Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Navigation
Front Page
Forum
Gallery
Wiki

Ads by Google


Go Back   Hamster Central > Hamster Central Forum Topics > Behaviour

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-02-2016, 05:41 AM   #1
RCalabraro
Adult Hamster
 
RCalabraro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Manchester, New Hampshire, USA
Posts: 327
Default Hamster Bribery

I know that millet is a favorite of many hamsters, but I've never seen hamsters with a hankering like my two new Robos. I have never owned Robos before and although habituating them to human contact has been a challenge, I have discovered that bribery works extremely well.

They're so small that a single "bud" from a millet spray is practically the size of their heads, so I have developed a routine where when they first wake up in the evening, I approach the cage while talking (since hams are practically blind) and stick my hand inside the cage, holding a millet bud. Gerdie in particular has taken to this ritual to the point that if I'm near the cage and talking, she runs out to the center of her cage and gets up on her back legs, sniffing the air for millet.

Over time I have taken longer and longer to let go of the millet bud after she begins to munch on it, to get her used to my hand. Now if I put my hand in the cage without millet, she will inspect my whole hand looking for munchies. Although she isn't keen on being picked up, she is definitely not afraid of my hand.

The next step is to use two hands, and lure her onto my palm. Once she is used to sitting in my hand for a few minutes straight while munching on snacks, I imagine it will be easier to pick her up.
__________________

Ron, Brunhilda, and Gertrude
RCalabraro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2016, 06:05 AM   #2
freyashamsters
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
freyashamsters's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: South-East England
Posts: 1,054
Default Re: Hamster Bribery

Millet is known to be like catnip to Robos

It's great that you can use it to tame them and that they will go on your hand without being 'bribed' with the millet, I will keep that in mind if I get a Robo
__________________
Minion to Daisy, Lily, Harry and Peanut <3
Gone but never forgotten
Willow - 18:27 18th November 2016
freyashamsters is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2016, 06:32 AM   #3
Cinnamon Bear
Banned
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: United States
Posts: 4,407
Default Re: Hamster Bribery

Hi, glad taming is going so well! Just a note to let you know that if you try to lift them up, just do it a few inches above the bedding. About 3 or 4 inches with soft bedding below, cause they will jump off & can hurt themselves. Robos generally won't let you handle them. Wish you well as there are exceptions, but less likely.
Cinnamon Bear is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2016, 09:41 AM   #4
flowerfairy
Fluffy Hamsters
 
flowerfairy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 4,231
Default Re: Hamster Bribery

Sounds good. My two wont stay out at all once my hand goes in to the cage. They just whizz into their nests and stay there.

They love millet too but not enough to brave it when my hand is around!
__________________
flowerfairy is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
millet, hand, cage, bud, practically, longer, talking, hamsters, robos, bribery, munching, straight, begins, minutes, time, snacks, easier, pick, center, back, imagine, air, sniffing, legs, sitting

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.43 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright © 2003-2022, Hobby Solutions
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:20 PM.