Glee Pet Retailer Exhibition Birmingham NEC 21-23rd Sept.

[Bourne Valley Hams]

If anyone fancies a fascinating but totally exhausting day out have a look at this.

http://www.gleebirmingham.com

Virtually all the the pet cage and product manufacturers attend so you get a good look at all the latest products.
It is a business event so to get passes you do need to convince them that you run a business of some kind . No sure how strict they are about who gets passes though and there are certainly no obligations to buy anything there.

We went the year before last had a great day out, not sure if we will go this year but I have applied for passes just incase.

Here is your chance to get face to face with the cage manufacturers!!

[Louby]

Out of interest Sue, what cages do you use for your Syrians? I know they are wire ones, but do you use any type specifically?

(We bought 2 little carry cases today, one for Alvin and one to bring Cupcake home in on Saturday! )

[Bourne Valley Hams]

I do use smaller cages than most of you from a purely logistical point of view - ie. I have over 70 animals to house.
Many of them are in Ferplast Criceti cages, with the breeding females in Fop Duffys.

[Louby]

Thanks Sue, its good to know what you use, as at this rate, I will be building a hamstery in my garden soon...

I dread to think how big your hamstery would need to be if you housed 70 Syrians in Gabbers ?!?!?

Then again, at least we would know where to come for a nightraid when all the Rex stocks are gone...*cue evil laugh*

The cages may be a little smaller Sue, but your hamsters obviously aren't affected by it...I can't wait to see your show hamsters on Saturday!

[Mollz]

Oooh, interesting! If you go, let us know what it's like Sue It would be so interesting to go and see all of the new cages/designs on the market and to talk to the people who make them (and hopefully convince them to make more plastic cages), but not sure that I can pass as a business person at 15 lol

In regards to the cages you keep your hamsters in Sue: I know your hamsters are kept in slightly smaller cages than some of us keep ours in - but you keep them in such wonderful conditions and they are all so happy and healthy so it obviously doesn't affect them. I would fight anybody who said that you didn't keep them properly because of their cage sizes because they obviously haven't met you and your hamsters!

[Spuds Mum]

Originally Posted by Mollz

I would fight anybody

What? Fisticuffs? On our forum? Remember you are a young lady Mollz please and at least do it with decorum!!

I do think that some hamster people can tend to confuse the size cage that we would like to give our hamsters with what they actually need. Don't get me wrong, some cages are very small and will impact on the hamsters quality of life, but I've been to breeders who have cages smaller than mine, and their hamsters all seem perfectly happy and content. I even have a couple of hamsters myself who really don't seem to like the larger cages such as Gabber Rexes, and prefer to be in more 'bijou' residences.As an example, I currently have Amelie in a Lux, as she was really destructive in a Rex and she hasn't even attempted bar chewing since being in a Lux (despite being able to reach them more easily than in the Rex) or plastic chewing.

[Mollz]

Originally Posted by Spud's Mum

What? Fisticuffs? On our forum? Remember you are a young lady Mollz please and at least do it with decorum!!

LOL! I do hope you don't think any less of me Teresa!
Ok, ok, challenge them then (I guess fight may have been the wrong word - I never intended on using any physical or verbal abuse, just a well reasoned argument!) I'd like to think that nobody would on here anyway

I do think you are right about some people (pleasantly, not anybody I can think of on here) thinking that all hamsters need the huge cages we keep them in, when in actual fact that's not the case. I also agree that some cages are terribly small though and would be detrimental to a hamster's health/sanity.

[Spuds Mum]

No, I still think very highly of you Mollz, although I'm not sure my opinion counts for much

I have just got the problems of quite a few of my hamsters currently suffering from Rex frenzy! I've had to take the shelves out of 2 cages due to persistant bar chewing (even with the logs in place on the bars, they are managing to stretch into some bizarre positions to reach them) and now Topaz is starting, she has obviously just grown tall enough to reach. emergency measures are called for I think!!

[Mollz Mum]

What's all this about fighting.......must have a chat to 15 year old daughter!!!

We also have problems with persistent bar chewing and climbing - we tried removing Buttons shelf, but he still managed to continually climb and monkey bar! We have now moved him out of the rex as he hurt his toe and have put him into a cage where he can't reach the roof.

We are also just trialling another fix for the bars (a cut down untreated expandable trellis - if it works, we'll let you know). We've also tried the log rolls, but found that they still manage to work their way around it.

[Spuds Mum]

Any suggestions gratefully received Emma! We've tried the cardboard tube 'roof runs', grass mats and log bridges, and theyve all been worked around!
Tabasco too still is monkey barring upside down and chewing whilst he does this - even with shelf removed too

What are they like? they are as unruly as teenage daughters arent they??