hamster

[mummyme2]

my daugther have got a hamster about a week and half ago, can any one give me some advice, i have been trying to handle him as kids young but he is ok to stroke him but if u try and pick him up he gets really jumpy and runs and hide is there any thing i can do
thanks in advance

It'll take time. Try letting him loose in a safe enclosed area (eg cardboard box) and stroke him gently or offer titbits. Be careful though - hammies are very short sighted and can easily mistake a finger for a tasty snack. Work up slowly to gently wrapping your hand around him and on to picking him up. Try not to make any sudden movements which will startle him.

HTH

You can try putting an empty toilet roll or jam jar in its cage, when it goes inside carefully pick up the tube/jar and the hamster will come out onto you. Reaching in from above and picking them up instinctively makes them feel that they are being attacked. Also make sure your hands don't smell of food when you handle it and it'll be less likely to try and eat you. You can sit in an empty bath and let the hamster climb all over you, its quite a good safe place to get them used to you!

We tried daily for about 3 weeks to handle DD's hamster but she is not having any of it. You can just about stroke her very briefly and she will climb into her ball with you holding it, so she can go round the room, but no chance of holding her. She takes chunks out of your finger or hand!

lol - I read LittleB's and thought you meant in the bath naked with hammy. Oh no, I thought, don't fancy that at all!

I have read that you should rub some of the hamsters bedding on your hands to disguise your scent and then it won't be so scared. Also, let the hamster come to you gradually, offer treats but watch your fingers!

I think they will always be a bit jumpy, my guinea pigs are still jumpy after having them for over a year. But, once they are out of the cage, they are fine. Its just about getting confident enough to scoop them up quickly!

hammies are jumpy as they are scared

only way to get them unscared is to get used to you

only way for that is handling and lots of it

we have been known to use gardening gloves to pick up and stroke with firm movements - this has to be done every day, a few times a day so they can get used to you

if you do go into their cage and pick up,them go and grab, if you pussy foot around, they will get anxious and nip you

a hamster only means it if they draw blood, and a proper hamster bite bloody hurts and bleeds for ages!!!

we have been known to train hammies for friends