Sleeping in the open

[Kelibr]

Sunday I began separating my young males from females (they are 4 weeks old). I ended up with 6 females and 4 males. Since the switch my males have decided to sleep only in the top of the cage on the plastic. They do pile up but don't nest. They also poop, pee and have food up there. I've found them more than once with goo stuck to them. I've provided a lot of paper and a hut on the bottom but this behavior continues. They do come down some to get food and run in the wheel but most of the time they spend up there hovering in the opening of the tub. Sometimes all four stuffed in the tube. The females aren't doing this. But they all remained very skittish and really don't want to play. Is this normal behavior? Should I move them out of the cage with the tube to prevent this?

[tolennaki]

I am by no means an expert but I have heard lots of people having problems with new hamsters preferring the tubes to the rest of the cage. Maybe try blocking the access to the tubes so your boys will have to look elsewhere for a nest, this is the advice I have seen in these cases. I have never heard of a hamster who will not make a nest, but after blocking/removing the tubes, maybe you could try placing some paper in the hut yourself and hopefully they will get the clue and start doing this themselves. Is the hut big enough?

[kyrilliondaemon]

I'd definetly avoid tubes for hams that young and untame to be honest. Might be they'll be better without a tube

[DrKMcK]

I'd move them to a cage without tubes. Something as small as a tube can create fights. Babies that young do best in an open cage/tank/bin with no shelves or tubes. This way you can start taming without them running into a tube. Also, you can intervene if it looks like some are playing rough.

[Kelibr]

I think I'll be moving them. Maybe switching their cage with mom. Or creating another bin. This taming stuff is harder than I thought. They really aren't interested at all. I keep playing with them and feeding treats but they will have none of it. We've been doing this every day since their eyes opened. I hope it gets better in the coming weeks.

[Kelibr]

Originally Posted by tolennaki

I am by no means an expert but I have heard lots of people having problems with new hamsters preferring the tubes to the rest of the cage. Maybe try blocking the access to the tubes so your boys will have to look elsewhere for a nest, this is the advice I have seen in these cases. I have never heard of a hamster who will not make a nest, but after blocking/removing the tubes, maybe you could try placing some paper in the hut yourself and hopefully they will get the clue and start doing this themselves. Is the hut big enough?

I'm going to put them in a bin I think today. The huts are plenty big and I've put paper in it for them. I thought things were better as one started sleeping there but this morning it's back to the four wild boys on plastic. Uggh I never know the right thing to do with these rascals.

[ChocolateCream81]

Thats a good idea, i hope it goes well!!