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Old 07-10-2019, 03:25 AM   #1
Schwartzie
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Join Date: Jun 2019
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Default Burrowing?

One of the first things Ragna did was begin to burrow. I hope that the mix of Fitch and megazorb will hold tunnels nicely. It got me wondering...how do hamster tunnels work? Do they only burrow tunnels leading off their nest or do they have different networks of tunnels? Why do they burrow? Do they burrow for safety? Do they burrow to store food? I want to know where Ragna's head is at with burrowing so I can help adjust his cage to help him. I added more bedding etc this morning - see thread Ragna's cage set up. Really interested to know more about burrowing.
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Old 07-10-2019, 05:17 AM   #2
mangoandmimi
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Default Re: Burrowing?

Some will have tunnels everywhere and others won’t burrow properly, it depends. That’s why you need deep bedding throughout the majority of the cage to allow them to. They will generally burrow to sleep and store food and it does make them feel safer yes - they tend not to like open areas as they are prey animals. Just fill up the cage as much as you can, ideally with a Syrian you’d have over 10” as anything much less is going to be very limiting. If it’s a barred cage you have I would very seriously think about raising the bedding barrier.
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Old 07-10-2019, 06:41 PM   #3
10Minutes
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Default Re: Burrowing?

I think Louise burrows out of curiosity, and in the spirit of exploration. I was gently piling her substrate higher yesterday, and she started burrowing immediately right next to my hand. She doesn't like her bedding that much usually though, and always removes 99% of the bedding from her nest. She seems like an abnormal little lady and has taken to dozing off in spots that doesn't have bedding, even if it means she has to sleep in open space.

I've used the original paper bedding from the shop where I got her at - it's got her smell in it and all, but she didn't like it. I've used new wood shavings (aspen) and she doesn't like it either. She just kicked it out out of her nest frantically, so I soon learnt that I shouldn't put any kind of bedding directly in her nest. She'll gather a few strips of tissue in her pouch and roll it into neat balls for nesting material herself, but that's about it.

I don't think Louise has burrowed to store food, or burrowed tunnels leading off her nest (so for her it's a different network that really leads nowhere, she kind of likes burrowing along the perimeter of her cage). I'm not sure if all hamsters are the same though, maybe they all have different reasons for burrowing.

Edit: But it is possible that she burrows for different reasons (storing food etc) when I'm not watching her, lol.

Last edited by 10Minutes; 07-10-2019 at 07:02 PM.
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Old 07-10-2019, 09:04 PM   #4
Schwartzie
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Default Re: Burrowing?

Thanks so much for your responses and information. Ragna is loving the burrowing! Really happy he is because it’s natural for them.
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