Newbie: Picket the WW (we think) and his new house. - Page 3

Engel · 10-09-2020, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams

Carefresh is also known to source wood fibers from hemlock - listed as an unsafe wood species.

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What?! Why on earth would they put hemlock into a product?! That's highly toxic to us let alone a tiny animal! I think an email is in order. Will post what they say here later so we have all the facts

Pebbles82 · 10-09-2020, 10:56 AM

If it is the case the carefresh is made from hemlock wood pulp (partially) then that might explain why some hamsters have had an allergy to it (although it’s not that common). It is widely used without issue though. Personally I prefer Kaytee Clean and cosy which has less dust. But the OP may find it suits her hamster and be happy using it.

Sorry for sidetracking and talking about bedding again Picket!

Engel · 10-09-2020, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

If it is the case the carefresh is made from hemlock wood pulp (partially) then that might explain why some hamsters have had an allergy to it (although it’s not that common). It is widely used without issue though. Personally I prefer Kaytee Clean and cosy which has less dust. But the OP may find it suits her hamster and be happy using it.

Sorry for sidetracking and talking about bedding again Picket!

This is the last I'm going to speak of it. I've emailed the company and this is what they had to say. It does come across as if they don't care. This isn't a name and shame by the way. Just posting the facts which has come from them.

I apologise for sidetracking your thread (for the last time) Picket. I'm still thinking of ways for you to add a door and ventilation through the back panel by the way.

Pebbles82 · 10-10-2020, 07:05 AM

That's helpful Engel. I'm going to start another thread on the Carefresh/Hemlock thing so we don't hijack Picket's thread about her hamster and cage

But I would add that the Western Hemlock is just a softwood tree and not a poisonous herb. I think this is not an issue at all and there are often internet scare stories that misunderstand something.

I think meshing the back panel would be good and much easier than cutting holes for side vents. I also think those side vents aren't enough ventilation.

Engel · 10-10-2020, 02:23 PM

Hey Picket. Found these on Google. May give you an Idea.

Picket · 10-23-2020, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ria P

I have one question though out of sheer curiosity.
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Why did you chose the Ikea Kallax over the Ikea Detolf which only requires a meshed lid?

Ria - In hindsight I should've considered the Detolf a little more strongly. What turned me off about it initially was that it was so long and narrow. I was concerned about space for it to fit, and a major part of wanting to DIY a cage was so it could look more furniture like and blend in nicely with the house decor. I wasn't sure how to make the Detolf look more "built in". Now that I'm well into the Kallax hack, I think I could've figured out a way less expensive way to accomplish the same goal with a Detolf. Although, with the Kallax , since one floor is pretty good space for a Dwarf WW (over 800 sq in) I do like the option of going up instead of out for additional enrichment options because it'll take up less floor space in our home.

Picket · 10-23-2020, 07:50 AM

Engel, Serendipity, Amity, Ria... thank you all so much for the helpful input. Lots to think about with so many options out there. I had never even heard of the small pet bedding. Scored some of that and started mixing it with my remaining Carefresh stuff to ease transition over. Scored some Higgins food and Whimzees too.

That Hamster Hideout Kallax hack is amazing. I am ending up doing acrylic doors with piano hinges and magnets for opening/access, versus the sliding glass like they did. - In major part due to cost and hassle of getting glass cut to size and finding the sliding tracks locally or for a reasonable shipping price. I like that look (glass) better, but the acrylic is still getting the job done. When I am finished - hopefully later this week, I'll post a separate post with my process and pictures. Still accumulating enrichment stuff to fill all the extra space he'll have, so the hideouts and other suggestions are helpful too.

Quick question - right now his water bottle are attached to his wire cage, but since there won't be wires to hang it from. (Although his other bottle is attached to his bin cage with velcro.) Do you have any recommendations for a water bottle stand, or instructions on how to DIY one? Also what is the consensus on having a shallow water bowl? I am afraid of the bowl as I know hamsters aren't supposed to get wet, but I also get nervous about the drip bottles not dripping with the balls inside getting stuck. If I try a shallow water dish, how shallow is shallow? I'd put it in a plan area so as not to soak up surrounding areas if spilled, but also don't want him to walk in it?

Thanks again for all the feedback, I'm trying hard to be a good hamster mom with what I have to work with, I promise.

Maker · 10-23-2020, 09:59 AM

I use a small water bowl meant for reptiles it’s about 2.6cm deep and 7cm x 8cm. I bout it from pets at home in the UK - you can probably take a look on their website to see it, the link I posted is huge!
Fill it with fresh water daily
It’s in addition to a bottle
It doesn’t hold much water so in the hot weather it did evaporate quickly so not suitable if you wanted to leave it with your ham in the summer if you had a night away.

I have seen home made bottle holders that don’t need the cage walls

Ria P · 10-23-2020, 10:23 AM

My hamsters have a bottle and a bowl and they use both. I use glass tealight holders and a very basic DIY bottle holder made from a small plastic bottle with glass marbles inside to weigh it down. I simply cut enough off the top of the bottle to fit a water bottle in snuggly and cut a small hole for the spout. You can get or make nice wooden bottle holders. Rodipet does them and Living World i think its called. You can also get ceramic water dispensers for small animals online.

Looking forward to see your hamster's habitat.

Pebbles82 · 10-23-2020, 02:13 PM

Sounds exciting! Looking forward to seeing the progress. I am still in the camp of being nervous about using a water bowl and prefer to use bottles - however I also get nervous about bottles not working - the answer is to have two bottles which I did for a long time but now I just check them daily (now I’ve found some I trust!). If you do use a water bowl then ideally it’s best somewhere where it can’t get full of bedding or contaminated.

Something I’m not sure is obvious in some of those kallax hacks - which you may have already thought of, regardless of what type of doors you have. And that is a piece of fixed Perspex onside the door area to keep the substrate in.

Industrial Velcro is fine for attaching water bottles. I’ve tried bottle stands but gave up on them but you might be better at making them than me. There is a toilet roll tube one. Quite simple. The one I made was quite stable but not perfect. You cut the top off a 500ml spring water bottle. Fill the base with stones (I used some nice polished ones stepson got in holiday - technically crystals. And make a hole for the spout just above the stones. The bottle just sits inside the bottle with the spout through the hole which holds it in place. However it was a fiddle making a hole in the bottle without having any sharp edges of plastic and I found sometimes the bottle didn’t sit upright enough so I was forever checking it. Height if the hole depends on species of hamster.