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Old 01-24-2018, 10:09 AM   #1
KatK
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Default Hamster Sending Mixed Signals

I adopted my hamster about 5 days ago and from the beginning, she was eager to come out and explore. A lot of what I read online said to leave a new hamster in the cage to adjust to new surroundings for several days, but this was not the case. It is clear that when I walk by the cage, sit and talk to her or even change food, she is right at the door wanting to come out. So I decided to skip the few days of leaving her be.

Now, when I take her out and let her run around my enclosed room, she will come over to me, climb up my legs and sniff. But as soon as I put my hand down to pet or let her climb, she bites me.

I've been trying bonding with her, showing her treats in my hands, use mild soaps without scents and even rubbing her shavings on my hands to use her scent, but it hasn't worked. She bites mainly during times she's outside of the cage in the evening, will ignore a treat and bite me anyway, but when she's waking up, will allow me to pet her back briefly.

Her cage is plenty big, and I've filled it with chewing blocks, a wheel and she has a ball so I know she's not bored. I don't know her exact age but I believe she's little.

So my question - she's obviously not too afraid to come out/explore/climb on me, so why does she bite my hands when I set them down to further the interaction? Should I leave her alone for a few days or did I already miss that opportunity for proper adjustment?

Please help!
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Old 01-24-2018, 11:16 PM   #2
cypher
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Default Re: Hamster Sending Mixed Signals

You've done really well for just five days, you won't have made any difference to the taming/bonding process by not leaving her alone, if they're keen to interact then it's not necessary to leave them for a few days, if anything leaving them too long when they're curious & want to interact with you can slow things down more.
It's still early days so don't worry, some do bite hands to begin with but usually grow out of it with a little time, just keep going as you are, let her climb on you & explore around you.
Are you offering treats from your fingertips or on your palm? It's probably best to just hold something she can take easily like a sunflower seed & offer it from your fingers to begin with so she has less chance to bite & then gradually move on to putting something on your palm as she gets more used to hands.
A little time & patience should do the trick.
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Old 01-28-2018, 09:37 PM   #3
KatK
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Default Re: Hamster Sending Mixed Signals

Thank you for the reply! With your advice, I've been offering treats from my finger tips and decided not to rush the palm. (I was trying both at once before) For a while I was using gardening gloves, but feel that's counter-productive if I want to get her used to my hands. Thoughts?

We've made a lot of progress in the past few days, and she's coming to me to climb and play and be pet, not to just bite into me. (she still goes for my toes but at least that's bearable!)

Another biting question: she's going crazy biting this one metal bar on her cage. (it happens to be the bottom of the cage door and she's worn off the paint at this point) I'm not worried about anything other than her eventually gnawing right through the bar and getting out. Is that even possible to do? Ideas on how to distract her from this one bar? Is this her way of trying to get out, is she bored, or are her teeth just growing in?

thanks!
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Old 01-28-2018, 10:45 PM   #4
cypher
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Default Re: Hamster Sending Mixed Signals

Good to hear you're making progress
I agree about gloves, I think they have to be a last resort & don't really get them used to your hands.

Bar chewing can be caused by various things, it can be boredom or attention seeking, it's best to ignore it if you can so you don't actually reward the behaviour as that can make it worse.
If it's just in one spot by the door then you could try covering that part of the bars with cardboard (she might chew that but at least you can replace it!) or some people put wooden pegs on the bars that are being chewed.
Does she do it at a particular time like when she wants to come out or is it just any or all the time?
If you haven't tried them whimzee dog chews are really liked by almost all hams & can be a great distraction, also try scatter feeding or putting food in to toilet roll tube treat toys, small cardboard boxes etc so she can forage for it rather than just picking it out of her bowl.
You might find more helpful ideas here.
Managing Bar Chewers
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