Ria
It definitely needs to be a hamsterproof room! Newt, until he was really quite old, was fairly timid and never ventured off the sofa. He just ran around on the sofa under cushions and blankets etc. He used to look at the height and back off. Maybe because he had usually had out of cage time in a playpen since being a baby so was conditioned to a restricted space? He got bolder as he got older. One day he climbed down the front of the sofa, upside down (Spiderman like) gripping on with his claws. He looked like a bat with its wings spread out. And got down to floor level. As he seemed quite slow we started letting him free roam in the living room after securely blocking off the odd dodgy area we didn't want him to go.
And that was fine, he pootled around slowly sniffing, grooming and I'd follow him round to make sure I knew where he was. He then got more confident - and faster. He knows the whole room now and runs around everywhere. One little place he goes between two lap trays to sit and wash. But he soon wanted out of that room! And would zoom into the kitchen. So we had to close the door to the room. He then found he could easily get under the door! (Bit of a gap). So we have to stuff a blanket there. He then runs along the blanket, climbs it at the end and gets through the gap at the side of the door (sliding door, it's a pain).
So if you can keep them in one room and it's thoroughly checked for any little gaps or holes (and they will disappear down a hole!). I think you need a room with solid floors. With wood floors there are often holes where central heating pipes go down under the floor from the side of the radiator.
So it isn't so bad if Newt gets out of the living room and into the kitchen - it's not that big - but if I haven't closed the door from the kitchen to the hall he can get everywhere! And that's what he did the other night. I suspect he went behind the bathpanel where there is a gap where the pipes go through, because I thoroughly searched the bathroom. After an hour and looking in there again he was sitting on the floor chewing a plastic bag.
So basically - they can be very fast and whizzy when they're young and it's probably safer to stick to a playpen unless the room is thoroughly hamsterproofed. And the floor checked and hoovered (they will pouch anything when free roaming!). But if it is hamsterproofed I think they thoroughly enjoy it and get more confident and plenty of exercise.
I wouldn't do it until a hamster is fully tamed or they may become untame.
Things you wouldn't think of - long curtains - they can climb up the curtains to the top and fall. Extension leads with plug sockets. Behind radiators if there are any holes in plasterboard. Double radiators where they can get up between them.
Our living room is fairly simple. There is an open built in cupboard I don't want him getting in as it's very old and the odd hole in the plasterboard, so that is blocked off.
And of course the obvious - peoples' feet. I have found the more Newt has free roamed, the faster and sneakier he has got!
Re: Newt's thread
Linear Mode
