Chumley

[Socks' Mum]

Yes, I think they are a bit less feisty out of the cage. I used to stroke or touch Socks' scent gland so my fingers smelled more familiar. But Socks was also a great ham for cleaning very vigorously after I had touched him, even behind his ears. Does your ego no good He sort of grew out of it a bit, but not entirely. If there are distractions in the playpen he seems less fastidious about washing my smell off his coat

 

[Hammy Chum]

So weirdly, Chum (being Chum!) seems much happier being stroked inside the cage than in his playpen hahaha! Obviously he's the opposite to normal hamster behaviour.

It seems to be the actual 'picking up' he hates - he will go 'on' a hand briefly but scoots off super fast (so even if we tried raising the hand he's be off first. I wonder if he's had some early trauma being picked up. You never know do you? He's otherwise so inquisitive, loves being talked to, straight to bars to say hi if we come up to cage etc... like i said will tolerate a stroke if hes distracted...

I will get a Carrot house @Maz - wheel arrived too so will get him out today in the playpen.

I did read that some hamsters just kinda prefer their cages... maybe thats him!

 

[Maz]

Higgins is a bit like that as well actually. He gets quite skitty out in the playpen. It's great he likes being stroked in his cage. I think most hamsters don't like actually being picked up in the cage. Even with tame ones I offer "the tube" rather than attempting to pick them up on their territory But that's just to come out of the cage. Higgins seems happier on the sofa than in the playpen though. I have the playpen butted up against the sofa just in case he decides to jump off yet, and if he gets as far as the top of the sofa arm I pick him up and bring him back again.

Our first Syrian, Charlie, spent a lot of time on the sofa and seemed to prefer it to the playpen. Sometimes he'd sit between us while we were watching TV! He used to enjoy his carrot cottage on the sofa too - but that did tend to be a bit messy!

 

[Socks' Mum]

Lovely, they all have their favourite ways, clever hammies

 

[Hammy Chum]

Higgins is a bit like that as well actually. He gets quite skitty out in the playpen. It's great he likes being stroked in his cage. I think most hamsters don't like actually being picked up in the cage. Even with tame ones I offer "the tube" rather than attempting to pick them up on their territory But that's just to come out of the cage. Higgins seems happier on the sofa than in the playpen though. I have the playpen butted up against the sofa just in case he decides to jump off yet, and if he gets as far as the top of the sofa arm I pick him up and bring him back again.

Our first Syrian, Charlie, spent a lot of time on the sofa and seemed to prefer it to the playpen. Sometimes he'd sit between us while we were watching TV! He used to enjoy his carrot cottage on the sofa too - but that did tend to be a bit messy!

Oh yes we use his mini travel 'pot' haha to transport him. He hops in fine!

 

[Hammy Chum]

Chumley had a cage clean out yesterday, here's him pottering around his playpen!





He's quite happy to pop into his travel box as a taxi for a little explore now he's a more mature gentleman of nearly a year.

 

[Maz]

Ooh I love him The expression on his face on the first and second photo. It's kind of - I'm a confident, curious ham Hope he wasn't too bothered by the cage clean.

 

[Yorkie]

Chumley had a cage clean out yesterday, here's him pottering around his playpen!

View attachment 10953

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He's quite happy to pop into his travel box as a taxi for a little explore now he's a more mature gentleman of nearly a year.

He is soooo cute

 

[Hammy Chum]

Ooh I love him The expression on his face on the first and second photo. It's kind of - I'm a confident, curious ham Hope he wasn't too bothered by the cage clean.

He wasn't too miffed actually this time, once again I'd put it off but actually it wasnt too bad inside his nest, he's a fairly clean boy! Went back in and had an initial sniff around, covered his box entrance back up so we dont find it haha etc etc, then back in his sand and his wheel.



My daughter and I have always liked his colours, hes got quite a unique pattern!

And his little tail!! Their tails are so cute.

Had a little reorganise in his cage too, just to change a few bits while he wasnt in there to be indignant



(ignore the half empty food bowls haha he does get fed

 

[Maz]

Lots for him to do in there I like the idea of the cardboard tube attached to the seagrass tunnel Making it a three-way tunnel. Yes his colouring is lovely - a sort of fudge colour maybe? And banded.

 

[Hammy Chum]

Lots for him to do in there I like the idea of the cardboard tube attached to the seagrass tunnel Making it a three-way tunnel. Yes his colouring is lovely - a sort of fudge colour maybe? And banded.

He loves that three way tunnel! And they fit perfectly. Took your advice and got a carrot house (back right corner) @Maz - although there's not much carrot left!

He's not actually banded - he's sort of dotted white on his other side!

 

[Maz]

It's a great idea - I might try it I believe it is still classed as "banded" even if the band is broken or uneven. But it can make for some interesting patterns I see what you mean though, as well as his band, there are white dots. I think genetically it's all part of being banded though. I may be wrong!

 

[Hammy Chum]

The tubes fit in some of the house holes as well - the one pictured above is a henrys one without the lid and legs in his playpen. Makes like a little maze for them!

 

[Socks' Mum]

Chumley had a cage clean out yesterday, here's him pottering around his playpen!

View attachment 10953

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He's quite happy to pop into his travel box as a taxi for a little explore now he's a more mature gentleman of nearly a year.

He is so gorgeous