Rodney

[Charlie Dunn]

He is such a character and an absolute beauty! I just love the piccie of him after his free roaming time x

[Ria P]

I'm sure this hamster talks to me.
Usually, when he's got something to complain about.

Happened again this morning when i was vacuuming around his cage which doesn't normally bother him. But i saw a mess of spilled grains on a front shelf and with the pantry moths always in the back of my mind, i opened his cage door and sneaked the vacuum hose in for a second or two.

He came out of his house with the ears flat and stomped around his cage sniffing. Then he came over to his door, looked me in the face and started chirping! No doubt, telling me off in hamster language before going back in his house.

[Ria P]

Rodney is a spoilt brat.

Ok, i was away at work overnight and my OH is in Scotland visiting family.

But, i got up 1.5hr!! earlier yesterday morning to make sure all the hamsters had food and water, porridge who wanted it and a little fresh food in their dish. Whoever was up and wanted out was let out for a run around so Gertie and Rodney had out of cage time early morning.

I grabbed my own breakfast en route from the co-op.

All quiet when i came home late morning today but Rodney had chucked his empty fresh food dish off his roof, the table and floor were covered in nibble stick debris and the empty porridge bowl had been turned over so i removed it. Soon as he heard me he came out of his house, gave me a 'wtf have you been' look, came over and chirped at me then sat in the spot where his morning porridge should be still chirping. I quickly made some and he ate it then disappeared into his house without another glance in my direction to say 'thank you nice human for making my supper'.

Went upstairs and surveyed the chaos in Clive's cage with shredded cardboard everywhere including his sand jar. I tidied up a bit but was squawked at from inside his house.

I've always said that Clive is a young version of Rodney which is probably the reason i couldn't bring myself to rehome him.

[cloudy]

Haha, I think you got a right telling off! Is chirping a sign hamsters are annoyed with you?

[Stanza]

I love that your hamsters have little porridge bowls. I guess just made with water? They sound like really great characters . Fabulous photos too. I’m just off to read the pantry moth thread…..

[Ria P]

I think vocalisations are individual to a hamster so can mean different things but Rodney left me in no doubt that his chirping means that he's annoyed.
He only started chirping as he got older, he's 20 month now and at first i was worried because it sounds like a mixture of a sneeze and squeak. His behaviour and body language displayed when chirping made its purpose very clear though. He sits by his fresh food dish chirping when i'm late dishing up for example.

[Ria P]

Originally Posted by Stanza

I love that your hamsters have little porridge bowls. I guess just made with water? They sound like really great characters . Fabulous photos too. I’m just off to read the pantry moth thread…..

Yes, plain oats with water and the porridge bowls are cheap egg cups from dunelm.

[cloudy]

Thank you for explaining. I have to learn about what each sound means. I read this whole thread and it was so lovely to read how Rodney settled in to your home and how his personality has blossomed. It is funny he chirps when you are late with his food. That made me chuckle.

[Ria P]

Originally Posted by cloudy

Thank you for explaining. I have to learn about what each sound means. I read this whole thread and it was so lovely to read how Rodney settled in to your home and how his personality has blossomed. It is funny he chirps when you are late with his food. That made me chuckle.

Yes, he really did blossom and grew into a lovely and funny hamster. Well, his world is back in order now. He had his dish with fresh food early and now he's running around.

[cloudy]

Originally Posted by Ria P

Yes, he really did blossom and grew into a lovely and funny hamster. Well, his world is back in order now. He had his dish with fresh food early and now he's running around.

Aww, he looks like he is enjoying his playtime. He is just adorable.