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Old 01-05-2022, 02:13 PM   #1
Lilafernim
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Join Date: Sep 2021
Posts: 409
Default Hamster house

So last night I struggled to sleep through Mitzi banging her head against her shelf to push her bedding through the gap for some strange reason! So now she’s taken most the bedding from her base and it’s stuffed inside a jar and on the shelf.

To be honest though it has got me thinking I need to make her a better house. I made her previous one out of popsicle sticks (as you can see from the picture) I was worried about length but she ripped the sides off herself and has built outward anyway. She has a tub next to to it filled with sand for her bathroom which I think she likes both being under the shelf.

My idea is, take the slide out, make a large box across the entire width of the cage but sticks out no further than the shelf. Have a removable lid, and a floor on one half and no floor on the other to allow room for the bathroom.

What I’m trying to decide is what to make it out of. I have no power tools, a very basic weak saw though. In an ideal world something cheap, easy to cut, waterproof so easy to clean. I can do it out of popsicle sticks but I find it quite fiddly personally and is easy to break. Also I made a popsicle floor for my old hamster and it’s not easy to clean. I heard some places cut wood to size but I don’t know where or adhesive to use for wood. Currently I use non-toxic white pva glue. Acrylic or plastic is both possible but I worry about sharp edges. Cardboard becomes saturated and chewed too quickly.

Even if there’s a hamster safe varnish that makes something more waterproof. I don’t want to exceed around £15 because guinea pig homes cost that and would work. Just it would be nice to have one that maximises space.
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Old 01-05-2022, 02:23 PM   #2
Lilafernim
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Default Re: Hamster house

Forgot to add the picture 😅
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Cage.JPG (2.49 MB, 14 views)
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Old 01-05-2022, 02:57 PM   #3
Ria P
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Default Re: Hamster house

A Ferplast guinea pig house only costs around a tenner. Most of our hamsters have them including foster hamsters. I give them a good wash and scrub when one moves out and use it for the next one. I plastikote the removable roof so i can wipe it with a damp cloths.

Our 3 Syrians live in Alaskas but i took the black plastic shelf out to create more space.
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Old 01-05-2022, 03:20 PM   #4
Lilafernim
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Default Re: Hamster house

I did find this one:
Ferplast 84646099 Wood Home for Rabbits, Without 4646, 33 x 23.6 x 16 cm https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001MZUY...48F928NN?psc=1

But the 33cm is £20. The small one is £11 but for less price I could make one out of popsicle sticks and have it exactly how I want. Just worry about the waterproof of it and how easy it is to clean. The size of the smaller one is about 3cm larger than my original one I made as well so it’s not much in it.

I’ll look up plastikote, is it safe for hamsters if they did chew it? Or one of those things where you’d need to remove it if they started to chew?
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Old 01-05-2022, 03:25 PM   #5
Lilafernim
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Default Re: Hamster house

There’s this one as well:
Ferplast Sin 4647 Rabbit House, 37 x 27.7 x 20 cm https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BEF2Q...ing=UTF8&psc=1

Which is cheaper than the 33cm one for some reason but it comes out too far.
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Old 01-05-2022, 03:56 PM   #6
Ria P
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Default Re: Hamster house

The Ferplast rabbit house is huge. The Ferplast guinea pig house is a good size for a Syrian. Plastikote in the tub, not the spray, is safe.
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Old 01-05-2022, 03:58 PM   #7
Ria P
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Default Re: Hamster house

Yes, the one for £11 is the guinea pig house and 26cm wide.
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Old 01-05-2022, 04:08 PM   #8
Lilafernim
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Default Re: Hamster house

I’m thinking what I might do is use what is remaining of the one I made, replace what needs to be replaced. Add one additional panel to the front and back meaning it will just exceed the 30cm length. Not have it go all the way across under the shelf and rather add another panel to the width of it and add a door so she can have a front door and another door that drops directly into her litter so she won’t have to walk around.

Then I’ll try that plastikote you mentioned, as I think from reviews I may even be able to get two coats out of it, especially if I prioritise the inside and it’s only £4.

The little cheeky monkey just woke up and is looking at the monstrosity she caused last night 😂 thank you for your help!
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Old 01-06-2022, 02:03 AM   #9
Ria P
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Default Re: Hamster house

The plastikote goes a long way because you only need to apply thin coats. I always apply two coats. The brush washes out with water so not messy either.
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Old 01-07-2022, 09:32 AM   #10
Lilafernim
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Default Re: Hamster house

Quick question, I have the plastikote on order, and am putting the structure together today to allow the glue to dry. I want to add another platform and ladder attached to the house but I don’t have anymore natural sticks. The packs come 50x natural and 50x coloured.

I know in there coloured form it’s probably not safe but I was wondering if I soaked the coloured sticks in hot water to get most the dye out, do you think this would be safe? I doubt she’d chew that part anyway.
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