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[StitchedEgo]

So things are going good, i'm hoping to get started on their paly area sometime next week

so a couple of things

1) should i cut my hammies hair? I feel like lemon tarts hair will grow too wild and that might be bad for him, but i'm not sure

also

2) would you reccomend taking hamsters outside to play?

[yandere]

I have no answer for the first question but for the second:

It depends on the environment they'll be playing in, what kind of plants are growing with the grass? If they where to escape would there be too many hiding places? Is it a completely open space?

[alanjamesblair]

Also, you need cover. Hawks and whatnot are very fast. I took my hammie outside after my vet said he needed direct sunlight at least a half hour a day in warm weather, but I kept him in the cage and played with him. I never had him out in the open where a bird of prey might be able to snatch him and I never left him unwatched. That's what I would think.

[Thin Lizzy]

Does your hammies hair really need cutting? Brushing it regularly should be enough.
As for taking outside, I wouldn't let them out their cages, sit the cages outside and off the ground but, only for 20 minutes and supervise them the whole time.

[Jeir]

1. Only if it gets tangled/knotted and you're unable to remove the knot gently. Hamsters are experts at grooming and keeping their fur soft and fluffy; the most a really long-haired ham would need is maybe a couple of minutes brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush every so often.

2. Hamsters don't need to explore outside, but it can be a nice adventure. Erin's Animals did a video a couple of years back about taking hamsters outside. As you're in the US, you'll have more dangers than we have in the UK, so you'll need to be extra vigilant about checking the grass/area for snakes/spiders/other nasties if you do decide to take your hammy out.

[cypher]

I've no experience of long haired hams but as the others have said it isn't normal to cut their hair unless they get very tangled up or get substrate stuck in a lump you can't just brush out.

The vid Jeir linked to gives really good advice & Erin says in the vid it is a personal choice, her method is probably the safest but you also need to think about the fact you will have no idea what wild life has been on the grass or area you're thinking of using, mice, rats & other animals that could possibly pass on a disease to your ham may have been there so not all possible dangers are actually visible.

[Shannonmcn]

You've got good advice for the first question, I agree, only cut their hair if you absolutely need to.

As for the second, I know a lot of people seem to like taking their hams outside, mostly for cute little photoshoots, but it's not something I can ever see myself doing. The list of potential risks (stress, damp, too cold, too hot, other animals interfering, escape, pesticides or who knows what in the grass, you have to wake them up during the day) is much longer than the list of benefits (nice photos??? It's cute to see them sniff a flower???) I won't be doing it. I guess there's a chance your ham could enjoy it but seeing as they tend not to like big open spaces and get pretty easily stressed out by new situations I don't think my hams are going to be missing out on much by staying safely indoors.

[Nancy's Hamsters]

Hopefully Hekomi sees this thread as she had some major issues with a lovely Black Tort Band she got from a Mom and Pop type petstore and she actually died from a parasite her Vet said came from being outdoors and given the ability to nibble grass. She had to treat her whole hamstery to assure none of the others got this Parasite.

I used to take my adults outside for photo opts because they always look better in natural sun light then Camera flash, But my Hamsters have no issue with being awake at daylight hours, and my yard is not very wildlife inclined. However after learning about Hekomi's situation I now just keep the little fluff balls indoors and if I want natural light take photos in my bay window.

It's always better to ere on the good side then to risk a hamsters life.