Taming

[souffle]

I think they are both one of the greys either silver/dark/sepia but I have not seen enough greys to be sure. Jean Tye who is judging at Lymm will know for sure or Sheryl. Jean is a national judge and has quite a few unusual and rare colours herself and her creams are just stunning.

[Basia]

Our Pets@Home sell a great many hamsters. I go in there often because of my menagerie of pets and I always look at the hamsters, for years now I've been looking at them. I have never seen many greys, they have a lot of goldens and creams. A couple of weeks after I bought Basil though they had 2 HUGE grey females. They were a different grey to Sybil, much darker and greyer. I didn't notice any beige in them but they had very black flashes. They were really lovely. I haven't seen a grey since until last week when Sybil arrived. They had a lot of hamsters in that weekend and they were all sold by Sunday except for Sybil who I had looked at on the Friday and Saturday (said I go in there a lot ). I think she was meant to be for me.
On the taming front I have been reading the Dk Hamster book (I know its meant to be for children) and it shows a little frame with strong mesh attached to it. The hamster holds onto the mesh and its supposed to make it easier to pick hammy up, brush him, etc. It looked quite a good idea to me but has anyone used something like this? If so would they recommend it?

[Holly]

Originally Posted by souffle

I think they are both one of the greys either silver/dark/sepia but I have not seen enough greys to be sure. Jean Tye who is judging at Lymm will know for sure or Sheryl. Jean is a national judge and has quite a few unusual and rare colours herself and her creams are just stunning.

Fantastic - this is partly (among many other reasons!) why we are coming to the show. I'm really looking forward to it (but a bit nervous as well!).

Originally Posted by Basia

They had a lot of hamsters in that weekend and they were all sold by Sunday except for Sybil who I had looked at on the Friday and Saturday (said I go in there a lot ). I think she was meant to be for me.

I'm so pleased she was meant for you, I'm a huge believer in that sort of thing and am sure Moxy was meant for me too - we have three hammies, the two who belong to the confident boys are little live-wires and the one that 'chose' me is a gentle, quiet confidence booster ..because of him I'm confident with them all now.

Originally Posted by Basia

On the taming front I have been reading the Dk Hamster book (I know its meant to be for children) and it shows a little frame with strong mesh attached to it. The hamster holds onto the mesh and its supposed to make it easier to pick hammy up, brush him, etc. It looked quite a good idea to me but has anyone used something like this? If so would they recommend it?

I have that book for my son so I know what you mean, I don't know if they make handling easier (I assume you mean for Basil as it sounds like you've got Sybil sussed already) but I know the judges use something simillar at shows to handle hamsters they don't know as I've seen pictures on the net and in a book.

One idea for Basil - we wash our hands and use a tiny drop of alcohol hand gel and, since we started doing that, our hammies have never nipped and take less interest in our fingers. We started doing it because I was a bit paranoid initially about bringing bugs home from work (I'm a nurse) and spreading any bugs between hamsters as well. They obviously now know the smell 'cos they quite happily climb on us but they obviously don't find it a tempting nibble!

[babyboos]

very sensible and true - hamsters really don't seem interested in hands cleansed with the no water antibacterial gel

[Basia]

Thanks, that sounds like a good tip. In retrospect I think I fed Basil too much by hand when I first had him to get him to like me. He now associates my fingers with food!
I decided not to do this with Sybil and got her used to being handled before I ever fed her a treat by hand so she doesn't see my hands just as a source of food.
You will enjoy the show I'm sure Holly, the hamster people all seem very friendly.

[Holly]

Originally Posted by Basia

Thanks, that sounds like a good tip. In retrospect I think I fed Basil too much by hand when I first had him to get him to like me. He now associates my fingers with food!

I have to admit I was a bit paranoid if I'd fed them something by hand that they would smell it and nip me - they never have but then I always wash my hands/alcohol gel them if I do hand feed them so perhaps that's why I've never been bitten.

[Holly]

How's it going with Sybil, Basia? And did you try the alcohol hand gel trick with Basil?

[Basia]

Sybil is better some days than others. She is not jumpy but I think she can be frightened. Instead of jumping she freezes. I am not rushing her, just letting her walk on my hands when she wants to and not pushing her if she doesn't. She moves incredibly slowly - except on her wheel - and has never shown any inclination to nip. I pick her up but just onto my lap or over the cage at the moment. I wouldn't say she is really tame yet. As for Basil, what can I say? Given up! He runs all over me but he will not be handled, hand gel or not. Love him to bits though.
I would love a really tame hamster who likes to be handled and cuddled. I'm wondering if it is a bit like rabbits, if they are handled as soon as they come out of the nest they end up really soppy and tame.
Thanks for asking Holly - one day I will post a picture of me actually holding sybil for the camera hopefully!

[Holly]

Originally Posted by Basia

Sybil is better some days than others. She is not jumpy but I think she can be frightened. Instead of jumping she freezes. I am not rushing her, just letting her walk on my hands when she wants to and not pushing her if she doesn't. She moves incredibly slowly - except on her wheel - and has never shown any inclination to nip.

She still sounds exactly like Mocha - I remember posting (on the other forum we both frequent) about how slow he was and how he appeared to be 'frozen' in fear.

Well the good news is that he doesn't do that anymore - he's now more like the other two and is always waiting to come out every evening (yes, evening - he's not even a morning ham anymore) and is lively when he does. Sybil sounds so like him, I'm sure Mocha was frightened and Sybil still is - but with careful and patient handling I'm sure you will get there with her.