Playpens and Playareas

[Hamster Haven]

FYI: Omlet has 20% off through the US site this weekend with the code today20 ...I think I might go for the large playpen!

 

[Maz]

Thank you for that . They usually email me when there’s a spring sale and I didn’t know. Maybe start a post on it so it gets found easily.

 

[Hamster Haven]

Thank you for that . They usually email me when there’s a spring sale and I didn’t know.

I'm wondering if it's regional and that's why? Memorial Day weekend in the U.S.- which should have nothing to do with shopping, but every company here runs big weekend sales It runs through tomorrow, I think.

 

[Maz]

That could be it - different things for US and U.K. maybe they have already had the spring sale in the uk but I’ll check.

 

[Maz]

Nope can’t see a sale on the Uk site.

 

[Amy]

This is the playpen Princess Crazylocks has which looks good too! I think a few people have used these. Similar to the Wayfair one RainbowBrite linked above. The photo is of two playpens stacked. From Amazon (affiliate link).

View attachment 197

I have this one, it’s great

 

[aFunnyThingHappened]

You know those foam puzzle piece mats that slot together to get bigger and form walls that they have in kindergartens? If I watched my Syrian like a hawk, do you think those would be viable for Hammy And Me playpen time? Or would the joints create a weak point if I blink? I need something that stores away nicely because my apartment is small, and ideally something soft so my arthritic knees don't cause me agony getting up and down off the floor.

 

[Maz]

You know those foam puzzle piece mats that slot together to get bigger and form walls that they have in kindergartens? If I watched my Syrian like a hawk, do you think those would be viable for Hammy And Me playpen time? Or would the joints create a weak point if I blink? I need something that stores away nicely because my apartment is small, and ideally something soft so my arthritic knees don't cause me agony getting up and down off the floor.

Hmm I'm not sure exactly what you mean Do you have a photo? A hamster is likely to chew anything foam and that could be a hazard if they swallow bits. How about a large floor cushion for kneeling on?

 

[aFunnyThingHappened]

Hmm I'm not sure exactly what you mean Do you have a photo? A hamster is likely to chew anything foam and that could be a hazard if they swallow bits. How about a large floor cushion for kneeling on?

These things. To be clear, playpen time would be 100% me watching him the entire time, not just leaving him alone in it

 

[Socks' Mum]

I tried to use foam mats and they do attract chewing. It could be dangerous if the hamster swallows the foam. There is something about them which makes them a magnet for chewing.

 

[aFunnyThingHappened]

I tried to use foam mats and they do attract chewing. It could be dangerous if the hamster swallows the foam. There is something about them which makes them a magnet for chewing.

Good to know! won't go that route then

 

[aFunnyThingHappened]

What do we think of this, Ham Fam? In the medium size.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DPYGHJTG?smid=&th=1

 

[Maz]

It might be ok - without the balls obviously! Most people have got something like this - which is maybe a bit safer on the chewing front. Hamsters will still try and chew at it but the cloth is probably safer to chew. Hard to tell though without seeing the one you linked. This is also a pop up one so very easy to store. It's also half the price of the one you linked Also one reviewer of the one you linked said it's not very sturdy and kept collapsing. Not good. The pop up ones like the one below are reliable due to the pop up nature.

Pop up pet playpen

 

[aFunnyThingHappened]

It might be ok - without the balls obviously! Most people have got something like this - which is maybe a bit safer on the chewing front. Hamsters will still try and chew at it but the cloth is probably safer to chew. Hard to tell though without seeing the one you linked. This is also a pop up one so very easy to store. It's also half the price of the one you linked

Pop up pet playpen

I saw that one, but this little guy was caught dangling from the wire mesh top of his enclosure at least twice, so I have no doubt he can scale the mesh netting of that kind of ballpit

 

[Maz]

Sorry I just updated my post above a bit I am sure he could scale any fabric playpen! In which case you might be better getting something like this - they are popular on here too and not too expensive.

Songmics solid sided playpen

 

[aFunnyThingHappened]

Sorry I just updated my post above a bit I am sure he could scale any fabric playpen! In which case you might be better getting something like this - they are popular on here too and not too expensive.

Songmics solid sided playpen

Unfortunately I definitely need something more easily folded/disassembled, as space is premium in this apartment. I think the collapsability of the one I linked to is more to due with being full of rambunctious puppies, I doubt even my big lil guy could knock it down

 

[aFunnyThingHappened]

So I did end up ordering the one I listed and it does seem to be durable enough for a hamster, now I just need to figure out what to put in it. I got millet sprays for him too. I'm gonna dig out the ceramic bowl he buried and toss out the cork he apparently disliked and figure out some sort of neat texture to put in there for him. I know it's advised to put a wheel in there but i couldn't swing a new one right now, and since he's made his nest behind his enclosure wheel i can't take that one out temporarily. His sippy is a standing one so it's very easy to move that to the playpen. I have plain cardboard scraps I'm gonna try to make a chambered box hide out of, and I have plenty of applewood sticks I'm gonna make into a little tent. He's also got a seagrass tube in his enclosure i put in to encourage burrowing which he didn't do past the first few days and I never see him go into, so I'll move it to the playpen. What kind of enrichment is good to put in the pen that wouldn't normally go in the enclosure? I still haven't given up on the toy piano set on a low volume idea yet

 

[Maz]

I bet he will love it So cardboard boxes, a spare wheel, a couple of tunnels (pringles tubes are good). A carrot cottage, Mine chew those for ages. Maybe a hide or two. You can re-use things and don't need to buy expensive things. I also sometimes had a dig box - just a shoe box with torn up bits of cardboard in it then I hide a few sunflower seeds or other treats and they spend ages digging in those.

 

[Hamster Haven]

Looking for ideas for varying up the playpen and cage- Pipsqueak finally began really enjoying exploring recently and decided to break out of her playpen while I was out of the room. I had proofed the bottom of the door in case she did this, so at least I'd know she was in the bedroom. But when I walked in she must have only just gotten out because she came wandering around the outer corner of her Omlet playpen. I do love to let her free roam when I can watch her for awhile, but we live in an older house, so there are little things that don't make me feel comfortable leaving her in a room without watching her closely- for example, our doors are all a couple of inches short of the floor, because there used to be carpeting that was removed. I've tried plugging up those gaps when our hamster free roam, but more than once they've managed to squeeze their way out!

SO, my point is, Pipsqueak has enjoyed her Omlet playpen, but I know I need to change up what's in it from time to time to keep things interesting. Same with her cage.

Both have wheels, sandbaths, and various hides. What ideas does anyone have about making adjustments or adding variety? Maybe I'll add photos later today.

 

[Amy]

Looking for ideas for varying up the playpen and cage- Pipsqueak finally began really enjoying exploring recently and decided to break out of her playpen while I was out of the room. I had proofed the bottom of the door in case she did this, so at least I'd know she was in the bedroom. But when I walked in she must have only just gotten out because she came wandering around the outer corner of her Omlet playpen. I do love to let her free roam when I can watch her for awhile, but we live in an older house, so there are little things that don't make me feel comfortable leaving her in a room without watching her closely- for example, our doors are all a couple of inches short of the floor, because there used to be carpeting that was removed. I've tried plugging up those gaps when our hamster free roam, but more than once they've managed to squeeze their way out!

SO, my point is, Pipsqueak has enjoyed her Omlet playpen, but I know I need to change up what's in it from time to time to keep things interesting. Same with her cage.

Both have wheels, sandbaths, and various hides. What ideas does anyone have about making adjustments or adding variety? Maybe I'll add photos later today.

Maybe some toilette rolls she could tear up? Or cat toys can be interesting, the ones made out of see grass (we have a little mouse)