Cage Territorial

RachK · 11-09-2010, 07:19 AM

So I have had Harriet for 10 days now. However she is very cage territorial. I can't pick her up out of the cage as she just nips me. When she is out having playtime she is great, lets me pick her up & have cuddles.

The only way I can get her out of the cage at the moment is to lift her house out (if she is in it) & place it on the floor or take the top half of the cage off & let her make her own way out.

I've never had any problem like this with Huxley or Horace I just place my hand in & they climb on it.

Any ideas what I can do or do you all think it's just because I haven't had her long & she'll get over it in time? I hope so, as boy do those little nips hurt, the little tike!

Juno · 11-09-2010, 07:40 AM

I got my hamster around 2 months ago now and he was very much the same, infact, he still won't crawl on my hand but he will let me pick him up.

To get him used to being picked up rather than taken out via a ball or a tub I started out letting him smell my hand, as he was familiar with the scent by then, then started stroking him in the cage, if he was jumpy when I did this I gave him a treat to distract him and stroked his back while he was eating it. As I got more and more confident he was okay with me touching him in his cage, I slowly started scooping him up and putting him down. He wasn't too keen at first and ran off alot but he got used to it, especially if he got a treat when he did good. Kept picking him up for longer and longer and eventually could get him out the cage like that!

It also helped to remove anything from the cage that would obstruct me from getting to him, like ledges.

Just be patient I'm sure she'll get used to you!! The longer I've had my hamster the more comfortable he's got with me handling him and i'm sure harriet is the same

Good luck xx

RachK · 11-09-2010, 08:32 AM

I'll try the treat method & stroking later on this evening.

I'm just surprised at how different she is to my other two. I suppose though, you can't expect them all to be the same.

**Hope** · 11-09-2010, 09:26 AM

Boris, for all his loveliness, is the same Rach - not too good at being picked up from the cage. He never has been. My tactic is just to grab him before he knows whats going on, but he is not very speedy so doesnt get chance to run away. If I just put my hand in the cage he attacks it! And yes, even dwarfie bites hurt!! Boris bit my toe once and boy did it bleed!! One of the robos bit me last night too and that was just as bad!! Just coz they are small it doesnt hurt any less!!

I can do the distract with treat and stroke method, but he wont climb onto my hand or anything, he just tries to eat my fingers

RachK · 11-09-2010, 11:04 AM

Aw I don't believe you Hope. How can chubby Boz be like that.

I do hope she does get over it, but if not it's not the end of the world as she is perfect in every other way.

RachK · 11-13-2010, 03:39 AM

YAY! Just had Harriet out. She came to the cage door & she climbed straight onto my hand.

I've been up since 7am & she was up all night & still up now, back on her wheel!

Huxley & Horace are up & down all day but never at this time. Are Campbells like this?

Teddy · 11-13-2010, 04:54 AM

Teddy is the same. Hugo hasn't shown any territorial behaviour at all but Teddy has to be lifted in a loo roll cos he gets quite huffy and nippy when your in his cage ... once outside, hes an angel

internet_nobody · 11-13-2010, 05:04 AM

I find that my campbells are much more active than my WW. The WW will get out of bed if they hear noises, but the campbells tend to be there as soon as I walk into the room.

Unfortunately the cage territorial thing doesn't tend to shift once it has set in. If you keep a mug or similar handy to lift her out in that should help, or wait for her to come to you at the door.

fluffymunchkins · 11-13-2010, 10:34 AM

Treo may look like a campbells but he definitley has a winterwhite personality