Taming peanut!

pumpkin123 · 10-18-2015, 12:03 PM

So yesterday I got a new hammy called peanut and she is around 9 weeks old! I will try to post a picture but she is a long haired female Syrian and whitish and slightly brown! So I thought of how to tame her so tonight I placed my hand in the cage holding a treat and she just kept running round on her wheel all the time and when I took that out she still ran around and when I went toward her and she just sniffed and walked off. So when I held it through the bars of her cage then she took it very odd haha!

I also did the place your hand with treat in the centre of my palm and she seemed fine but tried to avoid me! She is really friendly because when I held her in the shop she seemed fine with me and didn't bite! And seems confident and friendly just not sure where to go with taming??

pumpkin123 · 10-18-2015, 01:52 PM

Anyone who can help would be very helpful

Golden_Syrian_Hammmies · 10-18-2015, 02:19 PM

Hi pumpkin, it has only been a day so it will take quite a wee while for her to get settled in. She is in a new cage and in a place with strange smells that are unfamiliar to her not mention that you also are new. I would advise you to leave her to settle in for at least a week and everyday when she comes out just talk to her and give her something through the bars as she will be wary of you for a while even though she might be tamed in a sense used to handling. Also, a trick that everyone here uses and does work is to put a tissue up your sleeve and leave it there all day to pick up your scent, then shred it and put into her cage, she will hopefully use it for bedding and that also helps to get her used to your smell. The key is patience which is hard as we want to do stuff with them straight away. Then you could move to putting your hand into the cage and let her sniff it and offer her a treat and keep doing that for a while and just go from there. Fudge was tamed when I got him but it had taken me time for us to get to know each other and build trust. He still is a little jumpy so it's about knowing the signals too not to frighten them or over do it to much to soon. Hope this helps

taylorisqueen · 10-18-2015, 03:08 PM

I would wait a couple of days to let her get used to her cage. You can break the rules a little bit though... I like to sit by their cages and watch them/talk to them in the first few days. That way they get used to your voice and don't run away. Before adding treats into the equation I also like to start putting my hand in and waiting until the hammy is comfortable with that to start hand feeding.

Once you've done this, start giving treats by holding them in your fingers first and then when you're both comfortable with this stage move on to placing the treat on your palm.

Hope this helps and good luck!

jojono7 · 10-18-2015, 04:42 PM

Start by feeding it to them in a bowl or somthing so they know its a treat then put it on your hand and he will more than likley take it

Coco61 · 10-19-2015, 08:04 AM

Hello Pumpkin! So pleased you have a new hammie. Only wanted to add to the advice already given - use the tissue trick more than once, also use a cup or cardboard tube to lift the little one out of the cage to start with. That way you won't risk frightening her inside the cage. You don't want to get her territorial and start biting the hand inside the cage. Once outside the cage she will be easier to handle. Can you make a playpen out of cardboard boxes for her to run in while you watch and talk to her? Put cardboard things inside like cereal box, Pringles tube, egg box, cracker box, tea box - just raid the kitchen cupboard for no cost! Just cut doors in them then toys won't cost you anything.
Let us know how she settles in. Good luck!

pumpkin123 · 10-19-2015, 01:46 PM

Okay thanx for the tips just wondered if I could start giving her monkey nuts? Or shall I wait?