Thunder

pinkneon · 09-16-2016, 02:39 AM

I just wondered how to stop Sweep being scared during thunder storms?? We had a very big thunder storm last night with lightening which I found pretty scary myself, so wondered what I can do for Sweep? I did notice him dart to his flowerpot to hide when he'd been playing on his wheel. Also, this sounds stupid I guess, but I'm worried he'll get so stressed / scared by the storms that he'll die

We're expecting more storms over the next few days apparently ...

CMB · 09-16-2016, 04:26 AM

Give him plenty of tissue for his nest and if he blocks the entrance leave it for him to open up when he is ready.

A bendy bridge tunnel at the door might keep it darker and a bit quieter.

I don't know if this would help too. But record a thunder storm and when it is not thundering play back the recording on low volume. As Sweep gets used to/ignoring the noise turn up the volume a little. Possibly distract Sweep with a treat (walnut). Slowly have the volume louder and louder.

This method can help cats/dogs so it might be worth trying.

POLAR WHITES · 09-16-2016, 06:22 AM

The thunder was very loud in the north last night woke the whole house.

Nancy's Hamsters · 09-16-2016, 07:24 AM

It is a natural instinct for them to go into something not electrically conductive during a serious Thunder Storm. His flower pot is such a place. What we can't feel is any fur baring animal actually receives very soft shocks of electricity in their coats throughout a storm. By him going into his flower pot it blocks most if not all of this static electricity from his body. If he is near a window try moving his cage to a more inward location until the storm ends(In a bathtub is best as it is 100% non conductive). Offer Sweep more non conductive hides so he can avoid the small zaps of electricity. Or you might take him out and entertain him during the whole storm with you, but that one doesn't help if a storm occurs while you are away from home and he must endure on his own.

pinkneon · 09-16-2016, 07:29 AM

He's not near the window

I was going to play with him but thought he'd run off as he did seem pretty scared. I've never seen a storm like it!! It was sooooooo scary (I hate storms!).
I'm not sure what non conductive means, but what other hidey places could he have? He has several boxes, his flower pot, his Sputnik, some cardboard tubes, his coconut house, his cube plus he often digs to the bottom of the cage to sleep!

cypher · 09-16-2016, 07:35 AM

I'm sure he'll be fine in any of those hideouts, sound non conductive to me, metal is the most conductive thing but he'd most likely stay well away from any metal as they usually sense a storm coming so if he's in the cage he'll probably just go & hide away somewhere nice & dark.

pinkneon · 09-16-2016, 07:37 AM

Ok. Poor thing. I hope we don't get too many more storms otherwise I might go hide with him!

chesca_27 · 09-16-2016, 09:36 AM

I think metal is the most common, effective conductor of electricity. He should be ok in those toys. The only thing I can think of that would be metal in the cage would be bars, wheel stand and bottle spout unless he has a metal bowl or metal clip things that toys hang from.

Poor Sweep! He seemed to recover at lunch from what I understand

. Hope he's ok! Need to check on Larry-Jasper when I get to my dad's later.

Lol! I'm sure he would love to hide together Pinkneon or Sweep could hide with Jasper

?

Thin Lizzy · 09-16-2016, 07:16 PM

Poor Sweep. We had thunder and lightening not long after I got Harvey and closed my blinds and curtains (it didn't keep the noise out but, I've always done this as I feel safer), I put on some music and I sat next to his cage talking to him, he did pop his head out and saw the pile of tissue paper I had left and he took it and blocked up his house. When it was over, I told Harvey and about 10 minutes later his face popped out and he waited then came right out. I told him he was such a good boy and gave him some treats. He didn't seem bothered by it. All you can do is provide extra bedding as comfort and talk to them.
Pinkneon, Sweep's got plenty hidey places, hams are smart, something they don't like, they'll hide.

Fluffagrams · 09-17-2016, 02:02 AM

One of mine was really scared of thunder and her favourite hide during storms was this heavy stone cave that used to be a fish tank ornament. I guess because it was heavy and the walls were thick, she felt secure in there and I tended to leave her to it.

If I know that storms are likely then I'll make sure they've got plenty of nesting material and plenty of things to hide in. They'll go and hide themselves away if there's something that they're feeling nervous about or need to think about.

If you're nervous too then Sweep might pick up on that a bit so you need to think about what can help you to relax. Do you have music that you really enjoy? You could always put that on with some noise cancelling headphones. I have one particular album by my favourite artist that is my 'go-to' choice when I need help getting through something that I'm finding stressful. Because it's a live album, I can focus on visualising the artist on stage, his movements, his expressions and it works quite well at clearing my mind of anything else but that. Maybe there's a song for you that brings back happy memories that you can focus on.