All About My Pumpkin - Page 43

Hamsterita · 06-06-2017, 07:49 AM

I'm glad she's back to her usual self and that you finger/nail is healing ok

SKB_Hamsters · 06-07-2017, 03:06 AM

Thank you Thin Lizzy and Hamsterita.

Pumpkin’s Palace Cage Layout – June 2017

Yesterday I part-cleaned Pumpkin’s cage and have given her a new cage layout. She has a few new chew toys this month from my last hamster haul. This month I have taken photos to show how and explain how I set up Pumpkin’s cage layouts after I have cleaned part of her cage and replaced with some new fitch.

Initially I add the main items in her cage, these items I like to keep in the same place in her cage every time I do her cage. This includes her house, wheels, shelf, sand bath dish, grass nest, willow stick bunches.
Once I have added those items, I start adding toys into her cage such a tunnels and hideaways to her cage. Firstly I start with the larger items such as the cork tunnel and then add the other tunnels around this - I like to create a tunnel system with them. Normally this takes a lot of trying items in different places to see what fits best where – until I get a layout that I like. I find the cage still looks very bare/empty at this point.

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Then I add chews and hanging toys to Pumpkin’s cage – I like to use these to fill spaces which looks empty and that I couldn’t fit a tunnel or a larger toy in. I do try the chews in different places to find a place where they look best. When adding chew I make sure none of the tunnels entrances or walkways become blocked – and to make sure the cage doesn’t look overly crowded – I often have to stand back and then both look at her cage from front on and above to see whether it looks okay.
Finally I then add Pumpkin’s food bowl, water dish, add the sand to sand dish and scatter some forage around. During all of this Pumpkin is fast asleep in her carrier, when it’s time to return Pumpkin to her cage I call her and she starts to emerge from beneath her bendy bridge. Then I can sit down for a little while and watch Pumpkin exploring her cage before I start tidying up!

Here are some pictures of Pumpkin’s cage layout for this month and a few of Pumpkin exploring and disappearing into her house!

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Hamsterita · 06-07-2017, 04:29 AM

WOW. You make it look so easy! I think that what really makes a difference is the toys and chews. You have so many wonderful chews and toys for Pumpkin! And obviously her amazing cage with so many space helps a lot too.

She is looking as adorable as usual! And also I wanted to mention that it's very heartwarming to watch her every time I open HC. I love that HoM pic!

cypher · 06-07-2017, 06:47 AM

Pumpkin's palace is looking great as always SKB, so much for her to enjoy & I always like the way you combine the natural look with splashes of bright colours

CMB · 06-07-2017, 08:50 AM

Lucky Pumpkin. Lot of things to do and chew.

Coco61 · 06-07-2017, 11:42 AM

Stunning layout for Pumpkin once again SKB. So creative. Also love the HOM photo on signing in this month.

BorisPasha · 06-08-2017, 04:02 AM

Thanks so much for sharing your secrets SKB

I'll look forward to trying out your tips.

Pumpkins cage looks fantastic as always, it must be fun to sit back after your hard work and watch Pumpkin exploring and enjoying it

I have a little question for you though so I hope you don't mind. Is that a knuff shelf you have? I think I remember you saying before that it was but I'm paying particular attention to it because I'm thinking of making one for Max. I've seen some that use two and others that just use 1. He's terrible at undermining everything, food bowl, water etc so I'm thinking he'd be better to have those things on something steady.

Thin Lizzy · 06-09-2017, 10:30 PM

WOW! You always make it look so easy!
Pumpkin's Palace is absolutely fabulous! Pumpkin so deserves her very own palace designed by her wonderful mum.

AprilPearl · 06-10-2017, 09:41 AM

W. O. W. Pumpkin's palace is packed! She is such a lucky ham.

SKB_Hamsters · 06-10-2017, 05:07 PM

Thank you Hamsterita, cypher, CMB, Coco61, BorisPasha, Thin Lizzy and AprilPearl
It's always so lovely to sit down and watch her enjoying her new layout and having fun in her cage. It taken a bit of practise setting up her cage - some of my initial layouts look fairly bare in comparison!

BorisPasha - Yes Pumpkin shelf is a made from a single IKEA knuff - she has the other shelf in her playbin. Here are a few more detailed photos of it here - All About My Pumpkin.
Pumpkin really likes her knuff shelves and I'm sure Max would too!

Grooming and Chewing

Last couple of evening I have been trying to get some photos of Pumpkin - well lets say she didn't make things easy - either deciding hide her face or not sitting still long enough! But luckily I managed to get some photos.

Pumpkin is pleased that you like her HOM photo on the front page, so she thought she would pose for some grooming photos - although I don't know if she realises I can't enter her in this month competition! I always enjoy watching her having a wash and seeing her perfected fur-style afterwards - it so cute seeing her nicely groomed/washed fur!
The reason I decided upon this month theme as "A Hamster Washing" was because on the 31st May it would have been Sherbet's Birthday upon looking through her photo I saw these photos (All About My Sherbet) and thought this would make a lovely theme for this month HOM. And also I love watching hamsters washing themselves although it is a little difficult to watch Pumpkin as she likes to do her in privacy of her grass nest!

Here some photos of Pumpkin Washing and her showing of her perfected fur-style!

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Pumpkin has also been trying out her new chews - when I was taking photos of her she decided to grab one of the woven roller chews (although typically I missed that photo- instead got the one before of her head slightly hidden behind it!). These photos also show her nicely washed fur when she was leaning against the acrylic enjoying her new chew!

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As well as her been enjoying her new chews Pumpkin has been loving her piece of homegrown strawberry this week - she snatches it out of my hand before running off and eating it in privacy! I was surprised to see how much she like it and most of my previous Syrians would turn their noses up at strawberry!
On Friday night, one of Pumpkin's wheel was rubbing against something as she was running - making a lot of noise. When I tried sorting it out Pumpkin decided she would help out by climbing up my arm! Not very helpful though but she did get a cuddle for her help!