My little companion, Hammy

[Maz]

It's when they drop from that height that scares me. But then they pop up as if to say, "did you see what I did"

Yes that is worrying - ideally there shouldn't be too much height - deeper bedding helps with that. See post above also It's the only way they can get down to drop. So to avoid any injury, check there is nothing hard or sharp she could land on. Even a bendy stick bridge. Rule of thumb is anything hard or sharp should be under a platform. Or some people have stuck hemp mat over bendy stick bridges.

 

[Eric65]

She's come along in leaps and bounds in the short time I've had. She's not up yet. She normally gets up when I go to bed.

 

[Rescued One]

Little Hammy still up, full of energy.

View attachment 11617

Awwww, she looks like a little teddy bear!

 

[Eric65]

She up now grooming herself in her pumpkin hide just as I'm ready to end my day.

 

[Eric65]

Caught her destroying her first egg box.

 

[Tulsi]

Brilliant. My Kashi (rip) loved egg boxes!

 

[Eric65]

What I love about that photo I took, is she looks guilty at getting caught.

 

[Maz]

I thought she looked particularly something but wasn't sure if it was guilt or something else! More like just a "I like being naughty" look.

 

[Eric65]

Hammys latest cage setup after yesterdays bedding change, which I left about half in that had her scent mixed in with new bedding. She's definitely decided underground is for her, even though she has the option for an about ground nest in the corner. Bought her a new tunnel, which now travels along the front then bends towards the rear of the cage. And what I call her little lookout post near the wheel. She was really good when I did it. Transferred her to the traveller in her old tunnel, and she settled down well. I was done within 15 minutes. While she was asleep, I removed about half of the top layer to save me time.

 

[Eric65]

The moment finally happened a couple of minutes ago. I opened the cage door, and she climbed up onto me. She let me hold her and climbed around on my shoulder while I was sat down. Then I put her back in. She was only out for a bout a minute. And I have also found out she likes the corrugated type of cardboard rather than just plain flat ones.

 

[Maz]

Aw that's lovely - it must have been a really special moment The top of your cage looks like mine I have all sorts ends up living on top of the cage

 

[Eric65]

Yeah. I need to get a couple of book cases. One for all the stuff I've bought for hamsters and another for the rest of my books. Went out earlier her 3 little presents. I'm surprised she's only took 3 weeks to get to that stage. My last one took nearly 3 months. Perhaps it's because I talk to her, and gently stroke her, and provided her lots of things to explore. I'm waiting for her to go up to that little hut near her wheel for a photo

 

[Tulsi]

Cindy's cage has a fair amount stashed on top. I do use the top opening a lot to take pics and to put my hand in so all the stuff is squeezed in at the back!

 

[Eric65]

I love listening to Hammy on her wheel at night. The noise doesn't bother me at all. I think my next upgrade for her will be a new wheel with a pedometer on it. That and a cage upgrade to the Savic plexi.

 

[Tulsi]

Ooo sounds like some exciting upgrades afoot.

 

[Eric65]

Yes it does. I can then use the original cage for temporary housing while doing a bedding change, rather than stick her in a traveller. Also I won't struggle to clean any mess she kicks out down the back of the sideboard. In the photo, she's quite safe. I was right in front of the cage. This was taken just after I held her for the first time this morning.

 

[Eric65]

Hammys been on a right foraging mission this morning. Filled her pouches 3 times so far, and is still at it. Does she know something we don't?

 

[Maz]

Aw. Maybe she has just learned how to pouch . Sometimes it takes them a while to know how to do it. Unless she’s just had her hoard spot cleaned? Higgins pouched everything in sight a lot after I had to spot clean his hoard the first time! Maybe colder weather as well - they start instinctively building a big hoard for winter.

 

[Eric65]

I think it might be something to do with the weather. I've not spot cleaned her nest or hoard yet, due to her living underground in her tunnel. It's one of those extendable bendy ones. I've got to get another one yet, so that when I do clean it out, I can put a fresh tunnel in back with her hoard and bedding, so that some original is mixed in with the new. Minimising the time she's out. That way, I can keep one clean for her all the time.

 

[Maz]

She’s very sweet