"Pip" Pipsqueak's Diary

[Hamster Haven]

So, we're getting a little luckier with Pip lately, and I think it's at least in part that she's suddenly starting to get more relaxed with us. She is still coming out after 10:30PM, sometimes closer to 11PM (23.00), but even so, that's earlier that the first few weeks when it seemed like she'd wait for us to turn out the lights.

Additionally, she's now seeming to enjoy bath time and even wanting to get out of the bath, but not because she's scared of being in there; I think she just wants to explore more- so I'm going to have to set up some type of external, safe play area. I wouldn't trust her yet in the master bedroom because she's still not fully grown, and it needs a cleaning! I've got a plastic grid set up I could use that I had purchased for Oaky (but she was such a crazy chewer I had to abandon it because she'd literally chew holes in the plastic at the corners until she could escape!), so I'm thinking of ordering the large Omelet playpen. It seems easy to set up and take down.

She also will occasionally use my hands for assistance getting down from a higher place, which is big growth, and she doesn't get too scared- she'll stay on my hand while I raise or lower her without jumping off- though I don't test that theory for too long!

Here is a video of her exploring a giant sunflower head that we ordered for fun.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Vanessa1]

What a beautiful hamster, its a super video.i really like that giant sunflower head it's very impressive.Ness

 

[Hamster Haven]

What a beautiful hamster, its a super video.i really like that giant sunflower head it's very impressive.Ness

We've never had one before, so we didn't quite know what to expect when we ordered it, but it's been fun. The first time she took at least 5 of the giant seeds and pouched them before we removed it from her cage. This time it was in the bath with her and she was pulling the seeds out and then leaving them! I think something about their size or feel is discouraging her from cracking them! But it's still certainly fun for enrichment.

 

[Maz]

She is so cute . Lovely video

 

[Socks' Mum]

So, we're getting a little luckier with Pip lately, and I think it's at least in part that she's suddenly starting to get more relaxed with us. She is still coming out after 10:30PM, sometimes closer to 11PM (23.00), but even so, that's earlier that the first few weeks when it seemed like she'd wait for us to turn out the lights.

Additionally, she's now seeming to enjoy bath time and even wanting to get out of the bath, but not because she's scared of being in there; I think she just wants to explore more- so I'm going to have to set up some type of external, safe play area. I wouldn't trust her yet in the master bedroom because she's still not fully grown, and it needs a cleaning! I've got a plastic grid set up I could use that I had purchased for Oaky (but she was such a crazy chewer I had to abandon it because she'd literally chew holes in the plastic at the corners until she could escape!), so I'm thinking of ordering the large Omelet playpen. It seems easy to set up and take down.

She also will occasionally use my hands for assistance getting down from a higher place, which is big growth, and she doesn't get too scared- she'll stay on my hand while I raise or lower her without jumping off- though I don't test that theory for too long!

Here is a video of her exploring a giant sunflower head that we ordered for fun.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

That's a wonderful sunflower seed head. She's really enjoying it

 

[Amy]

Aww she is such a sweet girl

 

[Hamster Haven]

Update! Pip still comes out super late, meaning that even on nights when we'd love to give her some playpen time, we don't see her, but she has continued to get more comfortable and friendly with us.

I set up the large Omelet playpen that I ordered at the end of May. I think I need to put more stuff in it, but she enjoyed going around a bit. I filled a Niteangel dig box with coconut peat, but she seems to be less interested in it than sand, which is a definite change from Oaky, who loved both sand and coco peat.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Vanessa1]

Lovely video, such a gorgeous little hammy sweet face! Ness

 

[Socks' Mum]

She's looking well and nice and confident

 

[Amy]

So sweet she’s a pretty girl

 

[Maz]

She has grown! She looked really comfortable and confident in the playpen and the photo is adorable! She looks so alert and pretty and very comfortable with your daughter there. Really glad things are going well.

 

[Hamster Haven]

We went on a 2 week trip soon after my last post, and we've had a lot of fun with Pipsqueak since we returned. While she only came out early ONE TIME for our neighbors replacing her food during our trip, we stay up later, and she's at least started to come out between 10:15 and 10:30PM now, which is way better than before. Additionally, she is so adapted to coming out. I've had to split time between her Omlet playpen (which I LOVE by the way- so much better than any of my cheaper options in the past) and supervising her running around a bedroom or bed, because she's just become so trusting with us and comfortable coming out, relative to how timid she was for the first 2 months we had her.

I also upgraded her wheel from the 10" Bucastate to our old 12" Silent Runner. I feel like the wheel part wobbles a little under her weight when she runs on it, but everything seems to be tightened properly and she doesn't seem to mind. In fact, since I brought that wheel out, she spends a LOT more time running on it. I even carry it to and from her playpen. However, when she decides she has a way out of the playpen and she's had enough of what we have in it, she will just repeatedly try to climb out Of course, she can only do this when one of us is sitting in there with her. She also readily climbs on my hand and up my arm now if she wants assistance leaving her cage or another space, and that's now I know how comfortable she is with us! Of course, I still use a transport for long moves for safey.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

Note: She really just wanted her wheel in the first few days we upgraded her wheel- she very much wants to explore still!

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Vanessa1]

She's totally wonderful looks really happy and obviously having lots of fun Ness

 

[Socks' Mum]

We went on a 2 week trip soon after my last post, and we've had a lot of fun with Pipsqueak since we returned. While she only came out early ONE TIME for our neighbors replacing her food during our trip, we stay up later, and she's at least started to come out between 10:15 and 10:30PM now, which is way better than before. Additionally, she is so adapted to coming out. I've had to split time between her Omlet playpen (which I LOVE by the way- so much better than any of my cheaper options in the past) and supervising her running around a bedroom or bed, because she's just become so trusting with us and comfortable coming out, relative to how timid she was for the first 2 months we had her.

I also upgraded her wheel from the 10" Bucastate to our old 12" Silent Runner. I feel like the wheel part wobbles a little under her weight when she runs on it, but everything seems to be tightened properly and she doesn't seem to mind. In fact, since I brought that wheel out, she spends a LOT more time running on it. I even carry it to and from her playpen. However, when she decides she has a way out of the playpen and she's had enough of what we have in it, she will just repeatedly try to climb out Of course, she can only do this when one of us is sitting in there with her. She also readily climbs on my hand and up my arm now if she wants assistance leaving her cage or another space, and that's now I know how comfortable she is with us! Of course, I still use a transport for long moves for safey.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

Note: She really just wanted her wheel in the first few days we upgraded her wheel- she very much wants to explore still!

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

It's lovely seeing Pip so bold and interactive. She seems to love company now

 

[Hamster Haven]

It's lovely seeing Pip so bold and interactive. She seems to love company now

Yes! She definitely does. She'll sit in our hands (fairly) patiently, and she'll climb all over us if she thinks it will help her explore more.