Strange jumping hamster

Chloe525_X · 08-11-2013, 01:35 PM

I know that it is normal for hamsters to jump but I find it a little bit strange that Patch only jumps out of my hands when I try to lift him out of his cage. If I put his ball in his cage, he will crawl in it and then I can put the ball on my lap, he will crawl out and climb on me and seems perfectly happy when I pick him up but every time I try to get him out using my hands, he jumps off straight away. Anyone ever had this problem? Any suggestions as to what I can do?

POLAR WHITES · 08-11-2013, 01:50 PM

Its a matter of trust and time, I take it you have not had him very long, I would put your hand in his cage with a few treats and let him get used to your hands in his cage then lift him a little not out of his cage and he will gain in confidence, its the fight or flight approach which is in built in to prey animals that hamsters are

gutterglitterxx · 08-11-2013, 01:51 PM

I have definitely experienced it. I think sometimes it is a bit of a territorial thing, since your hands are invading their home.

I actually always use a toilet paper tube to lift GiGi out and I have Keurig K-cup boxes that Chester and Maddy like to hop into when they're ready to come out.

I know, at this point, that none of them would probably mind being lifted by my hands but I find that this method works really well so why mess with it? They're totally tame (except Maddy who hasn't been here long but is doing really well) once they're out so I try not to mess with their homes.

Char · 08-11-2013, 01:58 PM

Teddy won't let me put my hands in his ball to get him out. He bites. I have to let him come out on top of his cage then pick him upto put him up. Rosie also don't like my hands in her ball, but she's very very shy.

Munchalot · 08-11-2013, 02:18 PM

I've definitely seen this, especially with younger and nervous hams. I think it's more of a confidence issue. It takes time to build up trust between you and the hamster, so that they can grow accustomed to being picked up by a hand.
We can't forget that they are a prey animal, and a hand swooping down from above them is very much like the advance of a predator. Encouraging your hamster to understand that being picked up is not a threat is the biggest part of taming.

He will have come to understand that when the ball is presented, it is an opportunity for him to come out and exercise and is of no threat to him. Your hand is a different matter.

It takes time, but with regular routine handling, this problem should disappear. Some hams like to take it slow, and gradually building up that trust gently will help him grow to see the pick up as a positive thing.