How to tame my hamsters ?

NeeewBieOwner5 · 01-25-2013, 04:06 AM

one is a baby 1 month old and the other is 2-3 months old, both syrians.

they are just jumpy when im touching them.

Christiane · 01-25-2013, 08:19 AM

Hello NeeewBieOwner5,

firstly i hope you're keeping them in separate cages, Syrians should never be kept together as they fight? It's not clear from your post.

To the taming, this is how i do it: It's important to leave them alone for a few days when they first moved in so they get a feeling for their cage(s), just talk to them softly when approaching. Then you can start offering them a treat out of your hand, i.e. a tiny bit of raw cabbage, a tinned sweetcorn (1, as to give diarhorrea when they're not used to green food), or a hamster popcorn (available in pet shops). Once they eat out of your hand no problem you can start trying to stroke them a wee bit, and keep that on for a week or so, building up trust and getting them used to your hand gradually. Once they're fine with that you can start trying to scoop them up with both hands (no grabbing them as they get scared), i.e. by removing the lid from the cage, and, keeping them close to the bottom, not too high up as they might jump off. So, it's just about building it up gradually over a few weeks.

Hope that helps!

xxx

Biyu · 01-25-2013, 09:36 AM

I wonder about the size cages there in to be honest

I think my Syrian was hand tame when we got her (she just roamed and when we had the nesting box open she came onto our hands when the door was loose she came out and onto my hand) but she never liked jumping obto my hand while in the cage once out she was fine tho as it was a crittertrail type cage she eventually became a terrible bar chewer now that she is in the 465 square inch bin she occasionally jumps right on my hand withought issue

Thought of something else do you know where they are from? The place I got my strian from buys from breeders however they also take in ones from odd litters and that as well (she was taken in) as I said she is/was friendly my robo may be a mill robo and he is appearing atleast as friendly as she was at about this time

barryg69 · 01-25-2013, 02:07 PM

Iv just tamed my two Syrians this was what i did
1 when setting up the cage i rubbed all the saw dust through my hands to get her used to my sent then left them alone for 3 days
2 i talk to them as much as possible
3 i put both of my cages next to me on the floor opened the side doors and just left my hands in for around an hour as i watch tv letting them have a good sniff i done this for 3 days
4 hand fed them treats and gave them a stroke
5 scooped them up just for a few seconds stroking and talking to them all the time
now when they see me they climb up the cage and wait to be held its funny when i put them back in the cage as they turn into hypohamsters running and jumping every were in there cage with excitement

**DrKMcK** · 01-25-2013, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barryg69

Iv just tamed my two Syrians this was what i did
1 when setting up the cage i rubbed all the saw dust through my hands to get her used to my sent then left them alone for 3 days
2 i talk to them as much as possible
3 i put both of my cages next to me on the floor opened the side doors and just left my hands in for around an hour as i watch tv letting them have a good sniff i done this for 3 days
4 hand fed them treats and gave them a stroke
5 scooped them up just for a few seconds stroking and talking to them all the time
now when they see me they climb up the cage and wait to be held its funny when i put them back in the cage as they turn into hypohamsters running and jumping every were in there cage with excitement

What a nice gentle way to make friends with them.

NeeewBieOwner5 · 01-25-2013, 11:15 PM

yes they are in separate cages, 1 week had passed since i got them and they are well fed and the cages are big enough for them.

i will just rub their bedding in my hand so they know im not a threat ?

are baby hammies supposed to be jumpy in their early months?

the other hammy that i own recognizes my voice but she doesn't go to my hand and barely sniff it. what should i do.

the baby hammy is just too jumpy for me to handle. so i leave them alone. she is jumpy when i open the lid, replace her water and even when i gave her food/treats.

i dont touch them because i dont know what to do.

**DrKMcK** · 01-26-2013, 04:24 AM

I have had Hammys born in my home. The young ones are very jumpy and will even scream while rolling on their backs if they are frightened. It startled me no end the first time that happened. Now I know they aren't really hurt. I always make sure I handle the younger ones while my hand is in the cage. I don't want them to fall to the floor if they leap suddenly. Just lie your hand down in the cage with a small piece of millet and the baby should slowly start walking on your hand. Then you can start petting it. The jumpiness goes away as they get older and tamer. Mostly, it takes time and patience. It's worth it though, when you wind up with a gentle, friendly hammy who enjoys time playing with you.

Trixafena2 · 01-26-2013, 12:10 PM

My few month old ham that I recently got is a jumpy fellow too, it's starting to go away now, so i'd just keep at it.

Mine roll on their backs too if they're startled, like it accomplishes anything xD

NeeewBieOwner5 · 01-26-2013, 04:50 PM

why does the baby ham keeps biting me and screaming whenever i give them food or change their bedding or their water. i have so many bite marks in my hand and fingers, my skin is torn apart.

i just want to be friends with the little guy TT^TT

i always rub the bedding in my hand, speak in a mellow voice and i do not startle him.
he is kep in a bin cage cover by a piece of cloth to make it a little bit darker/dim for him.

when i slightly bumped him he screams and started running off and excreting feces.

and this morning i accidentally bumped her face with the nozzle of his water bottle (it was not that hard because the hole was too small and i don't want to make a huge thud, im just slowly pushing it).
When i was apologizing for what happened (i usually give him treats when i do something bad to him). he bit me TT^TT.

do i need to build my trust again for him TT^TT

**DrKMcK** · 01-26-2013, 05:03 PM

He sounds very young. I think the best thing to do is to only change his water and feed once a day and let him be quiet. Don't try to pet or touch the hammy for at least another week or even 2. Trust is something that will take a LOT of time. Make sure the hammy has several hidey places and don't try to lure it out. If it is sleeping, absolutely do not bother it. In about a week, start leaving a little treats of small pieces of carrot or broccoli for it ( only 1 or 2 pieces). After two weeks you can start leaving your hand in the cage to see if it will come to your hand. put some broccoli on your hand to entice it. If it goes to your hand, don't move a muscle. Just let it explore. Once it moves away you can take your hand out. Once the hamster seems to get on your hand without looking scared you can move your hand, very gently, up and down in the cage. Then stop and let it get off. Do this for about a week, then you can start petting with one finger, very gently. I know this seems very slow and a lot of work, but if you do this you should gain his trust and wind up with a happier hammy.