Bad Sleep Pattern

Duffy · 11-28-2016, 02:40 PM

Duffy is my first hamster and she is now 7 months old. During the first 3 months when I first got her, she would wake up by 9pm or 10pm and wait by the gate so I can let her out. It's now the 4th month and I have no idea when she wakes up because I have to wake her up at 11:30pm by making noises in her cage. I have to do this so I can let her out. What can I do to change her sleep pattern? I really need her to wake up earlier or else I will have to wait a long time and go to sleep really late which is not suitable for me because I have school tomorrow.

Goldie Flower · 11-29-2016, 04:32 AM

One of my hamsters is like this, he won't get up until well after midnight but I see him up regularly after nine in the morning and sometimes past ten. I've gotten into the habit of feeding mine at the same time of night and rattling their food bowl while calling out 'meal time!' soon the hamsters get used to this sound and will often get up to see what you've bought them. I let them have some time with their food and when they're done they're happy to come out for a little play. It takes a while to get them into this habit but it's useful when they're used to it.

cypher · 11-29-2016, 06:08 AM

Waking up later may just be due to the time of year as they are less keen to get out of bed in winter! It's still worth persevering with the feeding routine GF suggested.

Duffy · 11-30-2016, 01:55 PM

I tried your method but she took all the food and went back into her house. Can you tell me how long it took you to get them used to waking up earlier?

chesca_27 · 11-30-2016, 05:32 PM

It will probably take a few weeks for her to get used to a new routine.

cypher · 11-30-2016, 10:20 PM

It can take a while, try scatter feeding with at least some of the food so she can't just grab & go from the bowl!
Maybe don't put all the food out in one go either, give her a little then see if she'll interact with you before you put the rest out.

Duffy · 12-03-2016, 03:07 PM

Now she will stick her head out of her house and wait for the food. If I don't put the food near where she can reach without sticking her body out, she will go back into her house and stop coming out. After I have given all the food, she will just go back........... again........

cypher · 12-03-2016, 11:41 PM

Have you tried getting her out & putting in her play area (where ever you normally have out of cage time) once you know she's awake?

Goldie Flower · 12-04-2016, 04:45 AM

It took a few weeks to a month or two with mine and I've had the same problem you've mentioned too that they'll just stretch to reach and not bother coming out if you put it too far away. It took a lot of patients but I just let my ham have their way and keep going back to bed after stretching out for food for a while and then slowly started moving the bowl back little by little. Eventually they started stretching farther and then started getting out of bed.

Once you can get them to get their whole body out you could move both their food and them to a play area, they'll probably eat a little and then start playing when they realize they're in their play area.

It does take a long time to get them to that point so keep trying

InkyPen · 12-04-2016, 10:42 AM

To be honest, I usually just wake Inky up at about 6/7pm (i.e. when I get home from work) if she's not already up and about. She's come to learn that a finger prodded into her house and half a peanut to draw her out means it's time to get up! I think she's slowly starting to get the idea, though she will sometimes go back to bed for a nap mid-evening