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HANDLING |
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Handling
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| Dwarf hamsters can be scooped up in a plastic cup. If there is a dominant female in a cage of Campbells you may need to isolate her to be able to pick up any of the others. Never put your hand in a cage of Campbells and expect them to come and walk on it (unless you know them very well) as that is a sure way of getting bitten. Instead, put your hand lightly over a Campbell, their face towards your little finger and their rear towards your thumb. Gently close your hand around them. | ||
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Some Syrian hamsters are tame when you first get them, others are not. The best way to tame a Syrian hamster is as follows: Always talk to it when it is out and about in its cage. It will very quickly get to recognise your voice. If you have a wire cage, feed the hamster treats (such as nuts, dried fruit etc) but be careful as their eyesight is so poor that they don’t nip your finger. NEVER give chocolate as this is toxic. The hamster ‘chocolate or yoghurt’ drops are mostly fat and if the hamster pouches these they can melt and cause a blockage in their cheek pouch – therefore they are best avoided. NEVER put your hand into the nest as the hamster can be aggressive. In the wild hamsters are attacked from above, therefore a hand suddenly appearing in their nest will be viewed as an aggressor. If your hamster is sleeping and you want them to rally, gently tap the cage and call their name. You may have to do this several times to get them to stir as some sleep very deeply. Open up the cage – removing the top from the bottom. Rub some of their wood chippings onto your hands – this will put your hamster’s scent on you. Place a hand each side of your hamster and quickly ‘scoop’ them up. Immediately transfer them onto your clothing. Some hamsters don’t like walking on skin but are much happier walking on clothing. It is best to sit down and allow the hamster to explore you. Let them walk over your clothing, but if they start to wander off gently slide a hand under them and bring them back. Don’t put your hand all the way round them or squeeze them. Keep talking to them. After a few minutes, return the hamster to its cage. Chances are it will want to come out again immediately. Hamsters are very nosy creatures and it will have realised that there is a big world out there just waiting to be explored. If it wants to come out again, let it and go through the process again. It doesn’t take long before the hamster will get used to the idea of standing and waiting by the door to its cage when it hears you around. If you do this daily and increase the handling time each day the hamster should become tame quite quickly and be happy for you to handle them. Remember that some hamsters take longer to tame than others so don’t give up if they don’t respond in the first few days. It is important to persevere as your relationship will be so much better with them if they feel confident with you. |
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