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 > DIY (Do it yourself) Hamster Projects!

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-20-2017, 10:50 PM   #1
Bellatrix
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: South Wales
Posts: 61
Default Ham proofing

Hey all,

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this but here we go.

I want to ham proof my bedroom for Witchtel to be able to have free roaming time. I took her in the bathroom last night and let her run around and she LOVED it but my mum freaked out on me (not because she doesn't like rodents but because she's obsessed with our cat and reckons the cat gets upset when I take Witchtel into any other room *major eye roll*).

So, I'd like o hamster proof my room, I've tried various play pens, bins, big boxs but she hates them! Literally hates them. But she loved running about on the floor last night.

Do you have any tips? Obviously block up any holes, but how do I stop her going under the bed? I don't really want her going under there, I've got lots of storage boxes and the likes under the bed, I'd never find her again.
Bellatrix is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-20-2017, 11:15 PM   #2
cypher
Dwarf whisperer
 
cypher's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wales UK
Posts: 24,789
Default Re: Ham proofing

Bathrooms aren't good places for hams so if you can ham proof your bedroom stick to that although to make it totally safe it will only be like a large playpen really, you could try using cardboard to wall off areas where she shouldn't go but you'd still need to watch carefully as they can easily push under things & get through tiny gaps, watch for things like chewing carpets & make sure there's nothing she could pick up off the floor.
__________________
Slave to Zak.
Always loved, never forgotten, forever in my heart
T'ycor, Ziggy, Zephyr, Flynt, Mickle, Little Whisp, Zen, Zeki, Tinwë, Zylvan, Míriel, Calyanwë, Gusto & Meri
❤️
cypher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2017, 01:06 AM   #3
Jennie F
Adult Hamster
 
Jennie F's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Lancashire, UK
Posts: 353
Default Re: Ham proofing

I have recently started letting Khali free roam in my bedroom. To stop her going under the bed, I have put the playpen around the edges to block it off
__________________
Jennie F is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2017, 06:05 AM   #4
Bellatrix
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: South Wales
Posts: 61
Default Re: Ham proofing

Oh my god! Why is everyone so ott?

Bathrooms aren't good
Tap water is the good
Balls aren't good
This isn't good...
my god! I remember when I was a kid we had Syrians and they lived for two plus years in small cages happily enoug, being in balls for hours at a time happily enough, you people... really???

There's nothing wrong with the bathroom ok. My mum uses vegan friendly products to clean with on the floors and there's nothing so can reach in there.

I don't think I'll be coming here again. You're all ridiculously ott.
Bellatrix is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2017, 07:21 AM   #5
AprilPearl
Hamster Hugger
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: London
Posts: 2,327
Default Re: Ham proofing

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bellatrix View Post
Oh my god! Why is everyone so ott?

Bathrooms aren't good
Tap water is the good
Balls aren't good
This isn't good...
my god! I remember when I was a kid we had Syrians and they lived for two plus years in small cages happily enoug, being in balls for hours at a time happily enough, you people... really???

There's nothing wrong with the bathroom ok. My mum uses vegan friendly products to clean with on the floors and there's nothing so can reach in there.

I don't think I'll be coming here again. You're all ridiculously ott.
Hey, please don't go. I'm sorry if you got the wrong impression. I think everyone here just loves their pets and cares very much for their wellfair. Sometimes things said over the internet can come across in an unintentionally critical way.

As for your original question, do you have any large boxes which you could lie in front of the gap under your bed, to build a kind of wall? Or, could you fence off your bed area, for example, with something like this (rather than using it as an actual playpen)?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/31174997697...D1238335008818
AprilPearl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2017, 09:39 AM   #6
Crystalroborovski
Senior Hamster
 
Crystalroborovski's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: USA
Posts: 437
Default Re: Ham proofing

Please don't go! We are only trying to help, not be overly critical. I think you're getting the impression that we're being super judgmental which I can see why you would think that but we're really not. We all want the best for our hams and the hamsters who's owners come on here for advice.

I think you could probably block off your bed with cardboard or a playpen. Also be sure that you block off the bottom of your door if there's a crack between the door and the floor. One time one of my boys escaped and had I not blocked off the door he would have gone out of my bedroom. As Cypher mentioned you could block off areas that you don't want her to go in.
__________________

❤️Mommy to Key Lime and Tangerine, my two fur babies❤️
Crystalroborovski is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2017, 10:50 AM   #7
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: Ham proofing

The reason people say bathrooms aren't good is because of pipe holes really A member on here's hamster got under the bath panel - under the bath panel are a lot of pipes and holes into the walls. She did manage to get him back out but there are plenty of hamsters who disappeared into walls and under floors and didn't come back.

I know what you mean - we had a hammy in a tiny cage about 25 years ago who lived to two years old, didn't have a good diet and seemed happy. But - he free roamed - we left his cage open. How he survived I don't know.

Since then a lot more research has been done into what makes them healthy and happy. A smaller cage isn't so bad if they have a lot - a real lot - of out of cage time.

Also what you don't hear about from the old days is hamsters crippled with arthritis because they didn't get enough exercise and other such things.

Ham-proofing a room is tricky. Some people are fine with balls - for a sensible person! Some people aren't sensible and hamsters get kicked in a ball or roll downstairs and get injured.

Putting something round the edge of the bed sounds like a good idea!
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2017, 12:03 PM   #8
Drago
The Hamtologist
 
Drago's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Southern United States
Posts: 2,855
Default Re: Ham proofing

Please do not go, I do apologize if you've ever gotten that impression from me, we all are trying our best to help out. As you asked the question, we are just trying to answer it with the knowledge and experience we have. You don't have to listen to us, but we will still offer you advice. This really is a wonderful community if you give it the chance!

To answer your question, bathrooms aren't recommended because hams get lost under cabinets and in pipe holes. I lost a gerbil in the bathroom because she squeezed into a tiny crack under the cabinet that I hadn't seen. I spent hours proofing the bathroom, but there's just too many holes that lead into the walls which can't be seen. Ever since this incident, I no longer recommend bathrooms as I'd never want anyone to experience the heartbreak I did after losing my sweet little gerb in the wall. I too thought that it was a little over dramatic to not use a bathroom for playtime, and didn't listen to the warnings I got, and then this happened to me. This is just a bit of anecdotal evidence of why we sometimes stress things that may seem ridiculous, it's because we've made these mistakes and don't want others to do the same as us! So once again, none of us mean any harm by what we say X

As mentioned above, a bedroom that has been ham proofed or a playpen would work better. You could even just simply use a bathtub! Hamsters aren't picky, and all you really need is a safe and enclosed space filled with toys and hides Best wishes
__________________
Syrian hamster care guide
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...it?usp=sharing
Drago is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2017, 01:15 PM   #9
CMB
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Hertfordshire - UK
Posts: 3,190
Default Re: Ham proofing

You could make a "stylish playpen" (see the thread on how to make it), but use it to block your hamster from going under the bed etc.

You may need lots of tubes, boxes etc to help fill the space. Some hamsters don't like being exposed, so having things they can run through/hide in can help them enjoy out of cage.
time. This could be why your hamster didn't like the playpen etc you tried.
CMB is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
witchtel, ham, loved, night, hates, bed, cat, room, proof, literally, hamster, play, pens, bins, big, running, boxs, tips, lots, likes, boxes, storage, find, floor, eye

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 04:58 PM.