My little companion, Hammy

[Maz]

There are various things available that are safe - you can get coloured bedding to add, hanging Christmas items. Rosewood do some edible ones. I've listed a few hamster safe things below.

Rosewood hanging edible tree

Christmas pudding hanging loofa toy (you can put treats in the gaps)

Hanging star toy (rattan and seagrass)

Rosewood festive loofah garland

You can also get things like this to hang from the cage but I'd put these on the outside - although they should be safe to chew if she gets at them

Hanging decoration

Red paper bedding

Also some ideas on this thread

Hamster Christmas Presents

Is anyone getting their Hamster a Christmas present this year? :-) I usually get them a little something. I've just sent for two of these. It's the place where I got Tino's mini forage box from and they have a Christmas version with a spinach christmas tree. Tino's original mini forage box...

www.thehamsterforum.com

 

[Eric65]

I was cleaning hammys tunnel this morning, because I'd noticed it was smelling at one end, and I thought, why not suspend it near the top, so she has something to run in and out of, that way she might start burrowing into the paper bedding and make her nest, or use the hide I got her. Oh no. Not madam. Though she can burrow, she loves the tunnel. No matter if it's above or below ground.

 

[Eric65]

Meant to put this on the last message

 

[Maz]

Nice idea I have a "roof run" tunnel in Higgins cage He sleeps in his multiroom house. I hope she stops usingn the tunnel for her nest as they are difficult and messy to clean out which is ongoing upset for the hamster. However even though the tunnel is now higher up, she might still nest in it! If she had got in the habit of that. Fingers crossed she doesn't now! If she does then you might end up having to remove it completely. On the other hand those stretchy tunnels are good playpen toys

 

[Eric65]

That's why i bought 2 for her. knowing that it wouldn't be long before it started to smell. each time i did a spot clean of it, she could have a fresh one with some of her original bedding and food. But when i checked it this morning, all her stash was ruined by wee. The original intention was to let her use it as a play toy. But she had other ideas. She is in it at the moment, round about the middle of it. Hammy does know how to burrow. I've seen her do it often enough. I'm hoping as she gets a bit older, that she might start putting in more of an appearance. I know they are nocturnal, but it would be nice to see her once or twice. she sleeps for about 12 hours at a time on and off.

 

[Maz]

Oh has she disappeared a bit now?

 

[Eric65]

Yes. Once she's in her nest, I don't normally see her till I'm about to go to bed

 

[Maz]

What time do you feed her usually?

 

[Eric65]

I tend to feed her in the morning. Between 8 and 10 because she gets up a couple of times before she settles for the day. She has food in a bowl. But I spread a mixture around for her to forage in. Quite a site watching her stuff her cheeks to capacity

 

[Maz]

You could maybe try switching the feeding to evening - that's the usual time. Maybe 9pm. Once she gets in the habit of knowing food will be out at 9pm, she will probably start getting up earlier for it, and be awake enough to be out and about or come out of the cage. Feeding in the morning is just before she goes to sleep for the day, and being up till 10am will mean she will sleep later at night They're usually up till about 6 or 7 am naturally before going to sleep for the day, but if she knows food is coming, she'll be staying up later.

 

[Eric65]

Thanks. I'll give it a try and see how I get on

 

[Maz]

We feed about 9pm and the hamsters come out religiously at that time, knowing their veg is coming! They live for their bit of fresh veg every day. You can get them into routines like that. So they wake naturally at that time, expecting to hear the cage door open. And often want to come out at that time too.

 

[Eric65]

I've still a way to go yet in Hammy letting me handle her to come out. She lets me stroke her, no problem, whenever shes drinking or foraging about for food.

 

[Maz]

Yes it's still early days Although the handling and taming is best started out of the cage. In the cage they behave differently - it's their territory. Have you seen the taming article?

How to tame a hamster

Hand taming a hamster can make life with your hamster very rewarding. Suddenly they will sit on you to be stroked or even go to sleep on you, and will be very easy to handle. It can take a bit of time and patience initially.

www.thehamsterforum.com

 

[Eric65]

Yes I have. I remember reading it a short while ago

 

[Eric65]

One thing I noticed about where she placed herself, is because her nest is in the middle of the tunnel, she's essentially given herself 2 ways to get out if a predator got in at one end, she could go out the other way.

 

[Eric65]

Did what you said about putting the food in. She's just got up, had a stretch and foraging at the moment.

 

[Eric65]

Hammy is now using her wooden hide hut now quite happily. Even came out when I spread her evening meal around. Quick learner and very proud of her.

 

[Maz]

Well done Hammy

 

[Eric65]

I thought she may have not bothered. But she's a little trouper