Nibbling??

[babyboos]

Sounds like a good plan Holly - going through a similiar thing just now with one of my Cempbells Russian Dwarf hamsters - Terror - it is important to still hold them at some point even if just placing your hand over them fingers to tial end and then gently scoop them up in your palm and place them back down again - when they try to nibble on me I have a kind of jiggle motion I use to gently persuade them that my fingers aren't a sitting target it normally distracts them enough to forget they were about to "taste" me. Just hold them in your upturned palm and if they look like they are going to nibble give your hand a small shake not enough to dislodge them but enough to make them go still a bit like they would in the would if they suddly were taken by surprise. You can accompany this with a firm NO to further reinforce this is not acceptable behaviour.

[Holly]

Originally Posted by babyboos

it is important to still hold them at some point even if just placing your hand over them fingers to tial end and then gently scoop them up in your palm and place them back down again - when they try to nibble on me I have a kind of jiggle motion I use to gently persuade them that my fingers aren't a sitting target it normally distracts them enough to forget they were about to "taste" me. Just hold them in your upturned palm and if they look like they are going to nibble give your hand a small shake not enough to dislodge them but enough to make them go still a bit like they would in the would if they suddly were taken by surprise. You can accompany this with a firm NO to further reinforce this is not acceptable behaviour.

I'll try that too

I just had them out for five minutes last night as I was working until midnight. I put them in the bath for a run but didn't get in with them - but they didn't nip me when I lifted them back into the cage. It's starting to seem like they are ok to be picked up momentarily and moved somewhere - they just don't seem to want to be held for any length of time.

[babyboos]

hopefully with time this tendancy will lessen Holly and you will be able to hold them for longer periods
It is good they don't attack your fingers - that is serious behaviour - nibbling can be a sign of affection or curiosity - a bit like a baby some hamsters like to put everything in their mouths

[Holly]

Originally Posted by babyboos

nibbling can be a sign of affection or curiosity - a bit like a baby some hamsters like to put everything in their mouths

I did wonder about that as well. That's just what it seems like - like a teething baby or a puppy!

[Holly]

I just thought I'd post a bit of an update on my Winter White situation.

Things seem to have improved quite a lot (despite the playpen incident which seemed to set Sparrow back a fair bit - can't blame him for that )...we've been getting them out in the bath every night and doing everything as planned - and we haven't been nipped/bitten for over a week (Sparrow was a bit nervous until a few days ago but he seems back to his old self now).

Both hamsters seem very confident and happy to climb all over us - and they don't seem to mind being picked up and moved around. We don't hold them for long periods like our Syrians but neither do we panic and put them straight down.

They are seriously cute and I spend hours watching them run round the cage

[babyboos]

That is great news Holly well done sounds like you guys are doing a great job. Congratulations

[Holly]

Thanks Babyboos - how are you getting on with Terror?