Taming Your Hamster
| Taming and handling your hamster is a gradual process of gaining confidence. Most hamsters can be tamed if you spend time with them regularly. Before you handle your hamster you will need to tame it. Do not put it off, because it will be easier while your hamster is still young. In general, younger hamsters are easier to tame. If your hamster still persist in biting you, it may also be a sign of other factors causing it stress, such as illness, overcrowding and fighting with other hamsters. Here are some helpful dos and don'ts in taming your hamster.
Taming Dos : -Establish a routine where your hamster will know that you are feeding and playing with it. It may even look forward to the next play time! -Small treats given to your hamster after playing with it will help your hamster gain confidence in you and know that you mean no harm. -Talk/whistle to your hamster and they may learn to recognise your voice. Taming Don'ts : -Never pick up your hamster when it is still sleeping. You will most likely get your fingers bitten by a crossed hamster. It is best to handle your hamster when it is awake at night. -Make sure your fingers do not smell of food or your hamster may accidentally nip it, mistaking it for food. -Upon alerting your hamster of your presence (by tapping softly on the cage, for e.g.), give it enough time to investigate your presence. -Do not blow or breathe heavily on the hamster. -A sure sign that hour hamster is annoyed will be that its ears are curled and laid back. Do not handle the hamster when this happens. Hamsters bite only when they are frightened. If your hamster does nip your finger, it is best to put it back in its cage and leave it alone a couple of hours so that it can calm down. You should be able to tame your hamster in about three weeks if you follow this method. Do not rush it, or you may have to start all over again. 1. First watch your hamster for a few days to find out when it is awake and active - the best time to start taming. Note its favorite foods so you can use them to overcome its fear. Now start putting food straight on the cage floor, so your hamster gets used to your hand and learns that it brings food. After a few days, leave your hand there while the hamster eats. 2. When your hamster is confident enough to eat beside your hand, put the food in the palm of your hand. It may a while before the hamster will eat from your hand without fear. When it does, you can stroke it gently with one finger along its back. Never stroke its head. 3. Next, get your hamster used to being picked up. When it is eating from your hand, cup the other hand over it, and lift it gently a little way off the ground for a few moments at a time. After a few more days, if your hamster seems happy being lifted up, you can take it right out of the cage in your cupped hands. 4. Play with it near the ground so that if you drop it or it jumps out of your hands, it doesn't have a long way to fall. Let it run from one hand to the other. Soon it will be confident enough to run along your arm.
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| Copyright � 2001 by Amanda |