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Old 03-22-2022, 12:34 PM   #1
suby6
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Feb 2022
Posts: 18
Default Made our first bin cage

Made using a sterilite 104L bin:
Sterilite ClearView Tote with Latch, 104-L Canadian Tire
My back now aches and my fingers raw from forcing 100 cable ties through tight holes in the bin lol

Used a build a bear box to make the sand pit and large hide/ burrowing area. Besides the sand hut there is an alfalfa tube, hidey home, box, and plastic cubes that he can hide in or to promote burrowing.

Our hammy Robo has just been in it since last night. He seems stressed so far as he only seemed to run on the wheel all night and hasn't done any burrowing yet. Usually he is hiding away in burrows from about 7:30am but this morning has just been hanging out in the sand pit or the hide in the sand area. Is now afternoon and I see him sleeping in the open sand area where he has never slept in the open before. The bedding is all from his old cage to be familiar and his usual hidey home and bedding from under it I kept together but he wont go in it yet for some reason. Hopefully he makes himself at home soon
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Old 03-22-2022, 01:59 PM   #2
Ria P
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Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 7,103
Default Re: Made our first bin cage

That's a great bin cage! Well done you!
I like the way you've added a window and vent as well so your Robo can look out. He's gorgeous.

He'll get used to his new place. In the meantime you could add things like a whimzee and millet sprays to keep him busy. Maybe add more overhead cover in the middle section for now so he feels secure.
It can take a few days for a hamster to settle in and their behaviour can be a bit erratic at first.
As long as he can reach everything like his food and water bottle he'll be fine.

Last edited by Ria P; 03-22-2022 at 02:04 PM.
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Old 03-22-2022, 02:20 PM   #3
Lilafernim
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Join Date: Sep 2021
Posts: 409
Default Re: Made our first bin cage

That looks amazing! I love how you’ve meshed parts of the sides also, some people only do they lid but it offers a little window for him. Hopefully he will calm down soon and is probably just a new strange area for him.
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Old 03-22-2022, 04:06 PM   #4
suby6
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Join Date: Feb 2022
Posts: 18
Default Re: Made our first bin cage

Thank you both for your feedback and reassurance
Great idea re the middle area. I have an idea in mind now around that.
I had never heard of either of those but will see what's available here. So far I take his fav bits from the food mix and stick them in the puzzles so he has to work for them and have some crunch sticks he likes but I don't give him them much and only a half as they seem to have a lot of filler. I will put an in shell walnut in tonight to attract him to that burrow area
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Old 03-22-2022, 04:20 PM   #5
Ria P
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Default Re: Made our first bin cage

A whimzee is a dog chew and i buy the xs toothbrushes.
Hamsters love them and often drag them to their nests.

Millet sprays you can find in the bird section of a pet shop.
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Old 03-23-2022, 02:42 PM   #6
suby6
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Join Date: Feb 2022
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Default Re: Made our first bin cage

Awesome thanks. I plan to take my son to pick up both of those.

Have been trying to come up with something for that middle area but nothing suitable found around home. Have ordered this wooden 2 level hide/ house. https://www.amazon.ca/Hamster-Hideou...%2C165&sr=8-58
Plan to make a couple holes for robo to access the burrow area and maybe act as a transition point in the middle.

He is still sleeping in his sand box house today and just staying between there and his wheel. Should I maybe get some hay or something to scatter over that middle? Wonder if that would help make it feel less exposed. Or maybe doesn't like that its sort of a hill of bedding in the middle? For now I have put some plastic tunnel going from the lower area to burrow area.
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Old 03-23-2022, 03:33 PM   #7
Ria P
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Default Re: Made our first bin cage

I would just clutter it up a bit more. Things like cork and log tunnels are very popular with Robos. A 55cm long Trixie bendy bridge to sit under and run across they like as well or hides like a coconut hide or wicker tipee. You can use cardboard for tunnels as well like a tube or a small box with both ends open. That's millet sprays in my foster Robo's tank. The tank is too small which makes it look very cluttered but it's only temporary and gives you an idea what other things you could add.
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Old 03-23-2022, 04:16 PM   #8
suby6
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Default Re: Made our first bin cage

Oh yeah I see what you mean with the pic thanks. Lots to pop in and out of along the way
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Old 03-23-2022, 04:23 PM   #9
Ria P
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Default Re: Made our first bin cage

Yes, that's exactly what i meant.
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Old 03-24-2022, 08:08 AM   #10
suby6
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Join Date: Feb 2022
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Default Re: Made our first bin cage

I put some plastic tube pieces around the middle area to act as shelters as well as moved the wheel to the middle. While I was doing it last night he came out to see what was happening and started exploring. This morning he's been in the big box of bedding rather than the sand hide so seems to be settling in now

Will take my son to the pet store later today for whimzees and mill spray

Cheers
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