Help me get rescued syrians in better cages! Need advice!

[Ria P]

Originally Posted by cherryfox22

Instead, I got 2 xmas tree bins from Target, ~57"x20"x15" I am making a domed mesh lid to allow space for a wheel, and using critter trail playpen panels for none sharp end windows near the top on the sides. I'm cutting apart my crittertrail cage (no one can take it of the dumpster and use it, which is nice for my peace of mind since no critter can be kept in them) to get the doors to add to the front of my bin cages.

I'm really looking forward to see your bin cages. The domed meshed lid sounds intrigueing because i've never seen one before on a bin cage.
Like you, i also use panels from cages or playpens to add to a bin cage, mainly for the purpose of attaching a wheel but have never attempted a door.
I always attach the mesh on the outside with cable ties through the drilled holes on top of the decorative tape so there are no sharp ends for a hamster to get to. Lid, windows and vents.
A Dremel is my favourite tool and i'm mighty miffed that i didn't get a cordless one for Christmas.

[cherryfox22]

Originally Posted by Ria P

I'm really looking forward to see your bin cages. The domed meshed lid sounds intrigueing because i've never seen one before on a bin cage.
Like you, i also use panels from cages or playpens to add to a bin cage, mainly for the purpose of attaching a wheel but have never attempted a door.
I always attach the mesh on the outside with cable ties through the drilled holes on top of the decorative tape so there are no sharp ends for a hamster to get to. Lid, windows and vents.
A Dremel is my favourite tool and i'm mighty miffed that i didn't get a cordless one for Christmas.

Here is the first one I saw Google Image Result but I found another that did the same with just mesh no wood.

Which decorative tape do you use? Have you ever had them try to chew on it?

I have a Dremel nail grinder for my dog, what type do you use for the bin cage? Can it cut the holes out? It's snowing here so concerned that I have to use the the sauter iron outside apparently.

[cherryfox22]

Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams

The proper diet in the US is Higgins Vita Garden(not Sunburst as the dried fruit isn't appropriate for hamsters as part of a daily diet among other things), and added to that you should give roughly a pinch of flax seed a day and Pure Bites - not too many, the shrimp are the best but chicken and turkey are also great options.

Petsupermarket do carry the Savic Hamster Heaven which could work with all the plastic bits removed, or you could make a bin cage from an Iris Christmas tree bin. Even better you would be able to make an even larger DIY cage, but in this situation it really is far more important to have at least something decently sized as soon as possible that is completely secure!

Really? Gosh darn it, I was going to do that, but then I read forum post or article somewhere saying that vita garden was not recommended, but sunburst was? I thought it was somewhere on this forum. So then I swapped it out.

No one mentioned that shrimp Pure Bites would be best, I only saw the chicken ones ever mentioned. I can give my dog the chicken ones then, I'm sure she will eat them. My cat is picky, doubt he would touch them.

Does it need to be whole flaxseeds or is ground okay?

Just to confirm, THE BEST (that can be bought, ideally on Amazon) food for syrian hamsters is the higgins vita garden, with shrimp Pure Bites, and a pinch of flaxseeds daily? Since they are 4-5mo old, do they need anything different than an adult? Since their nutrition has been so poor, I want to try to fix that now.

Another poster said to just get Hazel Hamster, would that be better?

I updated in another post before responding to yours, but I actually got an xmas tree bin from Target today for each of them Picked up some mesh to make a dome lid, zip ties, and a sauter iron and crittertrail playpen panels will arrive in the mail over the next couple of days.

[cherryfox22]

Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams

The proper diet in the US is Higgins Vita Garden(not Sunburst as the dried fruit isn't appropriate for hamsters as part of a daily diet among other things), and added to that you should give roughly a pinch of flax seed a day and Pure Bites - not too many, the shrimp are the best but chicken and turkey are also great options.

Petsupermarket do carry the Savic Hamster Heaven which could work with all the plastic bits removed, or you could make a bin cage from an Iris Christmas tree bin. Even better you would be able to make an even larger DIY cage, but in this situation it really is far more important to have at least something decently sized as soon as possible that is completely secure!

Correction, I *DID get the vita garden one! It was 2am when I ordered it and the post I found was why vita garden was better, NOT sunburst. So all good there!

[Pebbles82]

Oh I must have missed the bit about you keeping them! And you’ve already got cages! The cages are a good size - but as you say - need meshing. Agree that meshing them on the inside is needed (if it’s on the outside they could get trapped between the bars and the mesh. Make sure no sharp edges too (I think people fold the cut ends under - and it’s supposed to be hard on your fingers!).

Hope some of the other info helped

[cherryfox22]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Oh I must have missed the bit about you keeping them! And you’ve already got cages! The cages are a good size - but as you say - need meshing. Agree that meshing them on the inside is needed (if it’s on the outside they could get trapped between the bars and the mesh. Make sure no sharp edges too (I think people fold the cut ends under - and it’s supposed to be hard on your fingers!).

Hope some of the other info helped

The info did help a lot! Their old critter trail cage just had 1/2" bedding, and a food and water bowl, that was it. I moved all the old bedding (some of it was very soiled so had to be trashed, but I kept the nest area shavings) plus added new bedding to make it deeper. I added all the boxes and lots of shredded toilet paper, and they were active and exploring, and very confident hamsters the last couple of days. I will follow your advice for the bin cage move, although I am trashing all that wretched pine shavings. Horrible for them, and they are so darn pokey and track everywhere.

I already mentioned it in my response to another post of yours, but I found the kaytee clean and cozy at Target today

[cherryfox22]

Here is my shopping list, please let me know if anything should be edited!
-2 12" silent runner wheels (wish they came in any color but orange or army green, but that's okay)
-2 Sungrow cocounuts Amazon.com
-2 Niteangel Suspension Bridge for Hamsters, Small Pet Ladder, 21.8" x 2.8" Amazon.com

I'll add more later, open to suggestions!

[cherryfox22]

Here is my shopping list, please let me know if anything should be edited!
-2 12" silent runner wheels (wish they came in any color but orange or army green, but that's okay)
-2 Sungrow cocounuts Amazon.com
-2 Niteangel Suspension Bridge for Hamsters, Small Pet Ladder, 21.8" x 2.8" Amazon.com

I'll add more later, open to suggestions!

[AmityvilleHams]

The chicken pure bites are completely fine if you already have them. Shrimp is just a very high quality lean protein, much better than mealworms for example which can be very high in fat in comparison. Chicken & turkey Pure Bites are still completely acceptable though and work very well too!

Whole flax seed is what you want, and go with the regular brown ones. I can never remember the exact nutritional differences off the top of my head between those and the golden ones, but I do know the golden ones are less nutritious.

[cherryfox22]

Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams

The chicken pure bites are completely fine if you already have them. Shrimp is just a very high quality lean protein, much better than mealworms for example which can be very high in fat in comparison. Chicken & turkey Pure Bites are still completely acceptable though and work very well too!

Whole flax seed is what you want, and go with the regular brown ones. I can never remember the exact nutritional differences off the top of my head between those and the golden ones, but I do know the golden ones are less nutritious.

Oh okay, that is good to know! I am happy to know that I don't need to feed mealworms, as that sort of grosses me out. I will get the shrimp ones next time though.

After confirming they will eat the chicken, can I just mix in the bag of purebites with the vitagarden food? I remember reading somewhre that you just do a 1 to 1 ratio and mix, but I was not sure if that was correct.

How do these flaxseeds look? https://www.amazon.com/Brown-Flaxsee...s%2C127&sr=1-8