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Old 04-06-2019, 06:28 AM   #1
Ria P
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Default Does anybody have a hamster who doesn't like time out of cage?

My approx 4 mths old Syrian hamster doesn't seem to like time out of his cage. According to HC his cage is too small 70cmx45cmx40cm but that's all the room I've got because I live in a small house myself! So I thought I'll give him time out of his cage but he isn't keen. He gets fed up in the playpen soon as he's found the food he got the scent of. He had the run of the hall but soon hid under a box and today I gave him the run of my bed but he sniffed and froze!! Surely we don't smell that bad. I always talk to him and put him back when he displays behaviour of stress or displeasure. He's busy in his cage at night and has 2 wheels on a platform with a big nest made from bedding and hay underneath, looks like a birdsnest. He has a big house with his sleeping nest, a sandbath, various hiding places and 5in of saturate. He doesn't chew bars or try to get out so appears to be happy and cosy. I can stroke, pet and pick him up, he doesn't bite. I really don't think he's unhappy because his cage doesn't measure up. He likes new cardboard things I make him and takes a real interest as long as I put them in his cage. Any ideas what to do now? Should I continue to take him out and introduce him to new experiences, give him the chance to explore and run or should I leave him be to do his own thing in his cage unless he gives me an indication that he wants to come out? Feedback from anyone who has a hamster similar to Henry's personality would be appreciated.
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Old 04-06-2019, 07:02 AM   #2
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Default Re: Does anybody have a hamster who doesn't like time out of cage?

As a forum we don't actually have a minimum cage size aside from the absolute minimum figures set by the NHC (which takes into account the need for hospital cages and the like to be smaller) so any figures you se quoted are the opinion of the individual poster and are often based on the old RSPCA guidelines which have now been withdrawn in favour of emphasising enrichment.

Hamsters do vary in what sort of cages they like and there is no such thing as one size fits all. I've had hamsters that have not been happy in anything smaller than a hamster heaven and then I've had others that aren't happy in anything larger than a 60X40 bin cage so I think it's important to be guided by your hamster's behaviour. If he seems happy in his current surroundings then I wouldn't worry to much about upgrading him rightaway unless he starts to show signs of stress.

In answer to your question though, I have an older female Chinese who has never really been to keen on out of cage time. She's friendly, she quite likes t come up to her cage bars to greet people but she generally prefers to be left in her own space where everything feels familiar to her. I think it's important to maintain a level of handling with her though so that I can still give her health checks and so that I can get her out for cage cleans.
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Old 04-06-2019, 07:38 AM   #3
Ria P
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Default Re: Does anybody have a hamster who doesn't like time out of cage?

Thank you for your informative reply Fluffagrams. Yes, I'll keep handling my hamster and wait and see how it goes.
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Old 04-06-2019, 09:35 AM   #4
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Default Re: Does anybody have a hamster who doesn't like time out of cage?

I've had hamsters who didn't really like out of cage time in the playpen or out exploring very much but those ones tended to enjoy being handled & having cuddles more than the hams that liked to be out exploring & playing,
It is important to try to keep up with handling & maybe give it a go with out of cage time once or twice a week to see how it goes but if your ham is happier in his cage most of the time then that's fine.
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Old 04-06-2019, 12:20 PM   #5
Ria P
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Default Re: Does anybody have a hamster who doesn't like time out of cage?

Thanks cypher. Glad to hear that there are other hamsters who are not that keen on out of cage time. I think I'll take him out every other day but keep him near me and stay in sniffing distance of his cage instead of putting him down in an unfamiliar room to explore. He's turning into a bit of a strange wee character. He wouldn't come out earlier when I put fresh veg out for him but was awake because I heard him munching seeds so I went out shopping and everything had gone on my return! I think I have to start the bonding/trust thing all over again. He seems to see me as the person who takes him to places he doesn't want to be so tries to avoid me. Someone write a reference book about hamster psychology please.....
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Old 04-06-2019, 01:14 PM   #6
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Default Re: Does anybody have a hamster who doesn't like time out of cage?

While most Syrians do prefer a 100 x 50cm cage, some prefer smaller spaces, especially if they’re not as confident. As long as he isnt showing stress behaviours (ie bar chewing) I wouldnt worry since your cage is still a good size. And you can add more enrichment through puzzle toys and different chews etc

My syrians are tame but dont really like to be out of their cages for long amounts of time and can be quite shy. My robo also doesnt enjoy out of cage time much and neither does one of my Russians. Some hammies just have that kind of personality. As long as theyre healthy and happy its not something to worry about really.
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Old 04-06-2019, 02:31 PM   #7
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Default Re: Does anybody have a hamster who doesn't like time out of cage?

I think I've watched too many youtube hamster videos, lol, and got the idea that all hamsters like to be out and run around. I just had Henry out for a short while walking around on my legs but I sat next to his cage so he was able to get back in himself. I think that's the way to go. Thanks again all.
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Old 04-09-2019, 02:22 PM   #8
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Default Re: Does anybody have a hamster who doesn't like time out of cage?

I don't have a ton of experience with this, but with both of my hamsters, I let them decide when they want to come out. My Syrian's cage had a door on the side that he could crawl out of, so I would open it at night and let him come and go as he pleased, and some nights he just wanted to be left alone. My dwarf doesn't have that option, but I know that when she comes up to the side of her cage and crawls into my hand, she wants to come out, and when she starts trying to climb up the side of her playpen, she wants to go back to her cage. But she's the kind of hamster who can go weeks without ever wanting to leave her cage, and she doesn't like spending too much time outside of it either. It also took her a while to get comfortable with free roaming because bigger spaces overwhelmed her, but now she's much more energetic and curious. So maybe it'll just take time, but different hamsters definitely have different personalities and moods, and they seem to like things done on their terms lol
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Old 04-09-2019, 05:25 PM   #9
mikatelyn
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Default Re: Does anybody have a hamster who doesn't like time out of cage?

My hamster is kind of like a toddler in that he sort of seems to forget what we did yesterday and the day before and the one before that. He gets really shy, and I often have to coax him out of his cage, such as in a cup. Then he'll play for a while and he realizes he loves it, then he doesn't want to stay in his cage and he keeps wanting to come back out when I put him back.
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Old 04-13-2019, 12:25 PM   #10
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Default Re: Does anybody have a hamster who doesn't like time out of cage?

My dwarf didn't like time outside of his cage until he was exactly 3 months. I got him when he was 4 weeks and tried 2-3 times to give him time outside of the cage where he always would seek after my hands and stay near them.
It is only recently he has started to run onto my hands without treats whenever I open his cage for time outside.

I'm not sure why, but it might be too overwhelming for your Syrian to be outside of its cage. It might come with time but if your Syrian feels content in its cage for now, I don't think it's a problem that he/she doesn't get time outside. Don't feel bad! Some hamsters prefer handling than exploring )
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