Hamster still showing signs of boredom/stress but I’ve tried everything

Popcornhamham · 05-10-2019, 01:13 AM

So I got my little hammie about month ago and she had a bin cage but she would try and bite at the corners and run up the walls so I brought her the Ikea detolf as a upgrade, she has loads of toys, hides, tunes and chews. One part of her cage has about 6 inches of bedding for her to dig in she also has a sand bath the other end and she comes out for play tome every day. But she is still climbing up the walls and as started biting the bar in one corner of her cage I rlly don’t want her to get into the habit of bar biting I’ve tried blocking off the bars with thick cardboard and added a little olive oil to them but nothing’s stopped her and I’m at a lost as to what to do next she’s also in my bedroom so is keeping me up all night. if anyone has any ideas pleas help I would be very grateful haha I just want some Sleep and for her to not be stressed/bored

xJincks · 05-10-2019, 07:58 AM

I had the same problems with my hammy! Upgraded to a detolf after she kept climbing and falling off the bars in her old cage.
I tried cardboard too but she just tore it up, so I bought these https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/p...ow-twist-stick and stuck them in all 4 corners with cable ties (hiding the ties away so she couldn't get to them), she only chewed at 2 corners but I put them in all 4 in case she decided to have a go at the other ones (she didn't, thankfully). The corner she went at most has a tiny gap where the glass didn't go right up to the top, so she was definitely trying to escape from there lol. I thought just attaching these would be a quick fix instead of having to get her out and seal the gap up, but they ended up working so well I didn't need to seal it! She does still chew but no where near as much as she used to, plus if she wakes me up chewing I know she's chewing something that isn't going to damage her teeth, so I can go back to sleep and not worry. I also got her a pack of small crocodile Whimzees and a much better wheel that she loves, so I think they helped too.

Hope you get something to calm your hammy

Popcornhamham · 05-11-2019, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xJincks

I had the same problems with my hammy! Upgraded to a detolf after she kept climbing and falling off the bars in her old cage.
I tried cardboard too but she just tore it up, so I bought these https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/p...ow-twist-stick and stuck them in all 4 corners with cable ties (hiding the ties away so she couldn't get to them), she only chewed at 2 corners but I put them in all 4 in case she decided to have a go at the other ones (she didn't, thankfully). The corner she went at most has a tiny gap where the glass didn't go right up to the top, so she was definitely trying to escape from there lol. I thought just attaching these would be a quick fix instead of having to get her out and seal the gap up, but they ended up working so well I didn't need to seal it! She does still chew but no where near as much as she used to, plus if she wakes me up chewing I know she's chewing something that isn't going to damage her teeth, so I can go back to sleep and not worry. I also got her a pack of small crocodile Whimzees and a much better wheel that she loves, so I think they helped too.

Hope you get something to calm your hammy

Thank you I’ll try the willow sticks and pray they work haha I’ve give my hammie whimzees too but she just drags then into her tunnel so I never know if she’s actually chewing them or not she Takes everything Into her tunnel! Going to also see if I can add the bin cage to the detolf with tubes so see if being g able to go to a different “room” helps aswell

Pebbles82 · 05-11-2019, 10:13 AM

Have you been cleaning her out much? That can cause escaping/stress/chewing behaviours. With a big cage like the detolf you can spot clean mostly and go a long time between substrate changes. Also moving things around in the cage or taking them out can stress them. They tend to like things to stay familiar and in the same place.

Popcornhamham · 05-11-2019, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Have you been cleaning her out much? That can cause escaping/stress/chewing behaviours. With a big cage like the detolf you can spot clean mostly and go a long time between substrate changes. Also moving things around in the cage or taking them out can stress them. They tend to like things to stay familiar and in the same place.

I do a quick check around the cage everyday (clean the sand bath, check pee spots, pick up toys that have fallen in the night ect) when I give her her morning treat (I’m up quite early and she’s still awake) and I clean her nesting tube weekly bc she likes to poop in there but I put back unspoiled bedding and any treats/food that was already there. I only take/arrange things in her cage when she has outside of cage floor time bc I don’t have enough toys to have outside toys and in cage toys just yet but I do place everything back in her cage where it came from when I put her back

Pebbles82 · 05-12-2019, 11:24 AM

It is maybe a bit much for her, every day

Maybe do it every few days. Also disturbing her nest might be aggravating her. Could you give her a cardboard box house on top of the substrate? (Open underneath). If you put a tunnel over the door and a treat inside, it'll tempt her to move in and build her nest there. Much easier to manage and won't get as blocked up as a tube house. They usually like to nest somewhere that's dark inside so a bendy tunnel over the door achieves that and also gives a tunnel entrance. And something big enough they can build a big cosy nest and have plenty of space for hoards.

Popcornhamham · 05-12-2019, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

It is maybe a bit much for her, every day

Maybe do it every few days. Also disturbing her nest might be aggravating her. Could you give her a cardboard box house on top of the substrate? (Open underneath). If you put a tunnel over the door and a treat inside, it'll tempt her to move in and build her nest there. Much easier to manage and won't get as blocked up as a tube house. They usually like to nest somewhere that's dark inside so a bendy tunnel over the door achieves that and also gives a tunnel entrance. And something big enough they can build a big cosy nest and have plenty of space for hoards.

I just check the areas everyday and clean them every three to four days depending, I have to clean the sand everyday bc she chucks all her substrate in it digging to get to the corner haha she also has a wooden cottage looking hideout and a cardboard box in there but she just loves her bendy tunnel too much! XD