Nesting help....

Newb · 03-08-2018, 04:08 AM

Hi All

I am new to this forum and new to having a hamster (named Frosty as I delegated name calling to my 4 year old nephew).

I started out with the Rosewood Pico XL cage, but it became apparent this is far too small (I am tempted to tell them they should not advertise this as a cage for Syrians), so I got a hamster heaven, at first with all the attachments. I have had to remove the pent house and the levels as she is a bit of a chewer and the penthouse and the levels were being chewed and I didn't think it was too good for her digestion. Once my money position has improved, I will probably buy a detolf for her.

She has now moved her nest into her toilet, despite having a igloo, a hammock and one of those bendy stick things. I don't like her nest being there, solely because she urinates all over her nesting material and her food, and I don't want to remove either as it I know it can stress her out, equally I understand sleeping in their pee is also stressful??

Does anyone have any ideas how I can 'persuade' her to use her igloo?? I tried to move her nest in there will some more toilet paper and food (I moved all of her nesting material and food in there to try and trick her into thinking she moved it, but it didn't work). Will she in time move there? Or, am I over reacting and she can have a jolly old time nesting, peeing and eating in her potty?

Many thanks

hellobg · 03-08-2018, 05:30 AM

There are ways to do so, my hamster Toria pees wherever she nests and often I replace them every week.

Try putting some of her nesting material to the other hideouts and moving the hideouts elsewhere and the toilet or potty to another corner.

Newb · 03-08-2018, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellobg

There are ways to do so, my hamster Toria pees wherever she nests and often I replace them every week.

Try putting some of his nesting material to the igloo and moving the hideouts elsewhere and the toilet or potty to another corner.

I have tried to move her nesting material to the igloo. Then I go to bed and when I look in on her in the morning she's moved it back! I have tried twice but don't want her to get stressed or think I'm an evil being trying to deprive her of her nest.

racinghamster · 03-08-2018, 06:15 AM

Hiya. Three things I always found useful. An upside down shoe box for a syrian (no lid) cut two doors into it. This allows hammy to dig down into the substrate below which is more like a burrow to them.

Use ripped up toilet paper or paper based materials sold for hamsters. That j-cloth stuff for example. Then use Carefresh inside the sleeping house and mix with the ripped up toilet tissue.

I used to leave some ripped up toilet paper by the door and the hamster would enjoy nabbing it and taking it into the nest!

Always leave a lot of the nesting where it is and only refresh this with some new bedding every month as they prefer to have their own scent in there and a stash of food, as long as it isn`t soiled with pee or loose poo, which can be removed and replenished where necessary and just wipe any wet patches with wetted kitchen paper. x

CMB · 03-08-2018, 07:54 AM

The igloo may be too light. A dark nest area is more likely to be used. I have a bendy bridge in an arch shape and a smaller one on it’s edge to cover most of the front (and back if needed) leaving a small gap as an entrance.

A cardboard tube can also be used as an entrance, as it helps block light and droughts.

Can you post a photo of the cage layout. It may help us make better suggestions.

Syrians tend to pee in one corner once settled in. So if your hamster chooses a corner you can use a container as a pee toilet. They poop in the nest often, which is ok as the poop dries quickly.

Newb · 03-08-2018, 08:02 AM

Thanks for all your help. I did put a bendy bridge with a cardboard tube leading to it but she still didn't settle there. It's cleaning day today so I may try moving her toilet to another corner and putting her nesting materials in the middle of the cage and allow her to choose. If she goes in the toilet then so long as it doesn't do her any harm then it's okay. I'm sure she'll move it once she realises that I'm not there to take her food!