Keeping hams warm now winter is coming - Page 3

Pebbles82 · 10-16-2015, 10:14 AM

I get the smaller back - the bigger one is double the size and only a few pounds more but it is huge and I have nowhere to put it. The 10kg size is manageable - ours is squished between the wardrobe and a chair lol. Once you get the initial cage set up sorted it doesn't have to be expensive - although we do get tempted to buy things! The good thing with the Barney is you don't have to buy a house/hide as well as it comes with a really good one that's a good size for a Syrian. You just need substrate, a syrian sized wheel, and a few toys - maybe a bendy bridge, an empty ice cream tub for a sand bath, a rat sputnik is good. My cage is similar to the Barney (smaller - it's 80cm instead of 100cm and a bit lower as well.

I just have a large house in it, which doubles up as a shelf, the wheel, a vine branch and two sputniks - plus a little lava ledge and a cardboard rat sized tube. And a bendy bridge - and a red bench (but the red bench isn't really necessary!) You've probably got a few toys already. So you just need the cage and a wheel. And maybe a sputnik.

Here's Charlie's (cluttered) set up - it would look better if the cage was the size of the Barney!)

He has a different wheel and house now, but you get the idea.

Shannon - I would love to be too hot at night lol! We've been resorting to hot water bottles. Downstairs is ok as heat on there till we go to bed.

Coco61 · 10-16-2015, 10:36 AM

This is very useful indeed. I have been watching our indoor thermometer closely recently. Luckily Mocho is in an open plan kitchen/ eating/tv are where we spend most of our time. I am made to huddle in extra layers but when I mentioned Mocho, hubby said the heating must go on!! Talk about these little characters dominating a household. I am delighted (and warmer!)

Pebbles82 · 10-17-2015, 02:35 AM

Lol! I get the opposite response. Other half thinks I care more about the hamster being warm than him lol. But yes we get the benefit too - I have the heating on more as well.

Shannonmcn · 10-17-2015, 03:38 AM

Er, the human beings of the household can turn the heating on themselves! I'm sure Charlie could work out central heating if you gave him a chance but is he too small to reach it?

cypher · 10-17-2015, 08:20 AM

Mickle's snugglesafe pad arrived this morning & I'm quite impressed (I want one for me lol!) it's been on the shelf under her cage for about 5 hours now & the table top the cage is on is still nice & toasty (it doesn't get hot) obviously it will cool down quicker when the room temp is lower but she'll only need that little extra for a few hours at night when it's really cold so I think it will work well.
I have the distinct impression she won't be getting out of bed any time soon!

Pebbles82 · 10-17-2015, 08:24 AM

Hmm I might have to get one! The humans will probably want it so I'll end up having to get two.

Scarlett Empress · 10-17-2015, 11:13 AM

Seriously, a Snugglesafe is much better than a hot water bottle! I don't know why they don't market them as being good for humans too!

I'm actually a bit bothered now we are having the heating on because Smokey likes playing around my radiator (I think Spike is her hero and role model...) so last night I had it kind of wrapped up in a bath towel, held in place with bulldog clips!

I'm trying to make sure she has a nice layer of substrate in her bedroom as an extra layer of insulation, but she always digs it all out and just makes her nest right on the base of the cage.

Coco61 · 10-17-2015, 11:27 AM

Snuggle safe looks really good. GrannyHam senses an idea coming on since 2 hams live elsewhere and heating is not so easy there. It's only 2 and a bit months to go and hammy stockings need filling up! Thanks for the tip!

Vicki S · 10-17-2015, 11:56 AM

I have a wee question how do u know if your hammies trying to hibernate? Just lil Luke Jr has build himself a sum what type rabbit hole thingy in his substrate and his colour is changing slightly to but he lives he our kitchen

Shannonmcn · 10-17-2015, 12:10 PM

Hamsters don't hibernate at all actually Vicki, weirdly common myth! If the temperature gets too low they go into a state called torpor where their heart rate slows and they look a bit dead and it's actually very dangerous because they can die fairly easily if they're not warmed up slowly. It will happen if the temperature is below (I think) 12-14C for an extended time. Winter whites and hybrids with more winter white in them do sometimes change colour when it gets cooler, that's normal. Give him plenty of substrate and let him build a huge cosy warren