I would like to let my hamster out of his cage. He's been in his ball a few times but I would like to let him out of his ball. The thing is... Is it difficult to get a hamster back in. I did once and he went under a wardrobe but I want to let him out and get him back in safely.
He likes his ball but he does prefer to go out and about out of it. Does anyone have any experience of letting their hamsters in and out?
He's 75% tamed, I use a glove though because I feel safer and he doesn't mind. :)
2007-01-01 08:22:48 · 26 answers · asked by FuturisticKid 3 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
If he runs free you will have one heck of a time finding him. They can burrow into couches and live there. No way you can get to them without ripping the couch apart. Besides, your hamster will be safer and happier in a known environment - cage and ball.
2007-01-01 08:25:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
You should definatley let your hamster have some excercise out of the plastic ball, it's good to keep them occupied instead of being sat in a ball or a cage all day. I used to put my hamster at the bottom of the stairs and let him climb all the way to the top and then let him start again un til he's had enough, you can put cardboard tubes on some steps and a bit of a tasty treat on another to make it interesting for him. you can just sit at the bottom of the stairs to keep an eye on him while he has a little adventure!
2007-01-01 23:01:39 · answer #2 · answered by tool 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I let my hamsters out a lot. I have 3 Syrians at the moment, but I used to have 2 Roborovski hamsters, the really tiny Dwarf ones, and I used to let them out as well. You need to watch him ALL THE TIME. They enjoy having a bit of a run around but are so easy to get lost. Don't let him near a sofa as they can burrow right into these and you'll never get him out.
Also watch any skirting boards where pipes/electrics go in as hamsters can get into very small holes and run around inside the walls. My hamster did this before and we got him out by banging above where he was when he was climbing upwards so that he would turn around.
If he does run under a wardrobe/fridge/piano/behind a bookcase (these have all happened to me!) you can lure him out with a small piece of food. If he has a favourite food, use that, but cheese is really good as it has a strong smell and the hamster will smell it even if he is quite a bit away. Hamsters can eat cheese and chicken as occasional treats, as they're omnivores. Small pieces only though. Sunflower seeds, picked out from the mix or bought seperately, have also proved good at luring hamsters out.
Have you thought about making an obstacle course for your hamster?? I got some wooden planks and made a perimiter, then filled it with cardboard tubes, hay to burrow in, bits of food, boxes, etc. They love it. If the walls are high enough, and there are no gaps (you have to be sure about this) you can go away and leave the hamster to have fun. Keep the door of that room shut though, just in case.
I can get where you're coming from with the glove. Once, I had a hamster who had a fear of human hands, and wouldn't come near you (he came from the SSPCA, something to do with his previous owner methinks) so I used to use a toilet roll tube to lift him out. Once he was out he didn't mind the hands! Wierdo :P Hope this helps!
2007-01-01 09:05:32 · answer #3 · answered by the_happy_green_fish 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First, you need to get over your fear of being bitten. Hamsters as a general rule, don't bite unless they're provoked.
What I do with my hamster is let her run around my bathroom. There's only one way in or out, and nowhere really for her to go.
Letting the little critter out loose in the house will - I guarantee - only lead to trouble. There are so many places they can get into and get stuck in; not to mention all the possible things they could eat and poison themselves with. Bathrooms are the best bet. Just sit at the door and watch them scurry around!
BTW, never leave the little one unattended. Even if you have one of those hamster pen/gates, the really clever ones can scale it in less than a minute and then you're right back where you started from. Just sit with them and let them get crazy in a small space.
2007-01-01 08:49:09 · answer #4 · answered by Brutally Honest 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, and he'll love it!
Decide which room you're going to let him run around in. Seal up every possible avenue of escape with cushions or something, and let him off! put down a couple of treats along the wall and let him off!
Hamster balls are horrible, we've never bothered with them, and the hamster will much prefer to run free.
The only thing to watch for is to make sure he can't get in behind anything, especially the TV or computer, because he will definitely chew through the cables and wires!
2007-01-01 08:36:39 · answer #5 · answered by RM 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I used to let my hamsters run around my bedroom, no problem at all.
Just make sure he can't get under the floorboards etc or he probably won't be back!
Keep an eye on him, don't leave him unattended and make sure he doesn't chew any wires or eat anything..... I once left some jewellery on my bedroom floor and found it a few days later in my hamsters cage, he had put it in his pouches!!
2007-01-01 08:31:36 · answer #6 · answered by babs 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I used to let me hamster out for a run around my bedroom every day when I was younger. Never had a ball for her. They can easily get lost though so block off any gaps that he might get into and watch out for electric cables that he might chew. I used to supervise mine all the time she was out. I used to carry her around in my dressing gown pocket. She was lovely.
You could also try putting the plug in the bath and letting him scamper around in there.
As for the glove, try losing it and picking your hammy up by cupping both hands underneath him and gently scooping him up. Let him climb through your hands, they rarely sit still! I now look after my friends daughter's hammy whenever they go on holiday. He's hardly ever handled but I find I can scoop him up quite easily if I'm gentle and don't spook him too much.
2007-01-01 09:33:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My hamster used to like to smash his ball up the wall until it broke open - and would then escape!
He would end up inside my sofa for days, or under the bath! He would wonder around at night, finding anything to make a nest out of - and as I had small children, would fill his cheeks with any sweets etc that the kids had dropped.
2007-01-01 08:33:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
When I was a kid I used the ball, until my Mom accidentally kicked it down the steps....My poor hamster went bouncing down two flights of stairs then took a couple of hard bounces at the bottom. Poor little guy was dazed and confused but just fine....
After that I let him run around outside in the grass because he could not disappear, like he could have indoors.
My daughter takes her rats outside in the yard every day and they LOVE it.....
2007-01-01 23:48:48 · answer #9 · answered by warhorse 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, that depends. I would at first try to let him ot in a small, enclosed area with little furniture. A large bathroom or closet works well. Put some of his favorite food in the middle of the room to keep him in the middle area, and see how he does. If he is very well behaved, try in a larger room. Or, What I used to do with mine is I would build little fences out of child bricks, leggos, or just use a Toy horse fence from a barn and let him run around in there.
2007-01-01 08:29:50 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
ok, they are really hard to catch but i discovered a good way of catching them. you get the inner of a kitchen roll (save them up for this purpose). hamsters feel the need to run into them for some reason. they are magnetically attracted to cardboard. leave it on the floor, be prepared for a long wait and when it goes in, cover both ends and put it in the cage.
i hope this helps, it could just be that my hamster was a bit weird.
2007-01-01 08:28:47 · answer #11 · answered by AJ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋