Shirley in Her Play Bin
Shirley and Laverne both have funny schedules for hamsters. I’m assuming it has something to do with their past lives, or maybe they have just learned that we bring them treats…. but the minute we wake up in the morning, there they are, standing up and looking up at us expectantly!
Shirley happened to get up in the late afternoon today, begging to be either picked up or fed, probably both, so we brought her over to the temporary play bin we have set up for interacting with our hamsters. Laverne and Shirley love this box that I’ve placed in there, they go there specifically to eat the seeds they’ve found, so you’ll see there are casings everywhere… I know time to clean it up a bit!
The lighting was so beautiful though, I had to share :)
Hope you enjoy!
Products featured in this blog post (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases):
Higgin’s Sunburst: https://amzn.to/36QBHOJ
Mazuri Mouse & Rat: https://amzn.to/2VJkct9 or from PetCo: https://bit.ly/3h4NGvA
Millet Spray: https://amzn.to/3mReSQB Or from PetCo: https://bit.ly/3nEqkzw
Wheat Spray: https://amzn.to/33RiP01
Whole Flax Seeds: https://amzn.to/36N0GSW
PureBites Freeze Dried Cat Treats Chicken: https://amzn.to/3h6tNo2
*Please see Hamster Hideout Forum for more info on hamster diets http://hamsterhideout.com/forum/forum/16-food-nutrition/
Sofia Enclosure Updates, Continued…
If you saw my post from last week, I added a Niteangel Multi-Chamber hide to little Sofia’s 200 qt., bin cage enclosure.
I didn’t realize she would so quickly make the new, multi-chamber hide her home, so I put it over a sand bath, thinking she might enjoy a sand bath with more cover.
Fortunately, she LOVES the new hide and quickly moved in. Unfortunately, she has fully moved in, which means cleaning up her sand bath is a little tricky. Normally I wouldn’t be so concerned about keeping her nest clean, but she’s also taken to peeing in one corner of the multi-chamber hide. I can’t clean it easily without removing her from the cage (she doesn’t love someone rooting around in her nest, understandably).
After about a week it was getting pretty smelly in there and I decided it was time for a change… and here are the results! It’s a small change, but if you have hamsters you’ll know that hamsters do not love change, so all changes need to be well thought out so they can be executed in a way that causes the least amount of stress for your little, fur friend.
Do you have a multi-chamber hide? How do you or your hamster use it?
Video music by Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/hx2mwp/
Products featured in this video (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases):
Niteangel Multi-Chamber Hamster House Maze: 6-room small: https://amzn.to/35W0U9N
Exotic Nutrition Silent Runner 9”: https://amzn.to/2JUegLe
200 Qt Bins (for enclosures): https://amzn.to/3geplCY (approx 650 sq inches)
Sheet Moss: https://amzn.to/3mPdqxV or from PetCo: https://bit.ly/3p8XcRb *Pls freeze the moss overnight to ensure no bugs come along with the moss
Kaytee Clean & Cozy: https://amzn.to/2LdxIU3 or from PetCo: https://bit.ly/2KknqkV
Lava Rocks: https://amzn.to/2JXfFk8
Kaytee Hamster Tubes (Fun Value Pack Assorted): https://amzn.to/2VVPj5b
Kaytee Hamster Tubes (Fun Value Pack Twist and Turn): https://amzn.to/3qxT5je *I only recommend these tubes for Robos and small dwarves, larger hamsters like Syrians can get stuck in these! Acrylic Tray (8” x 12”): https://amzn.to/39MaGhm
Clear acrylic trays (set of 3- for sand bath): https://amzn.to/3qxmppR
Crystalia Glass Baking Dish: https://amzn.to/2XcLvg9 ReptiSand: https://amzn.to/3lNeMZ1
Strawberry 🍓 Hide: https://amzn.to/36M1eZx
LoveDrizzlesStudio Wooden Hamster Palace (small) https://www.etsy.com/listing/656159464/wooden-hamster-palacesmalllarge?ref=shop_home_active_26
Niteangel ceramic Cupcake Hide 🧁: https://amzn.to/36M1rMj
Ceramic White Hooded Water Bowls: https://amzn.to/3qzYdmC (or green: https://amzn.to/2JQI1N5 )
Rainbow 🌈 Wooden Bendy Bridge (pack of 2) : https://amzn.to/37CcNl7
Wyze Pet Cam 2: https://amzn.to/2VNIJNK
HAMSTER FOOD:
Higgin’s Sunburst: https://amzn.to/36QBHOJ
Mazuri Mouse & Rat: https://amzn.to/2VJkct9 or from PetCo: https://bit.ly/3h4NGvA
Millet Spray: https://amzn.to/3mReSQB Or from PetCo: https://bit.ly/3nEqkzw
Wheat Spray: https://amzn.to/33RiP01
Whole Flax Seeds: https://amzn.to/36N0GSW
PureBites Freeze Dried Cat Treats Chicken: https://amzn.to/3h6tNo2
*Please see Hamster Hideout Forum for more info on hamster diets http://hamsterhideout.com/forum/forum/16-food-nutrition/
HAMSTER CHEWS:
Whimzees: https://amzn.to/37DBRby Or from Petco: https://bit.ly/3arbUPf
Cheese Chews: https://amzn.to/2IogvpW
CLEAN UP:
OXO Large Strainer: https://amzn.to/3lSi9Od
Mini Dust Pan & Hand Held Broom: https://amzn.to/2Lju4b3
Shirley 💕
Shirley has come so far. When she first arrived here we hardly even saw her. I actually had several days where I wondered- is she okay? Should I make sure she’s still breathing?
Shirley is still shy, but lately she’s been coming out more. Particularly in the mornings (she’s probably caught on to the fact that humans bring her food). I find myself frequently drinking coffee while I feed her some millet and a softly pet her fluffy, little bod.
I’m learning so much about hamster personalities and temperament. Shirley and Laverne look so alike we might mix them up if it weren’t for their wildly different personalities and body language.
I’m not sure what their life was like before they were surrendered to the rescue and then came to live with us. But I hope they are enjoying their lives, I’m certainly enjoying getting to know them :).
Shirley is Just the Sweetest
I’m obsessed with Shirley. She’s like the perfect hamster. She’s so sweet and gentle, she seems to enjoy a good back rub and just is the fluffiest little ball. She is a foster ham, which means a nice person might get to enjoy all that she has to offer! But if she has to stay with me forever… well, fine :).
I got these little woven baskets from Target a few weeks ago. They are so handy for hamster wrangling and general interaction. it’s a nice place to put a hamster and interact with them without the worry of hard edges.
Shirley is eating Higgin’s Sunburst seed blend.
Products featured in this blog post (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases):
Higgin’s Sunburst: https://amzn.to/36QBHOJ
Cotton Woven Baskets like this: https://amzn.to/3pDi1o9 or this: https://amzn.to/37XUTKR
Sofia Gets a Niteangel Multi-Chamber Hide!
I got two (!) Niteangel Multi-chamber Hides for Christmas and I’ve been working out how to incorporate them into Sofia & Steven’s cage.
I decided to try putting it over a large sand bath to give some additional points of interest. Little did I know, she had other plans for it!
Products featured in this blog post:
(as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases):
Niteangel Multi-Chamber Hamster House Maze: 6-room small: https://amzn.to/35W0U9N
Exotic Nutrition Silent Runner 9”: https://amzn.to/2JUegLe
200 Qt Bins (for enclosures): https://amzn.to/3geplCY (approx 600 sq inches)
Sheet Moss: https://amzn.to/3mPdqxV or from PetCo: https://bit.ly/3p8XcRb *Pls freeze the moss overnight to ensure no bugs come along with the moss
Kaytee Clean & Cozy: https://amzn.to/2LdxIU3 or from PetCo: https://bit.ly/2KknqkV
Lava Rocks: https://amzn.to/2JXfFk8
Kaytee Hamster Tubes (Fun Value Pack Assorted): https://amzn.to/2VVPj5b
Kaytee Hamster Tubes (Fun Value Pack Twist and Turn): https://amzn.to/3qxT5je *I only recommend these tubes for Robos and small dwarves, larger hamsters like Syrians can get stuck in these!
Acrylic Tray (8” x 12”): https://amzn.to/39MaGhm
Clear acrylic trays (set of 3- for sand bath): https://amzn.to/3qxmppR
Crystalia Glass Baking Dish: https://amzn.to/2XcLvg9
ReptiSand: https://amzn.to/3lNeMZ1
Strawberry 🍓 Hide: https://amzn.to/36M1eZx
LoveDrizzlesStudio Wooden Hamster Palace (small) https://www.etsy.com/listing/656159464/wooden-hamster-palacesmalllarge?ref=shop_home_active_26
Niteangel ceramic Cupcake Hide 🧁: https://amzn.to/36M1rMj
Living World Ceramic 🐹 Bowl: https://amzn.to/2JSxNvE
Ceramic White Hooded Water Bowls: https://amzn.to/3qzYdmC (or green: https://amzn.to/2JQI1N5 )
Rainbow 🌈 Wooden Bendy Bridge (pack of 2) : https://amzn.to/37CcNl7
Wyze Pet Cam 2: https://amzn.to/2VNIJNK
HAMSTER FOOD:
Higgin’s Sunburst: https://amzn.to/36QBHOJ
Mazuri Mouse & Rat: https://amzn.to/2VJkct9 or from PetCo: https://bit.ly/3h4NGvA
Millet Spray: https://amzn.to/3mReSQB Or from PetCo: https://bit.ly/3nEqkzw
Wheat Spray: https://amzn.to/33RiP01
Whole Flax Seeds: https://amzn.to/36N0GSW
PureBites Freeze Dried Cat Treats Chicken: https://amzn.to/3h6tNo2
*Please see Hamster Hideout Forum for more info on hamster diets http://hamsterhideout.com/forum/forum/16-food-nutrition/
HAMSTER CHEWS:
Whimzees: https://amzn.to/37DBRby Or from Petco: https://bit.ly/3arbUPf
Cheese Chews: https://amzn.to/2IogvpW
CLEAN UP:
OXO Large Strainer: https://amzn.to/3lSi9Od
Mini Dust Pan & Hand Held Broom: https://amzn.to/2Lju4b3
Steven Says Hello!
There is something so enamoring about a curious hamster and his little sniffing nose, isn’t there?
Products featured in this video (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases):
Wyze Pet Cam 2: https://amzn.to/2VNIJNK
200 Qt Bins (for enclosures): https://amzn.to/3geplCY
Sheet Moss: https://amzn.to/3mPdqxV or from PetCo: https://bit.ly/3p8XcRb *Pls freeze the moss overnight to ensure no bugs come along with the moss
Kaytee Clean & Cozy: https://amzn.to/2LdxIU3 or from PetCo: https://bit.ly/2KknqkV
LoveDrizzlesStudio Wooden Hamster Palace (small) https://www.etsy.com/listing/656159464/wooden-hamster-palacesmalllarge?ref=shop_home_active_26
Clear Hamster Tubes: https://amzn.to/2Jw6ebW *I only recommend these tubes for Robos and small dwarves, larger hamsters like Syrians can get stuck in these!
Getting Sticky Residue Off of Glass Jars
I’ve been wanting to utilize more house hold items for my hamsters to
1- Provide them with new things to keep them interested and stimulated
2- Save on space, since I am running out of available storage for hamster items
3- Be a little more eco-friendly and not buy something new
4- Be a little more wallet-friendly and not buy something new
I had quite a few glass jars building up- I often use these for left overs etc so not to waste them, and then I thought, “I should be using these for my hamsters!”
The only issue is that stupid, sticky residue that Does. Not. Come. OFF! AHHH!
I tried alcohol and soaking them and wire scrubby things… no luck.
Finally, while waiting for a doctor appointment recently, I perused YouTube for the answer and found a video from this super-cool lady who does a lot of vides about how to be zero waste! I’d love to be more thoughtful in this way, so this is step one.
And here I am, giving it a try!
Products featured in this video (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases):
OXO Deep Clean 🧽 Good Grips Brush Set: https://amzn.to/2XeHiJ5
Baking Soda: https://amzn.to/3nkPhPe
Dish Soap: https://amzn.to/3bce05X
Ceramic Water Bottle Stand: from Love Drizzles Studio on Etsy: https://tinyurl.com/y8r9lebu
Rainbow 🌈 Wooden Bendy Bridge (pack of 2) : https://amzn.to/37CcNl7
Wyze Pet Cam 2 (for hamster footage when I’m not awake or there!): https://amzn.to/2VNIJNK
ReptiSand: https://amzn.to/3lNeMZ1
Acrylic Tray (8” x 12”) for sand bath: https://amzn.to/39MaGhm
Clear acrylic trays (set of 3- for sand bath): https://amzn.to/3qxmppR
Digging Bin Time For Sofia
As Sofia has settled in and seems relaxed and confident, I’ve been trying to give her consisten time in, what I call her digging bin: Its a 100 qt bin I filled with sand 🏖 and coconut fiber 🥥 plus many little tubes & hides. I sprinkle a few seeds in there and little Sofia goes wild!
She is so cute ☺️, going under grass and digging everywhere!
I’d like to add additional points of interest in the future, like some cat grass or other hamster safe plants 🪴. I’m working on growing some now, although it is slow going!
I would also love to connect her main cage to the digging bin with a series of tubes so that she can enjoy it more frequently when I’m asleep or at work. I don’t have quite enough tubes yet (as I would need to be very careful to not let it get too steep, she is sooo tiny!), but it’s good to have something to work towards, right?
Products featured in this blog post (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases):
Hefty 100 Qt Bin: https://amzn.to/3oT7fdd
Sheet Moss: https://amzn.to/3mPdqxV or from PetCo: https://bit.ly/3p8XcRb
*Pls freeze the moss overnight to ensure no bugs come along with the moss
Eco Earth Loose Coconut Fiber: https://amzn.to/37zNaRU or from PetCo: https://bit.ly/3mDg0WW
Higgin’s Sunburst: https://amzn.to/36QBHOJ
Shirley the Sweetest
Shirley has been stealing my heart ❤️ lately.
She has this adorable habit of staying awake until I get up for coffee ☕️, and then she begs to be picked up and hangs out with me quietly while I sip my coffee and give her a pet. It’s the best.
She (and Laverne) also like to get up around 3 pm and look for something to do. They are funny little things! So, most afternoons they get some time in a play bin or hanging out as we put together a puzzle 🧩:)
Laverne Gets a Nail Trim
Little Laverne had to go to the vet this week - her nails got too long! This is a quick video of that trip. Unfortunately I couldn’t go inside the vet and see how they trimmed her nails, but I hope that post-COVID I’ll get to see what happens behind the curtain.
Laverne took a few days to get back to normal and want to interact with us again, but she did eventually forgive us for the vet visit.
I recently purchased one of these small animal carriers : Living World Small Animal Carrier (link to Chewy) for visits like this. I also have small Kaytee cages I have used for vet visits in the past, but they are more difficult to clean and carry to my car. The Living World small carrier is a lot easier to handle for a quick trip- definitely worth having one or two around.
Laverne & Shirley 💕
Laverne & Shirley 💕
Both of these girls like to come out on most days to say hello, but rarely is it at the same time!
They have a play bin we use to interact with them outside of their homes. The aerial view below shows the play bin being connected to Laverne’s bin.
Bonding Time With Steven
Steven is so sweet, I really love this little guy 💕. However, he’s still very nervous 😬 and afraid of hands 🙌. I would love to improve on this, to establish a sense of trust between us, so that if he needs medical treatment or his nails clipped, maybe it can be slightly less traumatic.
I honestly don’t even know how I would take this guy to the vet, he doesn’t even really like going in his play bin!
Anyway, I recently discovered that Steven loves going into cups that we are holding. I don’t know why, but presented with a cup, Steven usually goes in. I’ve been using this method as a way for him to get more comfortable around hands 🙌 and so far I think it’s working! Just last night I was able to give him my hand and he approached to sniff it curiously! Before he wouldn’t have attempted this.
How do you bond with your hamster?
Goodbye 2020 👋
It’s been a weird year. There are times I feel sad about missing my family (whom I haven’t seen in a year now) and times I’m sad about the life I thought I’d be living this year. But I try to focus on the good parts (like my hamster 🐹 family!), and right now I’m really rethinking my 2021 goals and trying to make them achievable, something that I can really do and feel like at the end of all this, some good came of it.
And, so is Shirley. If Shirley vows to eats veggies everyday, what excuse do I have? I guess I’ll be eating my veggies everyday too. 🥬
Laverne Gets a Cage Clean
Laverne was due for a bit of cage sprucing. I had been feeling like her cage was fairly uninspired for a while now… I threw it together quickly when I was asked to take in these dwarf hamster sisters (Laverne and Shirley) about a month ago. I had resisted the urge to clean up and rearrange her cage for a while now because I wanted to make sure she felt really comfortable in her surroundings before I touched much in her cage.
But Laverne has been doing really well these past few weeks and I felt she was ready. I knew she needed a bigger and better sand bath space, and a more functional way to run on her wheel. Plus her wheel needed cleaning (which I do frequently regardless, but still).
Her cage isn’t particularly “designed,” since she is a foster ham- my focus here is to just give her a space that feels comfortable, safe and interesting for her.
Also, a note about the pink colored, paper bedding- I was given this bedding, but after using it, I would suggest sticking to white bedding. The pink colored bedding is difficult to discern what is clean and what is soiled. I’m using this bedding until it’s gone and then never again!
Why I Love Whimzees!
When I first got hamsters I bought wooden apple sticks and all those things hamsters are supposed to chew on. No luck. I tried putting a thin layer of peanut butter on the chews to encourage chewing, this only gave me a few chews but mostly licks.
Finally, I tried putting the chew toys in their food to make them smell like something they’d want to chew on… still no luck.
AND THEN I gave Whimzees a try.
I had seen Whimzees on YouTube and Instagram, but I still didn’t feel sure about giving a dog chew toy to a hamster. But, turns out, it’s totally fine! Some people say they only give their hamsters Whimzees for short periods of time because their hamsters don’t eat their food if a Whimzee is around. I haven’t found this with mine. My hams are still very happy to eat their food, but I’ll find them later, laying in their sand bath or on their moss, chewing away and looking happy.
You can try them out by buying them individually for about $1 at PetCo, or you can go for the full bag of them (links below). I prefer the alligator shape- I think it’s just cute :)
Whimzees: https://amzn.to/37DBRby Or from Petco: https://bit.ly/3arbUPf
*please note that not all Whimzees are created equally! Get the kind that are harder (like the ones linked to here), the soft kind of Whimzee is not recommended for hamsters.
(as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)
Steven ❤️ Millet
This video is still one of my favs. His little face as he watched us while he eats! 🥰
Laverne Shows Us Her Kaytee Comfort Wheel
In case any of you were interested in the Kaytee Comfort Wheel, here is a clip of little Laverne showing it off!
The Kaytee Comfort Wheel is a very affordable and great wheel option for your little fur friend! It comes in great size options (8.5” for dwarves or Robos, 12” for Syrians). It, unfortunately is NOT silent, so please be aware if you are a light sleeper.
If you’re interested in purchasing the Kaytee Comfort Wheel, please see the links below: (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases):
Kaytee Comfort Wheel 8.5” : https://amzn.to/3lM5axz
Kaytee Comfort Wheel 12”: https://amzn.to/3pezd3b
How cute am I?
Zacro Acrylic Silent Hamster Wheel (my thoughts continued…)
The Zacro Acrylic Silent Hamster Wheel was one of the first “fancy” hamster wheels I ever bought, and thus, the first hamster wheel review I ever did.
I have had some updates in my hamster family recently (aka- I volunteered to be a foster mother to some rescue, dwarf hamsters) and was in need of another hamster wheel! My sleep depended on it!
So, I bought another Zacro Acrylic Hamster Wheel and am here with my updated thoughts about this wheel.
If you’re interested in purchasing this wheel, here is the link to Amazon: https://amzn.to/2VG4XBt
I hope you are all having happy holidays and are staying safe!
past blog entries…
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