Do you let your hamster free roam your room?

[mazzypan]

So I got my Syrian hammie around three weeks ago now and the taming process has been going perfectly. I’d say he’s extremely comfortable with me, he’ll crawl all over me, let me stroke him whenever and if I need to, I can pick him up. I’ve been taking him into the bath every night for about 5-15 mins since after the first week of having him.

I was just wondering - what’s the next step? I was thinking of letting him run around my room, which I’d say is pretty hamster safe regarding cables, small holes etc (my room is tiny lol), but I’m not sure. Is it a good idea? I’m not sure if this is what most hamster owners do, but if it is then I’d love to know some tips or info about letting him roam for the first time. Also, I’ve seen a lot of people use a bathroom to start with but my bathroom is definitely not as safe as my bedroom.

Thank you!

[Pebbles82]

I'd say it's fine if it's a hamster proof room and you're there all the time to keep an eye on things (they have been known to climb curtains!).

Our syrian now free roams in the living room. I've blocked off a couple of areas I don't want him to go, but he does sneak under the door sometimes, so would suggest putting a door draught thing there to block any gaps (we stuff a dressing gown in front of the door ).

[Shannonmcn]

I think it's a great idea. But you need to really think about what Hamster Proof means. They will get into things and squeeze past things and nibble things you would never think of in a million years. But if you're watching them they'll teach you themselves which parts of the room you need to block off or do something with.

Few things to get you started, from personal experience

-Pull furniture out from the walls or they'll squeeze up the back
-Block off your radiator as best you can, they can also squeeze up the back of those.
-Watch your wall paper, and your skirting boards and the bottom edges of doors and RIP any carpet.
-If you leave clothes or pajamas on your floor like I do, it is at your own risk.
-If they climb up it, they will jump off it. And probably land on their face.

But it is hands down the most fun you can give them. One other tip is that you might well get ignored, don't take offense it's just very hard to be more interesting than a dusty unexplored corner

[Pebbles82]

Do you have built in wardrobes or freestanding ones? Shannon has a point - wardrobes can be an issue if the climb up the back.

But basically as long as they can't hurt themselves on anything you know they are in the room and will come out for food!

[Puddle]

I have a 3 seater sofa in her room and my previous 2 hamsters were more than happy to run about on it and climb the back etc no worries when I sat there. Thankfully neither ever attempted to jump.

I did find that they would entertain themselves whilst i sat there and just run around me etc whilst i was paying them attention and keeping an eye on them etc. However if i turned the playstation on and gave them no attention then they would soon start climbing all over me.

Clever little things.

[Ziggy Hamster]

I've started free roaming with my hamster, he gets 20-25 minutes which I'll build up over time.

I use my hallway and block off the gaps in the doors with cardboard and books (but will be making some draught excluders out of fleece). I put loads of hides, toys and tunnels for him to explore and find that if I had a piece of vegetable in my lap he was more interested in me.

It's really helped with his hyperactivity in his cage, he spends all his time exploring and goes back into his cage calmer than when I took him out.

[Fluffagrams]

Because I only have dwarfs, I don't find that free roaming is a realistic option for us but it could work with some Syrians.

You'll need to block off all possible exits and make sure that everything is off the floor that you'd be worried about them damaging if they were to try and chew it. I also think that it's worth mentioning that if they find a crumb on the floor or something like that, they will try and eat it!

I think the other point worth making is that you have to be able to catch your hamster to be able to return them to their cage afterwards so I wouldn't recommend it to a hamster that is still a bit unsure.

[Ria P]

and don't copy me by mistakenly thinking the bathroom is a safe place to roam because it isn't....my hamster runs around on my bed but i have to catch him before he jumps off...they are drawn to doing reckless things...

[Shazwott]

Originally Posted by Fluffagrams

Because I only have dwarfs, I don't find that free roaming is a realistic option for us but it could work with some Syrians.

You'll need to block off all possible exits and make sure that everything is off the floor that you'd be worried about them damaging if they were to try and chew it. I also think that it's worth mentioning that if they find a crumb on the floor or something like that, they will try and eat it!

I think the other point worth making is that you have to be able to catch your hamster to be able to return them to their cage afterwards so I wouldn't recommend it to a hamster that is still a bit unsure.

I have a free range Robo. We have a hamster proof bunny room that has wood floors. We keep our 2 Robos in there in seperate cages on a book shelf. Our female is shy and is only content in her cage. But our boy Draco is a a complete ham (no pun intended) and an escape artist. Luckily he is extremely tame. I have tried differnt cages but no matter what, somehow he always escapes and ends up running around on the floor zooming between my bunnies. We finally just put his cage closer to the ground with a tube allowing him to come and go. He spends his days sleeping in his cage and his evenings running laps around the room. Any time I come in the room he runs out from where he is to greet me. And if I need to find him I shake his food container and he comes running. I wouldn't recommend intentionally creating this kind of arrangement but it works for Draco