What do you think of this DIY idea?

[RainbowBrite]

I have seen quite a few people create things for their hamster using wooden dowels as the 'wall'. For example they make a sand bath and use the dowels to keep the sand in. I was wondering if a hamster could get their nail stuck in-between the dowels. I saw people glue them very closely together but even so I wonder if it is safe. Here is a picture I found to show an example of the dowels creating a kind of wall. I am not referring to the ramps but just wondered if the dowel wall is safe.

 

[Maz]

I think they are as long as there are no gaps. My only concern would be if they fell on them from a height - that could cause injury. But it depends how high up they are and whether it's a tank or cage. In some tanks the hamster couldn't get to the roof to fall.

 

[RainbowBrite]

I think they are as long as there are no gaps. My only concern would be if they fell on them from a height - that could cause injury. But it depends how high up they are and whether it's a tank or cage. In some tanks the hamster couldn't get to the roof to fall.

Thank you. I agree that falling on them would be dangerous. I just wondered if they could somehow get a nail caught between the dowels.

 

[Member ID2]

I don't think they are safe. A dowel could become loose and cause a gap a hamster could get their head stuck in.

 

[RainbowBrite]

I don't think they are safe. A dowel could become loose and cause a gap a hamster could get their head stuck in.

Thank you. I was curious as I saw many people on German hamster forum use them.

 

[Maz]

They are usually glued rather than nailed I think. Glued together sideways and underneath I guess. They were very popular a few years ago when people made shelves/platforms out of Knuff magazine racks. I didn't know people were still making them. I don't personally see the need for a fence on the edge of a shelf.

 

[elusive]

I have used little dowels in a similar way & never had any problems, getting them glued straight with no gaps is really fiddly as they all try to fall over!

 

[RainbowBrite]

They are usually glued rather than nailed I think. Glued together sideways and underneath I guess. They were very popular a few years ago when people made shelves/platforms out of Knuff magazine racks. I didn't know people were still making them. I don't personally see the need for a fence on the edge of a shelf.

It can be used to make a racetrack but I am not sure on the safety.

 

[RainbowBrite]

I have used little dowels in a similar way & never had any problems, getting them glued straight with no gaps is really fiddly as they all try to fall over!

Oh yes, that must have taken you ages!

 

[Member ID2]

I'm pretty sure that i've read on a continental forum where people were advised against using them because of the risk of nails getting caught in the gaps. Unless i'm getting the dowel fences mixed up with something else.

The dowels are too short to stop a hamster from jumping off a shelf and would only increase the height of a jump.
As Maz said, a shelf doesn't need a fence. It should be set up safely anyway.

I wonder if the purpose of these little fences is decorative rather than functional.

 

[RainbowBrite]

I'm pretty sure that i've read on a continental forum where people were advised against using them because of the risk of nails getting caught in the gaps. Unless i'm getting the dowel fences mixed up with something else.

The dowels are too short to stop a hamster from jumping off a shelf and would only increase the height of a jump.
As Maz said, a shelf doesn't need a fence. It should be set up safely anyway.

I wonder if the purpose of these little fences is decorative rather than functional.

I saw people use them to make racetracks which need a fence but I agree with you about a nail getting caught.

 

[elusive]

I always thought the low fence was a bit dangerous too maybe tempting them to look over & fall more than no fence at all but I have seen so many Germans use them with no problem at all.
I’ve mostly used them making sand baths & various other things & with the correct glue (I use Ponal) & done properly there really is no problem with gaps & that glue is pretty indestructible so none have ever come loose.

 

[RainbowBrite]

I always thought the low fence was a bit dangerous too maybe tempting them to look over & fall more than no fence at all but I have seen so many Germans use them with no problem at all.
I’ve mostly used them making sand baths & various other things & with the correct glue (I use Ponal) & done properly there really is no problem with gaps & that glue is pretty indestructible so none have ever come loose.

It puzzles me too. I wonder if a racetrack can be made using a piece of wood rather then dowels.

I can see how they would work for sand baths.