My hamster garden

[ercvt]

How funny. We were just thinking of growing a garden for our Cloudy. We live in Minnesota and right now we have 2-3 feet of snow on the ground, so no go on the outside part for now. However, it gave me a great idea to make it large enough to let him play in it, but small enough to be mobile. Maybe a big to-go container or small flat bin and then make a cover. Most of the things they like to eat grow like mad! So those of you with small homes can still do it as long as you have a sunny window for them to grow in! Just search for Mini greenhouses and then once the plants have grown enough, mesh it in for the hamster.
Can't wait to get started!!

[mongo]

Hi, I'm so happy you like all like it. It's the first thing my Joffjoff does when he wakes up - checks his escape route to the garden still exists! He's been going out there all winter but only for a few moments at a time, usually just going to the entrance and checking how cold it is then sitting there for a while thinking and listening.
I made it on an old table so Jesselle's right and luckily the hamsters can't dig out, and nothing else can dig in. The mesh is nailed into the sides and rolled a bit underneath also.
Actually the thing that took ages when making it was making sure there were no sharp ends sticking out anywhere that could injure the hammies.

Amazingly it's been green all winter. I sprinkled another couple of bags of seed compost (as that doesn't have fertiliser in it), on top a few months ago. Hopefully that will make it deep enough for some dandelions this year.

For the tubing, the tube is made in 2 halves because what I had wasn’t flexible enough. Indoors I have straight cardboard tube (big tube about 15cm in diameter made of really hard thick cardboard). It can't bend and doesn't have any grip inside it so I had to stick on some corrugated cardboard inside the tube so the hamsters can run up and down inside.
The green part of the tube is actually a sewage tube? Not sure what to call it. My Dad had a couple of metres spare and it's basically used in plumbing houses, being the plastic tubing which brings water into/ out of? the toilet. It's good because the inside of it is ridged so the hammies have footholds, plus it is perforated which is good for air circulation.

I have to say I was initially wary of using the green tubing because I was worried the hammies might try and chew it and ingest some hard plastic. It's too hard for them to chew through it but I was just worried about a stray fragment somehow being eaten. However, they don't seem to and it all seems to work really well. In fact they basically consider the tube as their hiding place from the owls so they don't even consider chewing it.
Anyway I'll try and get some pics of the indoor tube portion to post up. Good luck with your hammie gardens, I can guarantee your hammies will love them!!

[Tutu]

Mongo, your garden is so far the most amazing playground someone build for their hammy lucky lucky joffjoff. By the way just love that name too
I might have a go for little hammy garden

[linford27]

wow! So, they have constant access? Predators and rain aren't a problem? Is it just plants in there? Do they try and burrow? Sorry for all the q's!
I'd love to see some more pics of your hammy's in it!
Linford
x

[Lloydhammy]

can Syrian hamsters eat the white flower or just the leafy parts?

[Posy123]

WOW this is so inspiring! I am going to have so much fun making one of these with my kids when the weather warms up enough to plant. I think we will have to adapt your idea somewhat tho.. our hamster is on the top floor of our 4 story house so the connecting tube would be a little too "exciting" for our timid boy!!

[olga]

Wow. How fab is that. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[moonlite]

more pics please...