Boy Problems

oddlyoblivious · 05-18-2016, 09:01 PM

OK so Rodents tend to be disproportionately endowed, which is fine, save for a problem until I notices that after Taking great care to pee neatly in a corner Paladin wound up leaving a urine trail where his man bits drug through the puddle after. Much to Paladin ' annoyance. It concerns me because 1. The little guy is dragging his man bits over everything and I've been using wood chip bedding which can't feel good. And 2 does this mean I should use a more absorbant substrate so he isn't painting the cage in pee.

LoveMyHams · 05-18-2016, 10:32 PM

Try using carefresh bedding. It is very absobant and soft. I've used it with all my hams, it never bothered the boys' bits.

Pebbles82 · 05-18-2016, 11:45 PM

Does he have a litter tray OO? Maybe one of those corner ones if he pee area is a corner. Charlie used to like to sit in his for a while after a pee. He would pee in the very back corner then sit in the front part and have a wash. I think he still does, I just don't get to see now because it's in his house

His potty tray is his ensuite bathroom

I put chinchilla sand in it.

He must be very comfy if his man bits are down and dragging. Or is it very warm where you are right now? Is Paladin a Syrian (sorry I can't remember now you have four lol). If so one of the larger litter trays might do the trick and double up as a sand bath.

I have this one which is just normal size - fits nicely in a corner.

https://www.amazon.ca/Trixie-Hamster...=hamster+potty

This one is bigger but not massive - one reviewer says it fits two rats

https://www.amazon.ca/Ware-3360-Plas...ACS42RNSPBKA1R

Or just some kind of dish you have already - doesn't have to be corner shaped. Or move his sand bath to that corner if he has one.

oddlyoblivious · 05-19-2016, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoveMyHams

Try using carefresh bedding. It is very absobant and soft. I've used it with all my hams, it never bothered the boys' bits.

I may try it, if I can find it on sale. Carefresh is so expensive though and with four hams. (I adore them but part of me wonders what I was thinking XD) it would be a little much to fill all their cages with especially since I use a decent amount of substrate so they can burrow.

Serendipity No he does not, it's on the list but I've been holding off so I can get the new cages built first. That should solve the problem I wager, and I am not sure if it's the weather 70 F here or if he's just that relaxed. I'm sorta amused though, it's like having your own stadium cushion everywhere you go.

Nancy's Hamsters · 05-19-2016, 06:33 AM

I have used home made potty pans before. Their made from Glad Disposable plastic containers(largest size quart container they make). Their nice cause if you have that fussy hamster which prefers their potty be completely enclosed you just snap on the lid, for that hamster who prefers openness you leave off the lid. For a box of I think it is 6 containers your only spending +/- $4.00 and you have multiple potties.

These pics are of my 1st attempt so they are rough and not perfect. I used a sharp tile knife to start the opening, then used scissors to cut the opening bigger. Today I would most likely use a hot blade or a Dremel to make the opening much much cleaner so it was nicer looking(though the hamsters never minded the crumby look of the hole)

However these few photos will help with the idea of how to make a inexpensive potty.
Home Made Potty pan-a.JPG
Home Made Potty pan-b.JPG
Home Made Potty pan-c.JPG

The pic had Wood shavings in it but they work much much better using sand. If you have that vigorous digger, you can make the side opening higher so the pan is deeper. If you wanted a heavier duty potty you can do this with a Tupperware container or any smaller storage container too.

CMB · 05-19-2016, 06:37 AM

Good idea. Have you tried the hole on the narrow side? It may keep the litter in more especially if the hamster digs or have a smaller hole in the long side, possible at one end.

Nancy's Hamsters · 05-19-2016, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMB

Good idea. Have you tried the hole on the narrow side? It may keep the litter in more especially if the hamster digs or have a smaller hole in the long side, possible at one end.

I myself haven't tried the shorter sides and this particular potty was used in a bin with Mom and her litter of pups so a bigger hole was needed for when all the pups decided it was potty time LOL. I would think if it was in with just one hamster you could make the opening smaller and on the short side. However on the longer side used less floor space up then if it were on the short end.

oddlyoblivious · 05-20-2016, 12:42 AM

Every last one of them loves to dig. Eve especially. I could try the tupperware I suppose as a temporary solution, may do that when I pick up the play sand this week. I've found though no matter how high the walls, sand gets everywhere.

souffle · 05-20-2016, 12:54 AM

For a kicker you can get a salt pig for your sand. You need a decent height for it mind you. Sometimes you can get them in charity shops.

Country Heart Salt Pig | Dunelm

Pebbles82 · 05-20-2016, 02:15 AM

Ooh that's a nice salt pig

Some people use these cookie jars as well. It would need to be set down in the substrate a bit maybe so they could get in - or have a bendy bridge to get up I guess.

http://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/penny-ca.../6000106661578

All money though! Nancy's idea could work out cheapest if you have some old ice cream tubs or something.

Also just thought, maybe you could just have a bit of carefresh on top of the substrate for this one little guy so it wouldn't work out so costly. Like a thin layer on top.