Training your hamster to wake up early

[Nush]

I've read some posts here that some people have trained their hamsters to wake up early. I was wondering how they did it.

Maximo, 3 months old Syrian, used to wake at 12.30am when we first got him but I've been coaxing him to wake up earlier. I play around with his food bowl or change his water. I give him treats while he’s still in his nest. This has made a small improvement and he now comes out at around 11pm. But it’s still quite late for us and I feel he’s losing out on a lot of playtime. When he is out of his cage, he loves exploring and being in his ball but most of the time, he has a quick go and we have to put him back in his cage.

I was just wondering what methods other people have tried successfully. I must point out that little Maximo is very stubborn (but very cute). If I play with his food bowl, he’ll wake up and investigate then go back to bed. If I give him a treat, he’ll pouch the treat then smell my hands to look for more, then go back to his nest for a snooze. I have taken him out of his cage earlier, 10pm or so. He’ll find a corner and sleep until it’s time to wake up!

Any tips would be greatly appreciated?

[HammieandMerlin]

I don't know how one trains hams to do that. A few of us have hamsters who wake up earlier than normal, as all of mine do, but that's through no effort of mine

[bird]

I've read about people putting lamps near the cage in the night then turning it off so they come out. also if opening your cage door wakes your hammy up you might wanna try doing that at the same time every day.

[HorseyMandz]

The least 'cruel' way of doing it is just to feed them at the same time each day for about a week, then edge it a bit earlier for the next week, and then a bit earlier... before you know it they'll be waking up expecting their breakfast!

[chulasweetchica]

My hams are awake @6am when I get up they know its love love time so I like to think they get up knowing mommy is gettin up to play with them before sending the kids to school..

[Lougarry]

I feed mine noisily about 6.30-7pm in the evening. Of 7 hams, the only one who doesn't come out now when I go in to feed them is my little Chinese.

[Nush]

Originally Posted by HorseyMandz

The least 'cruel' way of doing it is just to feed them at the same time each day for about a week, then edge it a bit earlier for the next week, and then a bit earlier... before you know it they'll be waking up expecting their breakfast!

Haha. Maximo is quite greedy. I am feeding him a treat at 7.15pm every day, that's the time I come home from work.

I do rattle his food bowl too. Hmm...I'm wondering whether I should feed him nearer to 11pm, say 10.30pm and hope he comes out 15 mins early. then I can do it earlier the next day.

[Nush]

I also do turn the light in his room out, like bird mentioned. But he doesn't come out until he's ready!!

He's not scared of us. We've stayed up late and spent as much time with him as possible and he's quite confidently walking on our hands now.

[gutterglitterxx]

I feel your pain. Cheeto doesn't get up completely until between 12am and 1am. She gets up a couple times before that but only to drink, eat, or pee. Jasmine sometimes gets up even later than that! I wish I could change it but I know it's probably at least partly because of my own crazy sleeping habits.

[Nush]

I took Maximo out at 9.45pm. I had to trick him with a treat of course. He was a bit slow at first but when he smelled his toys etc. he grew more excited.

He's still out now If he grows tired, I'll put him back.