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Old 06-09-2022, 03:30 AM   #1
Shina
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Join Date: May 2022
Location: Kota Kinabalu,Malaysia
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Default Why does my hamsters lick my hand?

As you may know, my Russian dwarf hybrid gave birth to an accidental litter of 7 while 6 survived the raid of ants, they have now begun to lick my hand when I'm trying to introduce them to human hands, 1 still bites till it draws blood and another swats my hand away while the rest are just licking very gently, including momma. They live in a storage bin now, since they've grown up, was wondering if they are signaling they want or need something.
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Old 06-09-2022, 04:53 AM   #2
Ria P
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Default Re: Why does my hamsters lick my hand?

How old are they now? You say they are grown up. Have they been fully weaned and are now eating and drinking well?

Once they are 4 weeks old you need to sex and separate them into groups of boys and girls or they may start breeding. The girls can stay with mum if she's ok with it.

I had a dwarf hamster who licked my skin which is something some hamsters do. Most just sniff or nibble to check if we are something edible.
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Old 06-09-2022, 05:17 PM   #3
Shina
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Default Re: Why does my hamsters lick my hand?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ria P View Post
How old are they now? You say they are grown up. Have they been fully weaned and are now eating and drinking well?

Once they are 4 weeks old you need to sex and separate them into groups of boys and girls or they may start breeding. The girls can stay with mum if she's ok with it.

I had a dwarf hamster who licked my skin which is something some hamsters do. Most just sniff or nibble to check if we are something edible.
3 weeks old (Friday tdy) they are eating well and are all very adorable.
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Old 06-09-2022, 10:59 PM   #4
NutMega870
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Default Re: Why does my hamsters lick my hand?

Maybe there is something on your hand that they think smells good? For example, sometimes after I feed Nutmeg a walnut, a tiny bit of the oils come off onto me and she licks my finger.
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Old 06-17-2022, 07:45 AM   #5
Engel
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Default Re: Why does my hamsters lick my hand?

Maybe they're just grooming you. My Niko did it even as an adult. My rats do the same, like they would when grooming each other.
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Old 06-23-2022, 08:14 AM   #6
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Why does my hamsters lick my hand?

Lovely that 6 survived and are doing well . They are probably just testing you out or grooming behaviours as Engel says.
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Old 07-02-2022, 11:38 AM   #7
cloudy
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Default Re: Why does my hamsters lick my hand?

Hi Shina, I have been thinking about your hamster and her babies. I hope they are all doing well. It would be lovely to have an update when you have time.
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