Ways to entertain a hamster

HammieLover98 · 11-19-2015, 04:22 PM

Hi,
So my syrian is an absolute nutter and has become obsessed with playing outside her cage. I was wondering how you entertain your hammies outside the cage. I either put her in her ball and let her run around downstairs or let her roam free around my bedroom. Although i do find this difficult to hamster proof as she just wants to explore every nook and cranny. Also any toys your hamster partucularly loves?

Shannonmcn · 11-19-2015, 04:42 PM

I free roam too, in my mums hallway and Cc's favourite things are shoes, shoe laces, my sisters boots and a bag for life. I put out a bendy bridge and a cardboard tube but she's all about the random things I leave lying around

Bertiebobbins · 11-20-2015, 12:22 AM

Mine love to free range too. They don't use toys out of their cages, they prefer to explore their environment and have a couple of boxes available to retreat to if they like. They like to look at all the random stuff around aswell! I know the fabric of the rooms is hamster proof so I let my big ham go wherever he pleases, but the baby is just having some time in the hallways at the mo because I know it's totally hamster proof and no mischief for him to get in.

Just a quick note, your hamster isn't obsessed with playing outside the cage, she's looking for ways out (instinct) so might be a good idea to check your room really is completely hamster proof. If she pays attention to one particular spot check for gaps and they can get through the smallest of gaps. We lost a ham in what I thought was a hamster proof room and he never came home.

greysome · 11-20-2015, 07:37 AM

Mine generally have an area sectioned off for them (albeit, they haven't had play time in the past week or so as I'm in the midst of a huge general clean out/build out) and I have some things for them--usually something to chew on, a water bottle, wheel, a little container of sand (though the syrians tend to ignore it) and random boxes/hides and tubes for them. Normally if for some reason, there's no room to cordon off for their playpen, I just put them into a bin for out of cage time but the bin is now occupied. If I'm not cleaning their cages, then I'll sit with them for a bit during play time during which their favorite toy tends to be using my legs as a jungle gym of sorts. Well, the boys prefer climbing over me but Hazel Nut is a leg girl.

HammieLover98 · 11-21-2015, 01:33 PM

Thanks for the replies. She does love to free roam and yes bertiebobbins she does look for escape routes all the time her new favourite is a fascination with my small bin. Not sure why haha. My room isnt completely secure i normally cover up some holes with cushions and things but i still have to supervise her at all times.

hrl20100 · 11-21-2015, 01:50 PM

I don't recommend hamster balls-there is a risk that they can catch a claw in the ventilation slits in them and rip their claw out! Also, the lids arn't very secure and hamsters can escape! (One of my old hamsters knew exactly how to escape her ball and was doing it all the time, which is another risk)

I have constructed a play area for Flump out of some thin sheets of wood (don't know what type of wood, but its some sort!) I let her out to play every evening for a run around! She loves it!

I put all her toys that she doesn't currently have in her cage to give her a bit of a change in scenery and enriching activities too. Her playtime generally lasts up to 20 minutes as by this time she usually starts to chew the carpet up! (Naughty girl)

HammieLover98 · 11-21-2015, 01:57 PM

Ive heard some risks about using balls. Shes supervised while in it and only has 15 mins max. I dont always have time to give her a long roam around my room so i do a bit both. Creating a playpen sounds like a good idea!

hrl20100 · 11-21-2015, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HammieLover98

Ive heard some risks about using balls. Shes supervised while in it and only has 15 mins max. I dont always have time to give her a long roam around my room so i do a bit both. Creating a playpen sounds like a good idea!

Hamsters don't need ages out of their cage per day, sometimes Flump goes without on somedays if she's not awake when I plan on getting her out (her fault not mine!)
Sometimes she only gets 5 minutes playtime before she starts being destructive and tries chewing the carpet and doorframes up. As soon as she starts, she goes straight back in the cage again! haha

HammieLover98 · 11-22-2015, 04:05 AM

Maisie wakes up at about half seven and she looks at me all evening waiting to come out. I usually give her about 20-30 minutes because i feel too bad not to. My old ham used to be more laidback and wouldnt wake til late so i did what you did now. The difference between my male and female has been quite big haha.

Chezzu · 11-22-2015, 04:26 AM

My old hamster Cinnabun LOVED coming out of her cage. From the moment she work up she'd be trying to escape until I got her out! She honestly would not settle down until I had her out, she wouldn't touch any of her toys or food or water on a night time until I had her out! It was crazy! She was a Syrian, I've found all my Syrian's loved being out of their cage! It's difficult to keep them out for long as I have a dog and she's bred for hunting rodents so she is always desperate to be let in my room again so she can watch the hamsters! ♥