Upset ham

herbi7 · 12-30-2014, 12:19 PM

Uh oh, I have just upset willow. I wanted to check on her as I hadn't seen her move or make a sound all day, so I gently lifted out her nest box with her inside till her head poked out. After a while she wanted to explore so I let her potter around in her play tray for a couple of mins n then put her back and put her nest back in too. She went mental and chewed her bars for a good half an hour and won't go back into her nest box... She has now carefully hidden her best treasures which r her bits of fresh food and the treats I gave her earlier in her toilet jar and gone to sleep in there! I don't usually disturb her nest as she is v v shy of me and I feel I have invaded her safe space so she doesn't want to b in it any more. I don't want her eating food she has urinated on but would it be a second crime to take her hoard away?

Skeever · 12-30-2014, 05:01 PM

Details would help us understand more. Nest box? With a bottom? or is the bottom on the subsrate? Made of what? Most things aren't rocket science with hamsters. Seems like the whole nest removed and put into a playpen? tray? a couple minutes,?then put her back and her nest back after that?

Sounds like stolen or invaded stash issues or, 'who told you my house was some kind of lego toy to move around? I LIVE THERE, ITS MINE!!!!!!

The bar chewing? Sometimes they pull that when they got taken out and want more out time....Pook did it today, twice. Needless to say he got out a lot today. Finally I said, okay , out but in the ball.....which tired him out a bit.

His new nest didn't work so well, he climbs to the top entrance of the cardboard box, but isn't keen on entering the front entrance. It's filled with older nest material, fresh bedding, treats and some stashes...S
He did spend an inordinate amount of time in his upstairs ball which now had no bedding since I unnested and cleaned it out.....through much of the overnight. Like a little hammy sit in of sorts.

After all her play attention and mischief today........two make a break for it and hit the ground running for some FREE ROAM time! I put him back on his upper level and saw him pull a bit of bedding into the ball, and started so I started ripping up tissues and handing them to him to rebuild a new cozy bunk nest; whick kept him busy and squeaking happily for an hour or so.....

She's still new. Learning to leave her in peace isn't easy in the early days. The less we annoy many hammies the sooner they get bored in their new digs and start getting all curious about the big thing that delivers food and talks to them like they're infants instead of hamsters, in funny voices.......

its trial and error based on the particular ham, but they seem to communicate rather way despite their langauage limitations. We're the ones that don't seem to listen to them very well

Skeever · 12-30-2014, 05:02 PM

Details would help us understand more. Nest box? With a bottom? or is the bottom on the subsrate? Made of what? Most things aren't rocket science with hamsters. Seems like the whole nest removed and put into a playpen? tray? a couple minutes,?then put her back and her nest back after that?

Sounds like stolen or invaded stash issues or, 'who told you my house was some kind of lego toy to move around? I LIVE THERE, ITS MINE!!!!!!

The bar chewing? Sometimes they pull that when they got taken out and want more out time....Pook did it today, twice. Needless to say he got out a lot today. Finally I said, okay , out but in the ball.....which tired him out a bit.

His new nest didn't work so well, he climbs to the top entrance of the cardboard box, but isn't keen on entering the front entrance. It's filled with older nest material, fresh bedding, treats and some stashes...
He did spend an inordinate amount of time in his upstairs ball which now had no bedding since I unnested and cleaned it out late lastnight.....through much of the overnight. Like a little hammy sit in of sorts.

After all her play attention and mischief today........two make a break for it and hit the ground running for some FREE ROAM time! I put him back on his upper level and saw him pull a bit of bedding into the ball, and so I started ripping up tissues and handing them to him to rebuild a new cozy bunk nest; which kept him busy and squeaking happily for an hour or so.....he's still in there chittering happily and munching hoard treats.

She's still new in your case. Learning to leave her in peace isn't easy in the early days. The less we annoy many hammies the sooner they get bored in their new digs and start getting all curious about the big thing that delivers food and talks to them like they're infants instead of hamsters, in funny voices.......

its trial and error based on the particular ham, but they seem to communicate rather well despite their language limitations. We're the ones that don't seem to listen to them very well

Thin Lizzy · 12-30-2014, 08:37 PM

Is this the first time you've lifted out the nest box with willow in it?
She thought she was getting some play time but ended up being put back in her cage after a couple of minutes! You might've woken her up when you lifted her nest box out, so to do that, then give her only a couple of minutes would annoy any hamster.
Her chewing her cage was her wanting attention and letting you know she was annoyed. I agree with skeever about them communicating well and that as owners we don't always listen.

herbi7 · 12-31-2014, 02:47 AM

Yes its the first time I have lifted her out when she was asleep, usually I dont wake her up or force her out but I was worried she had a little hair-line cut on her shoulder yesterday that seemed tender ( she fell off the top of her wheel so it could have been that that did it) and because she was also subdued yesterday and didn't want to play or interact I was checking for signs of infection before all the vets closed for the day! The cut had healed and she was more perky and was happy to start exploring if a little surprised but she didn't want ball time so I put her back. The trouble was possibly that because I couldnt leave het unattended in her play tray ( the bottom of a Duna fun with litter and loads of toys in it) I couldn't put her nest box (its a plastic one with a bottom) back till she was in the cage so she had a nasty moment of thinking her nest had gone. I thought she might b asking to come out again but when I gave her the option she just chattrtrd her teeth at me and carried on bar chewing. I was upset as I had managed to stop her bar chewing completely after she arrived by giving her a bigger cage and lots of exploring time and a wheel but she did it on and off all evening. I will leave her in peace today! She is a sweet little ham who is very domestic and clean and orderly but sooooo hard to tame and even building basic trust has taken ages she still freezes for 10 mins if I come home and she is out in her cage. She will take treats and once sat on my hand to eat oatmeal but other than that I am just a bridge out of the cage when she wants to get out! I guess its harder bonding with a middle aged ham.

herbi7 · 12-31-2014, 02:52 AM

Sorry getting my days mixed up it was the day before yesterday she had the cut and didn't want to play or play on her wheel! Yesterday she just slept... And slept... Till I messed her day up disturbing her!

Thin Lizzy · 12-31-2014, 05:08 AM

Herbi sometimes taming can take longer with some hammies, but don't let it put you off. They can sense when you're frustrated, upset or angry and this makes them wary.
The bar chewing is her expressing herself, when she does it again walk away from her, don't give her any attention. Make a fuss of her when she doesn't, give her some extra treats.

herbi7 · 12-31-2014, 05:49 PM

Thank you guys, for your replies. Yes, I've been feeling disheartened more than frustrated really as I had hoped she would be more confident with me by now. She is such a strange mix of bold explorer and timid with people! We get to the point at the end of play time when she is full of beans and confident then when it's the next day she is just as scared, jumping at noises and avoiding me if she can, and it feels like we're starting all over again. I will try giving her more space, Skeever, thanks for your post. So funny about your little boy nesting in his ball, he sounds a cutie. Anyway tonight I came in and she was out of her nest so I talked to her just normally and gave her a bit of grape, she took it as usual and then started quivering all over. Poor little girl she is a bag of nerves. I left her till she had stopped shaking and eaten it and then gave her a couple more pieces and she perked up a little and then zoomed off and hid it in her stash. Not surprisingly she is still in hiding. At least I know to go slowly slowly with any taming, I will let her calm down first! Can hams eat camomile? I think she needs some! I will try and get a picture of her up at some point so you guys can see her, but it's a bit tricky at the moment! I think she is struggling enough with her new life without coping with modelling

Thin Lizzy · 01-01-2015, 06:40 AM

Think of 2015 as a complete fresh start with Willow, be more positive and relaxed around her, in time you and her will bond, sometimes taming can take longer but it'll be worth the wait.
I talk to mine a lot, and by talking to willow she'll begin to relax more whenever she hears your voice, encouraging them and praising them with treats gains their trust. Try stuffing some toilet roll or paper tissue up your sleeve and leaving it there for a couple of hours then putting it in the cage, Willow will sniff at it, tear it up but over time doing this she'll know your smell and when you put your hand in her cage she'll recognise you.
I know you can do it, having the patience will work wonders.

herbi7 · 01-01-2015, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skeever

its trial and error based on the particular ham, but they seem to communicate rather way despite their langauage limitations. We're the ones that don't seem to listen to them very well

I heard her loud and clear today. She said 'b***** off!' So I did and there has been no more bar chewing. I think I will make her a 'do not disturb' notice!