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Old 01-09-2019, 04:42 PM   #1
Shadow Cat
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Default Out of cage time - How important?

Hi guys

I have a male syrian hamster and he is friendly and easy to handle, but I don't think he enjoys being outside of his cage for more than a couple of minutes. I feel guilty for leaving him in his cage for most of the time, but he always seems anxious and uneasy when he's in his play pen or on my bed.

For a while in the summer I tried to persist and take him out most days to get into a habit. I'd sit in the playpen with some tunnels and hides and he'd run around. But now it's winter and he's sleeping until 1am sometimes it isn't easy. I can go days without seeing him as he's still asleep when I go to sleep.

I haven't handled him at all this week as I've been sick and I'm conscious of the fact hamsters can catch human germs and I don't want to make him poorly. It's just made me think harder. He seems happy to be left alone, he's not showing any signs of boredom or distress, he's not chewing things he shouldn't be or anything like that.

How important do you all think it is for hamsters to spend time outside their cages? Do you think I should try harder to take him out every day or should I trust my feelings that it's not something he likes to do? I mean, a lot of times I don't want to leave my house or even my bed either...!

(Or am I being crazy and overthinking the matter too much?!)
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Old 01-09-2019, 10:25 PM   #2
cypher
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Default Re: Out of cage time - How important?

Some hams do seem to be content in their cages & don't enjoy out of cage time much, it sounds as though you've really tried with him & if he's not happy with it then I wouldn't worry, it is important to have some contact with them though so I would try to get him out for a little handling or some interaction while in the cage a few times a week if you can.
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Old 01-10-2019, 05:58 AM   #3
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Out of cage time - How important?

I think it depends on the hamster to some degree and also the weather and habits.

I wouldn't worry right now - yes in winter when it's cold, they do sometimes prefer to be snug in their nest and not come out much, and he will be fine left until you're feeling better and germ-free! Just wash your hands before putting food and water out and he will be fine.

Our last Syrian was like this - he never wanted to come out voluntarily - but I found when he was out he was better and less nervy. He was a bit of a lazy home bod really. And it depended what time of night I got him out. If I got him out between 8pm and 9pm he was dozy (I think it was one of his evening nap times) and he would just curl up in a blanket on my knee and go to sleep! Which was quite nice - or he'd sit on the sofa between us And be quite calm.

But anything earlier or later than that he was highly active and trying to leap off the sofa and escape and wouldn't be still for a minute - just wanting to get back to his cage.

I then found if we had him in another room (without his cage in the room) he was more interested in being out but still very zippy. A playpen worked well with him.

When you're better I would tempt him out (tube and treat if necessary or just lift him out) a couple of times a week so he doesn't revert to being ferral and untame! I used to use the tube and treat and then pop him in a hamster ball - either by putting the other end of the tube in the hamster ball, so he'd walk straight in - or once he was out he would often just hop in the ball if I put it near him. Then pop the lid on the ball and carry him in it to another room - and try him with some out of cage time there - if not a playpen then on top of the bed maybe? It might be necessary to block a side or two with a rolled up blanket or something.

Even though our last Syrian wasn't that interested in doing much out of the cage, one thing that really kept him occupied for AGES was a little cardboard hay house. I would put it on the sofa and he would go in and spend ages in there trying to scratch all the hay off the inside and chewing the cardboard. I think basically unless he could "forage" for things (like the hay in the cardboard house) or food, he wasn't interested. But it was nice when he was dopey and would sit for a cuddle.

So I would say they need to get in the habit of being out at least once or twice a week - if nothing more than to have exercise and a bigger area to run around in. But he'll be fine for a week or two if you're unwell, and then start
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Old 01-10-2019, 08:16 AM   #4
Fluffagrams
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Default Re: Out of cage time - How important?

One of my Chinese females has never really enjoyed out of cage playtime much despite the fact that she's generally a friendly and confident hamster. I don't tend to worry too much about giving her out of cage time now as she really doesn't seem to enjoy it but I do still get her out for a short handling session and to check her over before giving her an activity to do in her own cage. We do a little hide and seek game where I'll hide small seeds for her or we'll do some clicker training (similar to that used when training dogs but I use a retractable pen so that the click isn't too loud).

If you're not getting them out for playtimes, then I'd still suggest getting them out for short handling sessions every so often but also thinking about what enrichment activities you could try in his cage to give him a bit of variety.
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Old 01-10-2019, 04:22 PM   #5
WelshHammi
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Default Re: Out of cage time - How important?

Boris is in real winter mode at the moment! He sleeps a lot! He is really chilled and relaxed I have tried to tempt him out with his favourite treat but alas his little nose poked out then back in again as if to say no mum just no! I did manage to have cuddles tonight. I find sometimes if I wear a soft dressing gown he loves to come and cuddle when he’s in the mood! Talking to him may help aswell I always talk to boris so he knows I’m around! I’m sure once you feel better a play time will be nice
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Old 01-14-2019, 08:49 AM   #6
Emsmum
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Default Re: Out of cage time - How important?

Noodles has never, ever settled into being handled too much, he is much better now and will come out if we wake him up and have 10 mins of cuddle time then he just shuffles off back to his cage, climbs up the side and lets himself back in!! He doesn't bite or chatter, he is happy for those few mins but then that's it, he wants his warm house so off he pops - kind of got used to it now so we only get him out every few days because of this - quite often I will find him sat there watching the world go by and if I open his door he will come to it but doesn't want to actually leave!
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Old 01-17-2019, 12:05 AM   #7
Natasha95
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Default Re: Out of cage time - How important?

I let Hamtaro (my Syrian) decide when he wants to come out of his cage. I keep the cage on the floor, so I open the door at around the same time every night so he can come out if he wants to. When he was younger, he almost always wanted to, but some nights he just wasn't in the mood. And now that he's older, he almost never wants to come out.
But when I first got Penny (my dwarf), she hated coming out of her cage. I would take her out, and she would always get really nervous. Now she absolutely loves running around outside of her cage for a while every night!
I think it all depends on their personalities, their moods, and how comfortable they are.
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