Cowboy

[heidi]

As I was trying to find cowboys thread, I realised I hadn’t actually made one.

This little guy is from someone whom I considered an ethical breeder. After the sudden passing of a beloved rescue, I really wanted a hamster I could gage the lifespan of (retrospectively, you can’t).

I love cowboy. He is a very soft little guy, able to be handled with ease. He’s had UTIs in the past, which have been difficult but been treated. Currently he is in good health albeit not seen as much since the move.

He currently lives in one half of the double platsa. 120x60x55cm, with front opening doors. His max bedding depth is about 40cm of bedding.

I still need to enrich it more, but I’m happy with the result!!

 

[Maz]

He is gorgeous

 

[elusive]

Hello Cowboy!
He does look lovely.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Aww, Cowboy is so cute! I love his set up too. 40cm of bedding is amazing!

 

[heidi]

Aww, Cowboy is so cute! I love his set up too. 40cm of bedding is amazing!

I wish we could do it throughout! Still, I’m chuffed with the over 400 litres of bedding it took!

 

[Frida]

Hello Cowboy, you're very handsome

 

[heidi]

Cowboy has been very slowly settling in. I think it’s more difficult to gage since Cowboy has always been quite ‘reclusive’. He’s happy to be picked up, pet, health checked, etc. but really enjoys a good snooze. He always have, even as a baby.

I’ve decided to purchase some cameras so we’ll know when he’s up. One of the issues we’ve found with having a double platsa is Cowboy living in a darker cage, shadowed by the one on top. Being a brown hamster, combined with being in a natural enclosure, we haven’t seen much of him at all. His food is going, so we know he is waking up.

This is a photo of his setup since being in it. We changed it before cowboy went in to make it more accessible for him, with all heavy things platformed or on dowels.

 

[RainbowBrite]

It is a great idea to get a camera. I have found it really helpful.

Lovely to hear Cowboy is settling in his new cage.

 

[Maz]

I know the feeling about the shadowed cage. One of mine is in a darker corner of a room. The cameras are great.

 

[heidi]

On the one hand, I’m so glad both boys “blend in” with their cages. I think perhaps they feel safer knowing they’re camouflaged. On the other, I wish they stood out so I could see them more.

 

[heidi]

Here he was checking his cage out. We had let him go into it early when it was newly setup, as I felt horrible he was in his travel carrier for so long. He didn’t stay in it at this point though, as we did want to do more changes with the support of the heavier items.

Here’s what his current setup looks like:


Sorry for poor formatting! I’m not savvy at all on my phone compared to computer.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Aww! He looks so cute peering over! I love the way you arranged everything. It looks like an enchanted forest.

 

[Frida]

Cowboy is very cute

 

[elusive]

Cowboy does look adorable peering out of the cage there.

 

[Maz]

He does look adorable on that photo. That expression How old is he?

The cage set up looks like a real woodland den for him - it's very nice. Don't worry about the photo formatting - they tend to come out side by side from a phone but I've enlarged them so they show better

 

[heidi]

Thanks Maz!

Cowboy will be celebrating his first year next month! Will have to ask for the date so we can do something special for him!!

Thank you all for the compliments on his cage layout. I see others online and do wish for my setups to be as good; but I just don’t think I have the eye for interior decorating. With time I hope I do!

 

[Zara]

The enclosure looks lovely and such a great photo of Cowboy peering out, he’s gorgeous!

 

[Maz]

Thanks Maz!

Cowboy will be celebrating his first year next month! Will have to ask for the date so we can do something special for him!!

Thank you all for the compliments on his cage layout. I see others online and do wish for my setups to be as good; but I just don’t think I have the eye for interior decorating. With time I hope I do!

Looking forward to his birthday He'll have a good life in that lovely cage. I also upgraded Raffy when he was about a year old.

 

[Jain]

Love the photo of Cowboy peering over the division and checking put what was going on nice set up btw

 

[heidi]

Thank you!

I’m excited for the new cameras. I start my new 9-5 job tomorrow so doubt I’ll be up super late for o see him that much. I’m so glad I now live with my partner as he is SO excited to be friends with both the boys. I catch him sitting there just staring into the cages sometimes, just excited for the moment they pop out.

Right now, every time we see them, we are opening the front doors and giving them treats. Just the whole rebonding/taming process as they’ve mostly only known me, and not yet used to my partners smell.