Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Navigation
Front Page
Forum
Gallery
Wiki

Ads by Google


Go Back   Hamster Central > Hamster Central Forum Topics > Housing

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-19-2016, 06:46 AM   #1
FreddyAndMe
Hamster Pup
 
FreddyAndMe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Merseyside
Posts: 159
Default NHC guidelines

Just been on the web and was looking on the National Hamster Council's cage size guidelines. They said that 1000cm2 of useable floor space with a height of 19cm is the baseline for Syrian hamsters, which equates to a 40x25cm cage - exactly half of what I was told is the minimum. Is this information correct? 40x25 isn't very big, in fact, that's how big the cage Freddy was in was. And 19cm isn't even going to fit a 20cm wheel, never mind a 28cm one! What is going on with this?
__________________
Freddy, my first and only hamster
FreddyAndMe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2016, 07:04 AM   #2
xbuttons94
Adult Hamster
 
xbuttons94's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Lincolnshire, UK
Posts: 288
Default Re: NHC guidelines

I'm not sure if that is correct or not. I keep in mind the bigger the better when buying one and use the guidelines people give on here. I have seen a few different suggestions on different sites. Some of the big and more popular cages I have seen on here are cheaper than the pet shop ones and over twice the size which I think is strange!
__________________
Proud mummy of Weaver, Rupert and Gemma the cat.

Sleep well little Lexi, my princess. Sleep well Pope my little scruff ball.
xbuttons94 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2016, 07:06 AM   #3
AmityvilleHams
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 4,545
Default Re: NHC guidelines

Well,that's just not going to be suitable in any place.I think it may just be yet another case of people not actually knowing what hamsters truly need.In Germany,80 cm by 50 cm is considered far too small and inhumane.Why is this?Because they have scientific research to back up their minimum which has proven to actually make hamsters more happy in captivity than the US and UK minimums!
AmityvilleHams is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2016, 07:24 AM   #4
FreddyAndMe
Hamster Pup
 
FreddyAndMe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Merseyside
Posts: 159
Default Re: NHC guidelines

I am not messing, here's the exact quote:

There are many suitable homing options for hamsters. The NHC recommends a minimum of 1000cm2 (useable floor space) x 19cm high for Syrian hamsters and 750cm2 (useable floor space) x 17cm high for Dwarfs. If you can afford a slightly bigger cage of the same type, so much the better.

I do think this is rather odd - surely the largest UK hamster association is going to know what they SHOULD be doing?
__________________
Freddy, my first and only hamster
FreddyAndMe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2016, 07:29 AM   #5
AmityvilleHams
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 4,545
Default Re: NHC guidelines

They should,but I would definitely take steps to do something about it other than just sitting on a forum talking about it.Perhaps RSPCA or something can fix the situation and educate them?I don't know how that exactly works,but it's important to make sure the right information is put out there on all widely available sources.
AmityvilleHams is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2016, 08:05 AM   #6
CMB
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Hertfordshire - UK
Posts: 3,190
Default Re: NHC guidelines

I have sent them an email via the contact details on the website. Politely querying the cage sizes.

If enough people email regarding their info they may change what is written on the website.
CMB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2016, 08:50 AM   #7
flowerfairy
Fluffy Hamsters
 
flowerfairy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 4,231
Default Re: NHC guidelines

I have just emailed them too.
__________________
flowerfairy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2016, 12:47 PM   #8
FreddyAndMe
Hamster Pup
 
FreddyAndMe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Merseyside
Posts: 159
Default Re: NHC guidelines

I will email them too aswell then. Don't have my own email account but I don't suppose my parents will mind. If we all pack pile on them at once we can at least be assured that they are going to hear at least a few of us. Now to figure out how to write an email....
__________________
Freddy, my first and only hamster
FreddyAndMe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2016, 12:57 PM   #9
Nancy's Hamsters
ST's Hamstery
 
Nancy's Hamsters's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Mid Ohio USA
Posts: 2,574
Default Re: NHC guidelines

My first reaction on this is what is the last date the site was updated. Many associations work on Volunteer basis, and often a website is placed online and not updated often as they have no updater. I pray everyone E-mailing is doing so in a nice manner
__________________
Nancy,and The ST's Hamsters
Nancy's Hamsters is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2016, 01:16 PM   #10
Vectis Hamstery
Moderator
 
Vectis Hamstery's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Southampton, UK
Posts: 4,577
Default Re: NHC guidelines

The cage size in the NHC handbook is not an 'ideal' guideline (as the varying sizes often quoted on the forum are) - it is the absolute minimum that ANY hamster can be kept in by club members, e.g. a very unwell hamster, one who is disabled etc. In other words, no hamster must be kept in less than that regardless of circumstances. This is a different concept to the 'ideal' or 'recommended' sizes that people quote as 'minimum' sizes.

Like Nancy I hope those emailing are doing so politely.
__________________
Vectis Hamstery is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
cage, 19cm, big, guidelines, information, told, minimum, correct, 40x25, wheel, mind, 28cm, 20cm, fit, half, freddy, fact, hamsters, size, councils, hamster, national, web, 1000cm2, useable

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.43 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright © 2003-2022, Hobby Solutions
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:10 AM.