watched her while I quickly checked the areas in her home that are hard to get to. We took the chance to weigh her as well, and she is losing some weight, so I might try adding some new things to her diet.
She was having fun in the playpen, seems to have more of a stroll now, rather than running around, but still happy to have strokes and it was so lovely to see her.
It's a bit blurry, but here's my beautiful girl
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It's lovely to see her. I'm sure she'll get over it in a couple of days. I quite like when they're older and sort of tell you off 
It's better than when they just get freaked out when they're younger! How old is she now?
It is normal for them to get a bit leaner or lose a bit of weight when they get to about 18 months to 2 years possibly, but topping up her calories is a good idea and it could be an idea to check her teeth if you get chance - if you can see her yawn at some point? But they never do it when you want them to!
High calorie supplements are hemp seeds and nuts Giving her a monkey nut could be a test of whether she is managing to use her teeth and jaw ok. If she can't get the monkey nut between her teeth then either she has jaw pain (affecting eating) or teeth overgrown possibly. It doesn't sound like she's going to need crushed nuts though.
I usually give a pinch of hemp seeds daily on a separate little dish - they contain most vitamins and minerals and boost calories as well apparently. The shelled hemp seeds from linwoods are good as they're not hard to chew and light and fluffy and they just lick them up usually.
She might enjoy a bit of porridge on a teaspoon some evenings as well Although that's not particularly high calorie.
How much weight has she lost? Might be an idea to weigh her again in a couple of weeks and see if it's stable.
It's better than when they just get freaked out when they're younger! How old is she now?It is normal for them to get a bit leaner or lose a bit of weight when they get to about 18 months to 2 years possibly, but topping up her calories is a good idea and it could be an idea to check her teeth if you get chance - if you can see her yawn at some point? But they never do it when you want them to!
High calorie supplements are hemp seeds and nuts
Giving her a monkey nut could be a test of whether she is managing to use her teeth and jaw ok. If she can't get the monkey nut between her teeth then either she has jaw pain (affecting eating) or teeth overgrown possibly. It doesn't sound like she's going to need crushed nuts though.I usually give a pinch of hemp seeds daily on a separate little dish - they contain most vitamins and minerals and boost calories as well apparently. The shelled hemp seeds from linwoods are good as they're not hard to chew and light and fluffy and they just lick them up usually.
She might enjoy a bit of porridge on a teaspoon some evenings as well
Although that's not particularly high calorie.How much weight has she lost? Might be an idea to weigh her again in a couple of weeks and see if it's stable.
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These are the shelled hemp seeds.
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She'll be 2 in a couple of weeks. I do try to check her teeth, but I can never see them, but she does have a monkey nut once a week and she seems to have no problem taking it and pouching it, I think that is a good sign.
She does already have hemp seeds and the linseeds, although she doesn't always eat the linseeds. I think she might have lost about 10g, but she's still 180g and although smaller, she seems okay. I did use a different scale, so I will weigh her again the next opportunity I get.
I would like to give her some egg, but I don't want to put it in her home, as I'm worried about her pouching it. Do you think she would pouch porridge or just eat it? That would be nice for her. Which one is best to get?
, I think that is a good sign.She does already have hemp seeds and the linseeds, although she doesn't always eat the linseeds. I think she might have lost about 10g, but she's still 180g and although smaller, she seems okay. I did use a different scale, so I will weigh her again the next opportunity I get.
I would like to give her some egg, but I don't want to put it in her home, as I'm worried about her pouching it. Do you think she would pouch porridge or just eat it? That would be nice for her. Which one is best to get?
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I haven't found they pouch hard boiled egg - but tend to eat it straight away like veg. But I only give a really tiny piece - small ear sized! And mostly egg white as the yolk tends to fall out anyway when you chop an egg. But I take the point if she tends to just pouch everything.
Any porridge oats are fine. But I do like the Ella's kitchen raspberry and strawberry baby porridge with crispy bits! Partly because it's instant so much easier to make and no guessing how long in the microwave. Partly because hamsters go potty for it ha ha. They love the raspberry and strawberry bits in it. There's nothing unhealthy in it either.
So with that I just put some in a mug, add a bit of boiling water till it's stiff then add some cold water to make it less stiff and cool it down
It's a nice treat for them and some interaction with you. I either give it if they're out of the cage, or if she's in the cage I put the teaspoon near where they're nesting and wait - the smell usually brings them out. It can get bits of bedding stuck on the spoon if you leave it (ie if she doesn't come out and eats it later) but that doesn't really matter. It's a mix of oats and maize (ie cornflour) so mixes up more like readybrek.
www.ellaskitchen.co.uk
Any porridge oats are fine. But I do like the Ella's kitchen raspberry and strawberry baby porridge with crispy bits! Partly because it's instant so much easier to make and no guessing how long in the microwave. Partly because hamsters go potty for it ha ha. They love the raspberry and strawberry bits in it. There's nothing unhealthy in it either.
So with that I just put some in a mug, add a bit of boiling water till it's stiff then add some cold water to make it less stiff and cool it down
It's a nice treat for them and some interaction with you. I either give it if they're out of the cage, or if she's in the cage I put the teaspoon near where they're nesting and wait - the smell usually brings them out. It can get bits of bedding stuck on the spoon if you leave it (ie if she doesn't come out and eats it later) but that doesn't really matter. It's a mix of oats and maize (ie cornflour) so mixes up more like readybrek.
Baby Breakfast | Baby rice + Porridge
Get your little one's day off to a great start with our baby breakfast ideas that are great for weaning from porridge to rice + more!
www.ellaskitchen.co.uk
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She wasn't stuck on anything. It's just that I had to dig right to the bottom of her bedding for cleaning, so I had, in effect, created a hole with bedding sides of 10". She came out from her burrows, right at the bottom of her cage, which meant she was then in the 'hole' I'd created and didn't know how to get out of it. Does that make sense? When she came out to her MCH, she used her burrow that brings her to the top of her bedding.The mug is adorable, and glad to hear you finally got to interact with her!
What did she get stuck on? I'm not understanding it from your post. Hopefully it wasn't too spooky and she will still come out
She was pretty active after, so I think she has forgiven me. I think she was just a bit surprised, when she usually uses that part of her burrows, she is still under bedding.
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Oh I see now, thanks for explaining! That's great she wasn't upset, very forgiving of her. Hopefully you guys get some more quality time, it's always funny when they go into their solitary moods. But it's so great when they want human time again