Sorry Boo

MisterMinsc · 02-26-2015, 06:43 PM

Ive been bonding with my new ham very well but last night I made my first mistake. I was giving him cuddles and he jumped or something I'm not sure it happened so fast 1 second he was hanging be his back feet of the bottom of his cage door then he was on the floor about a 2 foot drop ! I paniced picked him up and put him back in his cage he wiggled and nipped a bit. We were both very upset by what happened. He has been taking food and bedding of me but has been very skittish around my hands and spends a lot of time in his nest. I have not noticed any injuries nor have I heard him making any noises to suggest he is injured. I feel horrible I've let him down. Ive not been around much because I volunteer now so as far as I know he has been leaving his nest in the day / early evening. He came out for a drink and a little run on his wheel while I was resting in bed earlier. Please give me advice as to what to do.

BrainGirl · 02-26-2015, 07:25 PM

First, don't panic! It happens to everybody sooner or later. It's not the end of the world. Boo isn't hurt and a 2 foot drop isn't all that bad really. He just got a shock and once everything gets back to normal he'll probably forget all about it. Just back up a little if you need to and let him move at his own pace. Bribes work wonders

Thin Lizzy · 02-26-2015, 08:24 PM

My youngest has done this a few times and nearly gave me a heartattack! Yes, the first time she got a fright, the other times she has just shaken herself and back to her usual mischievous self.
Put more substrate down so he doesn't hurt himself.

MisterMinsc · 02-26-2015, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thin Lizzy

Put more substrate down so he doesn't hurt himself.

He jumped fell off the cage door onto my bedroom floor its carpeted. I worried because he might have bounced off my draws or something. Would you suggest i moved the cage closer to the ground or even just on the floor. thankfully he's pottered around a bit this morning had a drink ears up and with me in the room. and to think I bought him to help with my anxiety disorder lol.

I'm still worried about the fire alarm going off its very loud and i worry it might quite literally scare him to death

Thin Lizzy · 02-26-2015, 09:37 PM

You could move it closer to the floor but not actually on the floor.
He will haven't gotten a fright. It's always best to handle them when you're sitting down at a lower level.

cypher · 02-26-2015, 11:38 PM

As BrainGirl said it is something that happens to most of us at some point, it's always a shock & does make you feel awful but try not to feel so bad about it, it sounds as though Boo is fine & will quickly be over it & forget all about it!
Not sure what to suggest about the fire alarm, does it seem to scare him or is he getting used to it? Is there anyway you can find out who's responsible for it & put a stop to it?

bbbarker · 02-27-2015, 12:55 AM

When I got my first hamster Bruno i took things abit too fast and picked him up, he jumped out of my hands luckily it wasn't a big jump, but he ran off and I was so scared I was going to loose him. As you can imagine I was running around my room like a mad women after him, I finally got him and put him back in his cage and left him for a few days to calm down. I went back to the beginning of taming and did it all over again, try and make your hand relate to good things like treats or what I've been doing is getting my hamster to jump on my hand with the encouragment of treats and then putting him in his ball (which he loves). Don't worry about it too much, we all make mistakes I cried all night after what happened with Bruno but it's one of them things and I'm sure Boo won't hold I against you

MisterMinsc · 02-27-2015, 01:12 PM

Just to clarify Boo is fine with me holding him I let him come to me and usually hes happy to sit in my hands. Maybe he got curious and jumped to go look at something.

@cypher no it hasn't gone off since i've had him but I live in a shared house so its an industrial type thing with a node in each room I can silence it quickly or get him out as control panel and the front door is right next to my room. so thats one thing I guess.

Hes out again pottering around again chewing on the bars right next to me I think he wants a cuddle but i'm eating. Maybe he tried to jump towards my computer screen?. I'll try turning it off this time

Thin Lizzy · 02-27-2015, 06:19 PM

If and when the fire alarm goes of, it will probably frighten him but, he'll adjust to the noise.

MisterMinsc · 02-28-2015, 06:56 PM

hes all right seems to be back to normal now