moving a ham into a new cage?

4Taylor20 · 12-05-2014, 07:06 PM

When moving them, do you just move them cold turkey? i thought that was what you were supposed to do, but on a thread i read youre not supposed to do that, it causes stress or something? what am i supposed to do? i dont want any stressed hammies on my hands.

greysome · 12-05-2014, 09:49 PM

I think it depends on the hamster, their personality, and what they're used to. One of my hamsters doesn't care about being plunked into a new environment so long as she has her (unwashed) wheel and her food and water is close by and loves exploring larger spaces. The other two are more skittish--one is already in her permanent cage and the other will be in his permanent cage sometime in the next couple weeks. With him, I'm going to be moving slowly and letting him play in his permanent cage a few times so its more familiar to him and already smells like him when he does get moved in.

I know people have different methods--I'm using the letting him use the new cage as a play area first method. I know some people, especially if the hamster was living in a too small cage or seemed to prefer a too-small cage that will fit into the newer, larger cage, sometimes put the smaller cage in the large cage and just leave the small cage open so the hamster can explore at their leisure and still have their old home. Others move cold turkey and just make sure to mix some of the old bedding with the new so it smells familiar to the hamster. I'm not sure if they wash the old toys before putting them in the cage but unless it's definitely dirty (peed/pooped on), I'd probably just leave it as is to provide a bit more familiarity. I also recall seeing somewhere to try and keep the same basic layout from the old cage to the new cage at first

essexgirl240 · 12-06-2014, 12:40 PM

We were going to go with the gradual move with moving Biscuit into her new cage and let her use it as a play area for a while first but after letting her play in it for a while she seemed quite settled so we left her in there over night and she slept in the new house today and seems settled and fairly relaxed.

We kept a similar layout to her old cage, the biggest difference is that her food, home and water are on the upper level as opposed to being on the lower level like it was in her old cage. We kept her wheel and bendy bridge in the same place and a tunnel that she's been used to before. We just added a see-saw which was new for her which she loved chewing on last night and even over-turned it. We'll obviously be keeping a close eye on her over the next few days to make sure she's not too stressed but I think that the fact we have her pretty tame now has helped with the move. Like greysome says, it depends on the ham. Try putting ur ham in the new cage to play and see how he/she reacts, if they seem stressed maybe do a gradual move but if they seem ok then they might be ok. We did also put some of her old bedding in with the new stuff so her scent was around the cage too.

4Taylor20 · 12-06-2014, 04:21 PM

I have to move him from his new cage, to old one every two weeks, as I travel a bit. So hopefully he'll be okay with it. I don't want to haul a huge cage back and fourth

Skeever · 12-06-2014, 04:25 PM

He'll be changing between two cages every two weeks?

NiceCrocs · 12-06-2014, 06:01 PM

Do he'll be swapping cages regularly? That could be pretty stressful for him.

Try to keep both cages set up the same way, and take a couple handfuls of bedding with you when you switch, and put it in the new cage, so it smells familiar to him. That should help keep him from stressing too much.

I've never really heard of a hamster being moved so often though, there's no telling how he'll react to that.

Thin Lizzy · 12-06-2014, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Taylor20

I have to move him from his new cage, to old one every two weeks, as I travel a bit. So hopefully he'll be okay with it. I don't want to haul a huge cage back and fourth

You need to try and make sure this every 2 week cage changing is as stress free for your hamster.
Like NiceCrocs said, to make sure the set up is the same and using some used bedding and flooring and making sure they have the same smells.
Hamsters can be ocd when it comes to their territory, so make sure the travel cage you use is the exact same as his other cage.

4Taylor20 · 12-06-2014, 07:40 PM

there is no possible way they can be the same cage.. the cage im getting is super expensive and the other will be a bin cage.. i cant afford two big store bought ones.. i will take the bedding out when we switch cages like you said.. theres no avoiding moving cages every few weeks.. i cant haul my big one back and forth..

4Taylor20 · 12-06-2014, 07:42 PM

he has big wheels in both, and his house is one of those square tissue boxes(he loooves it) and ill keep that the same in both cages so i will be kind of familiar to him.. i could even use the same wheel in each cage if that will help.. just so more of it is the same for him..

greysome · 12-06-2014, 07:43 PM

I can't imagine you wouldn't have a stressed hammie if he's being moved every two weeks. Like NiceCrocs said, I would suggest keeping the layouts of both cages the same as much as possible. I'm not sure if it would help him (them?) any and maybe someone else would know but is it possible to put his carrier inside his cage? Perhaps if he nests/stashes in his carrier so his nest/stash is always the same and familiar, it might help lessen the stress a bit.