Introduction and urgent question

[Turnip]

Hi all my name's Sam,

I recently adopted a male Syrian from an RSPCA shelter. His name is Turnip. I've got him in an adapted zoozone 2.

I have been lurking here a while and have found it a really good place to get proper care information.

Sorry to start off with a serious question so soon! But I am really worried as heavy building/construction work has just started near my house. They are working all day, even the weekends! They are apparently building housing from scratch and it looks like it will be going on for months.

I would never have adopted him if I knew this would be happening . Do I need to rehome him? Or is it possible that he will be able to adapt to the noise? I just want to do what's best for him.

Thanks in advance for all your replies.

[souffle]

They are very good at adapting to the noise so I would just continue as normal. He will likely be sleeping through most of it so as long as you ensure you have a nice enclosed cardboard box bed area with lots of tissue bedding in there he will be just fine. He is likely used to a lot of hustle and bustle anyway if he has been in a RSPCA home.
Welcome to the forum

[Turnip]

Hi souffle,

Thank you for replying. What would you recommend for the cardboard bed area? How about a shoe box?

I have him in a ceramic house at the moment.

cheers

[cypher]

Welcome to the forum Sam.

I agree with souffle, it's surprising what they can adapt to so though it may be a bit of a stressful beginning with a nice nest with lots of bedding to snuggle down in during the day your new ham should be fine.
I had a new roof put on last year, the noise was truly horrendous but it stressed me out far more than my three hams!

[Vectis Hamstery]

Shoeboxes are excellent hidey holes I use the deeper section of the box, cut a door in one side and turn the box upside down in the cage with a nice pile of toiler paper underneath it. It means you can access the hamster if needed and makes a lovely secure nest box without getting all damp from condensation.

[Turnip]

Thank you cypher, it makes me feel much better to know that your hams coped with something similar! I Thought with such sensitive hearing, it might be unbearable for Turnip, although he *seems* to be OK.

I'm so glad that you are all advising me to keep him , I really don't want to re home him, having just adopted him, but obviously if the advice had been to rehome I would have had to. I want him to have a good home.

Thank you, Vectis Hamstery. Do you have pics of this? I want to give it a go. I will leave the ceramic one in and give him the choice.

Cheers

[Vectis Hamstery]

It's my favourite style of nest box for my pregnant girls to have litters in Many types of cardboard box work for this.

P1210058 by Vectis Hamstery, on Flickr

[Thin Lizzy]

Hi and Welcome to HC.
Congrats on adopting Turnip and I agree that he'll adapt to the noise.
I've got building work going on down the road from me Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm, weekends they have off. They might be doing weekends because they're behind schedule.
I got a letter through a week before the building work began.

[Turnip]

Thanks for posting the pic, Vectis Hamstery. I'l give it a go.

Thanks, Thin Lizzy (great band). I wish they had given me a letter/some warning! The first time the noise started I jumped out of my skin, lol. I think this is when they were laying the foundations.

I feel much better now that everyone thinks he'll adapt.

What should I watch out for, as in signs he's not adapting to it.

Cheers

[cypher]

How long have you had him Turnip?
Usually it's changes in behaviour that show us that a ham is stressed or not doing well but if he's still settling into his new home that may be hard to judge.
Just keep an eye on him to be sure he continues to eat & drink normally, doesn't appear to be showing any signs of health issues & is still fairly active, even if that tends to be at night when you're sleeping it's usually not hard to tell that they've been doing stuff in the cage & running in the wheel.