Clover

[Doro]

I have another problem re holidays though - it turns out we will have to be away for 5-6 weeks over the summer to attend various family celebrations in Germany (where I’m from) and holidays in between… I’m really worried about what to do with Clover during that time. last year we had something similar with our previous dwarf and had neighbours and friends come over to feed her and give her outside time. But at that time I didn’t know that much about hamsters, we didn’t manage to tame her properly so she didn’t need much attention and was happy to just come out and do her own thing regardless who was there. Having said that it probably wasn’t right because she was alone for so long. As said I really didn’t have enough knowledge about hamsters at that time (followed stupid and wrong pet shop and book advice!) So am wondering what to do this time round - particularly in the light of taming with Clover still taking time so he probably will only just be tame at the time we will go away. A house sitter maybe? But my OH is really not keen on the idea… or actually finding someone to take him in? I know moving a hamster is really stressful though - but it is a long time… any thoughts you guys might have would be super appreciated!!

 

[Member ID2]

I think to find someone who boards small animals would be the best option.

There is an excellent thread on here under 'A week in the life of...' by Daisy for April which gives you an insight into small animal boarding.

Sometimes people who foster for rescues take in a boarder or people like myself who rescue and rehome but are self funded do the same occasionally.

 

[Maz]

It is tricky. 5 to 6 weeks is quite a long time. I would think by July, Clover will be tame and fully grown. So are we talking in about a month's time? Personally I wouldn't leave him at a boarding place. I did that once for 10 days and my hamster was incredibly stressed on return. I think he thought it was a permanent change and he'd never see us again. On the other hand if it's a particular friend you can take him and his cage to, and get him settled in there before you go, with a day's transition maybe (ie so you and the friend are there are at the same time and Clover sees you accept the friend) then that would probably be better than leaving Clover at the house for that length of time, with someone coming in daily - although that is an option too.

 

[Maz]

Posted at the same time as Beryl! I take her point about boarding - but 5 to 6 weeks is a very long time for a hamster. Staying at a friend's home would probably be better than being in the type of boarding place where there are other pets. A friend would give the individual attention hopefully and it would be less of a transition back to you again. Having said that, I have known situations where the hamster has then bonded with the friend and the owner has ended up saying they might as well keep the hamster now.

 

[elusive]

I think boarding is worth looking in to, if you can find a good one, it is a long period of time so I think Clover may have a period of adjustment both going away & coming home again but many hamsters board just fine, at least if you’re using a reliable boarding place you would have peace of mind that would be no last minute changes or other things that might mean friends couldn’t cover the whole period.

 

[Doro]

I cannot think of a friend right now who would be available for the whole summer to take Clover in… what do you guys think of using the trusted house sitter website - if I can convince my OH? Then Clover could stay in the house and there would be a reliable person who knows it is their job to look after Clover…

 

[Doro]

We will leave on 21 July so it’s almost 7 weeks till h then.

 

[RainbowBrite]

I cannot think of a friend right now who would be available for the whole summer to take Clover in… what do you guys think of using the trusted house sitter website - if I can convince my OH? Then Clover could stay in the house and there would be a reliable person who knows it is their job to look after Clover…

I think that would work. There are people who work as pet sitters. They take care of your animal and your home while staying there so your animal is never alone.

 

[Maz]

I think a trusted house sitter is a good idea . You can get feedback via video calls now and then as well. It's also security for your house.

 

[elusive]

The trusted house sitter site looks promising although I would make sure you find someone with experience of hamsters, all I could see at a quick glance was a small pets so they may be sitters who are more familiar with larger small pets like rabbits & guinea pigs.

 

[Jain]

Tonight I dropped Pete off at my sister in laws as our holiday had been booked since last year she had hamsters for many years but none at the moment she came to meet Pete in his home environment and he allowed her to handle him straight away he is extremely laid back I got a message tonight saying he had already been out and had his night time cuddles with her my point is if you could find someone who you trust and let Clover get used to them over the 7 week period before you go away then he could go and stay with them for the duration of your holiday has a neighbour or relative got a teenager who would be willing to do this or put an advertisement for someone with experience of hamsters who would would be happy to do this for a small remuneration the main thing is to let Clover get used to whoever he is going to stay with before he moves in with them.

 

[Doro]

Does anyone have any ideas of how to get a hamster to wake up and wanting to play a bit earlier…? It’s 10.30/11pm with Clover at the moment and it’s just a bit late for me, normally that’s when I go to bed. I get him fresh food and veg every night around 7/8pm and he comes out to get it (but never when I’m looking I only see that the food is gone) but he’s active only much later when I’m ready to go to bed…

 

[Doro]

Also Clover seems really keen to get out of the playpen after 10min or so - he starts scrabbling frantically at the edges and today started to attack the plastic by gnawing on it. I don’t think he wants to go back to his cage as when back in, he seems to be really keen to get out again. But he’s not even tamed yet (just about tolerating me stroking his neck sometimes - still jerking other times) and ideally I don’t want to do free play again as that’s when Marmelade escaped and I’m a bit traumatised by that… so a bit unsure what to do. Different/bigger playpen?

 

[Doro]

This is our current play pen and set up

 

[Doro]

I mean, I would think about free roaming again and the possible set up for that (different room) but wouldn’t it ne better if he were fully tamed for that to happen?

 

[Maz]

Tell me about it. Mine doesn't come out till 10.30pm to 11pm either! And they are quite good at sneaking out for the veg earlier without you seeing
It's still very early days and it all sounds perfectly normal - they do try and escape from playpens. I think while you're taming him it's better to use the playpen though. Maybe have a bit more space in it (ie remove a couple of the boxes) and you get in it first, then you can have him climb over you and do the odd stroke or bit of handling.

 

[Maz]

I mean, I would think about free roaming again and the possible set up for that (different room) but wouldn’t it ne better if he were fully tamed for that to happen?

Yes I think it's better if they are fully hand tamed first. Mine was in the playpen for a few months before I let him free roam - but he took a long time to hand tame as he was a rescue and also a biter.

 

[Member ID2]

I tame in a hamster proof area because none of mine liked a playpen.

I totally understand how traumatised and reluctant you must feel after losing Marmalade during freeroaming but you would be aware of the dangers now. Yes, a freeroaming area needs to be 100% hamster proof which really means checking an area inch by inch.

I use a landing with the doors closed and a blanket pushed under the gap of the toilet door. A dwarf got in there once but i was lucky and she came out of an open pipe. I had forgotten to block the gap and could easily have lost her so i made sure this would never happen again. The stairs are blocked with a slot in barrier.

I take the hamster out in a tube and let them out on my lap and then progress to stroking and picking up as time goes on. They jump off my lap to run off and explore floor toys or to get a good run around. I keep sessions short at first and get them out twice a week until they are comfortable with me.

I find that freedom is the attraction my Syrians they get up for but it does depend on personality as well. One wanted out maybe once a week or fortnight but he was very tame.

I'm not suggesting that taming outside a playpen is what you and Clover would feel comfortable with but it is something that works for me and my Syrians so i wanted to include this oprion.

 

[Zara]

Hi there, lovely to see a new thread for Clover, he’s gorgeous. We use the same playpen for our syrian hamster and he went through stages where he would chew the corners, to the point that I had to replace it after 6 months but the trick here is to sit the new one inside the chewed one And you then have two layers. I also place my boxes at angles to the corners now so he can’t get right into the corners. This may help? He does still try and he knows now when I say “No, no chewing”

With regard to holidays, it would be great if a friend or another relative could have him. We are lucky to have my mum near by. As she’s regularly at our house Hams hears her voice and when we go away I drive him to her house late at night after he’s woken and he settles there really well, following the same routine as we have. Otherwise I think a rescue centre or pet boarding sounds a good idea.

With regard to waking him earlier. I had some success with this by rustling the substrate a little and placing a nice smelly treat down. I did it every day bringing the time forward just slightly and now he’ll wake at around 8:45/9pm to come out. Maybe just see if Clover would like to come out when you’ve put his fresh food in as 7/8pm sounds great.

 

[Doro]

Hi guys Clover is doing well but he seems to become ever more keen to get out of the playpen. He’s super keen to get out of his cage (chewing the bars - but only if we’re there paying attention fortunately as a sign he wants to get out) but once in the playpen he’s only content for 5-10min and then he starts chewing the corners with a lot of energy and wouldn’t stop. He’s now bitten a whole into the previous one… i now put him back in the cage when he’s doing that saying “no chewing” but take him out again if he starts bar chewing again which is a clear sign. But the last few times he just went straight back to chewing the playpen corners, attacking them with a lot of vigour. So I put him back in the cage and stopped paying attention and he just entertained himself in the cage then. But that means he has very little outside time at the moment. Can you actually teach a hamster to not chew the playpen when he’s doing it by putting him back in the cage…? I will eventually let him roam freely but the reason I’m not yet doing it is (1) he’s still not hand tamed and my instincts tell me it will be harder once free roaming as it’s already taking a long time to tame with me in the playpen (he’s happy to crawl into my clothes and comfortable with me but still wary of my hands - trying the techniques of putting hand down so he can run over it but he’s not doing that yet). (2) as said before we’re away for a long time over the summer and I don’t want anyone else to look after him free roaming. One needs to block off areas and pay close attention (that’s how our previous hamster made her escape) and I just don’t trust this to anyone else. So ideally no free roaming before September… any tips at all? Thanks, as always!