do hamsters really need toys in their cages

inkedandpierced · 05-02-2010, 04:00 PM

none of my hamsters have toys in their cages, i feel a bit mean but they never used to bother with the toys when they had them in (they all have wheels btw)

they all seem to be more interested in coming out, cuddling and playing in their balls

so do they really need toys in their cage or doesnt it matter if they get out enough?

Smysha · 05-02-2010, 04:18 PM

Jenga plays with her toys a lot and she has a lot of time outside her cage everyday. She's interested in some toys more than others. She never really plays with her chew toys that much but I have a few bridges that I suspend over her cage, a platform thing that she likes to climb and a few ladders. I swap them around all the time and it's these toys she prefers above all - she likes to climb!

Harris_Hammies · 05-02-2010, 04:38 PM

i don't have toys in mine either, mine are the same, they love to come out and about in their balls more or run on their wheels, but they do have selves and bridges in their cages, also i do chuck in toilet roll tubes for them to play with and chew up. i have tried shop brought toys before and they never really showed any interested just shoved them in the corner and forgot about them, but that might just be my hammies.

inkedandpierced · 05-02-2010, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harris_Hammies

i don't have toys in mine either, mine are the same, they love to come out and about in their balls more or run on their wheels, but they do have selves and bridges in their cages, also i do chuck in toilet roll tubes for them to play with and chew up. i have tried shop brought toys before and they never really showed any interested just shoved them in the corner and forgot about them, but that might just be my hammies.

i think it might be mine aswell haha

i bought you know those square things that you can make into shapes? well i bought them and they only seem to bother with them when they come out to play, in their cages they are just like 'meh' about them lol

and i bought snowflake an igloo the other day and she sat on top of it and sulked till i took it out

suga · 05-02-2010, 11:15 PM

I guess it would depend on what is meant by Toys. I have bridges, logs, wheel, tubes but mainly for chewing and access. Isa seems to be enjoying the bridges as i often find her sitting on them and then there's the wheel of course

Jesse · 05-02-2010, 11:24 PM

Very good question. Jesse just likes to scurry over things or sit on top of her igloo/bridge/coconut and look out of the side of her cage (well, I know she can't see much, but that's what it looks like she's doing!). She seems to be a very nosey little thing. Other than that she just seems to spend hours on her wodent wheel

internet_nobody · 05-03-2010, 03:08 AM

I don't think they need expensive toys, but things like loo rolls for them to either chew or squeeze through, something to sleep in (be it a cardboard box or a bought house) have been shown to make big improvements to their happiness (through measuring stress hormones). I tend to make sure my hams all have a wheel, a sleeping house and some form of tunnel (normally one of the grass nests as they eat cardboard too quickly). I also have quite a lot who have wooden bridges if they are in a cage without a shelf, so they can stand on that and nose out.

Jesse · 05-03-2010, 03:30 AM

I added a toilet roll inner to Jesse's new set up last night and she totally freaked! She jumped across the cage to escape it like it was attacking her. Sorry, shouldn't have laughed but its a toilet roll

inkedandpierced · 05-03-2010, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by internet_nobody

something to sleep in (be it a cardboard box or a bought house) have been shown to make big improvements to their happiness (through measuring stress hormones)

i bought snow an igloo and she HATED it! when i put it in she looked at me as if to say 'youre kidding right???' then she tried to push it out of the way then she sat on top if it and sulked

till i took it out

she even tried to protest by sleeping in her wheel

shes a very moody ham

louise_81 · 05-03-2010, 05:20 AM

I have to agree the do need 'things' to enrich their cage, but it doesn't need to be fancy or expensive. The ones enjoyed the most by my hamsters are three DIY toys to make at home the poster tubes, that I have attached to their cages. they go mad about them, especially my rescue Delilah, she will go up over and under them, and sits on the highest one watching me on the computer.

I also use small boxes, toilet roll tubes, cat food boxes, margarine tubs (to make sand baths) and loads more.