Meet Churro!

This photo only credit: hp

This little Syrian hamster is quite the character.  He lives in the top half of a critter nation cage and has a big Wobust Wodent Wheel now.

I took the litter box out.

Here he is on his balcony eating a peanut butterman cookie (itty bitty buddy biscuits that look like gingerbread men)

He's about 10 weeks old now and we are working on his socialization.  He doesn't run in terror from me and takes treats from my hand.  That is a start. :)

Woolsey Passes

Sadly Woolsey passed.  I found him curled up in his burrow.  He was a sweet, gregarious hamster that will be greatly missed.  He was 2 years, 8 months old.  Rest in peace little Woosley.

L. Hamster Bin

This bin is actually for the daughter of a co-worker.  I found she got a Syrian hamster and I mentioned that the wheel they got with the cage would become too small.  I have some Giant Silent Spinners I'm offloading so I went on a quest for the perfect sized bin.

There are several bin options, I understand Ikea's large SAMLA bin meets the size requirements of at least 360 square inches of floor space, but Ikea was out of my way this weekend.

I ended up finding one at the Container Store.

33 gal. Clear Tote with Locking Lid - 28-3/4" wide x 21" deep x 18" h   http://www.containerstore.com/shop/storage/totesTrunks?productId=10010965&N=71235

Additional materials included:

• 3 repurposed doors from some martins cages
• 2 door guards from Quality Cages - http://qualitycage.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=121_123&products_id=2143
• Piece of wire used for the front "window."
• zip ties

Tools include:

• Dremel (used to make the windows)
• Drill (used to make the holes to put the zip ties in)
• Good wire cutters
• And because I was repurposing doors, Jclip removers - http://qualitycage.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=121_123&products_id=2142
• Dry erase pen
• Straight edge (you can use cardboard or even the long edge of a paper bag
• tape measure

Now there are plenty of videos online and written instructions online of how to make bins and I'm not going to prepare another one, I'm just going to put in the notes of what I did on each image.


This is the finished product.

You will note, all of the wire is on the INSIDE.  The wire edges are covered with what is known as door guards so there are no sharp edges to hurt the hamster.

Close up of the front.  I was able to purchase a roll of 1/2" x 1" wire from Ace Hardware; Home Depot doesn't carry it.  If you are making yours from scratch and not from re-purposed parts, I recommend you get all of your dimensions down and send the pieces you need (including the door) to a cage maker and have them cut and prep the pieces for you. You can order pre-cut wire from qualitycages.com, martinscage s.com or kwcages.com.  If you are feeling really into your planning, you can even have them set up the door for you.  The door I used on the front is a re-purposed door from a Martins Cage I got.  Make sure your door overlaps the door opening by at least 1 inch on all sides.

The image above is where I placed the water bottle holder and a close up of the door latches.

The image below is with the door open.  Again, door guards help protect the hamster and the pet parent.

This is the view from the insider.  Shows how nothing is poking out.

Inside view of the door opening.

Below is the second re-purposed door; I removed the latches from it.  This wire piece doesn't  need edging because the cage company cut it and it is already smooth.  I can run it along my face. :)

This is the third re-purposed door, also with the latches removed.  The side windows are great for additional ventilation but for also attaching the silent spinner to.

This is the view of the cage from the top.  It is about 525 square inches of floor space.  The minimum  recommended cage size is 360 square inches.

I hope the hamster enjoys his new digs!

I think I would like to make another bin cage and make a double one connected by ovo tubes (not critter trail tubes).  If I do that, I will pre-order the wire cut and door attached.  :)

Update:  Pictures of the happy hammy.  Photo credit: David L.

Baklava and His Burrow

 He was on his burrow when I opened the door. 

Hey!  Who are you?

I'm kind of busy!

I'll pose pretty for you.

I'm coming out!

Do you have a treat for me?

Treat taken to burrow.  Success!

Photos from Sir Trinogi's Vacation

Photos taken by Amara McCarthy.

Sir Trinogi's Adventure

On January 12th, a fuzzy Syrian hamster was sitting at the Banfield Pet Hospital in NE Portland.  A friend had posted on the RatsPacNW that the vet was looking for someone to sponsor the hamster.

He had been found wandering in someone's driveway.  He had a compound fracture and his leg needed to be amputated.  He would require immediate special care for healing and to make sure that his stump would not get rubbed raw the rest of his life as he tools around his dwelling.  After discussing with my husband, as I would be going into surgery for the month of February, I contacted the vet and said we would take the hamster in.

Calls were exchanged back and forth and I arranged payment.  They performed the surgery and he pulled through just fine.  He stayed at the hospital overnight and came home the next day.

His hospital cage, (18" x 10") is not very big but it is well padded to facilitate his healing.  He has a few toys and his temporary home is a tissue box with shredded paper towels to burrow in.  (The tissue box takes less floor space than an igloo.)

He will be going to a friend's house for the month of February while I have my surgery.  I want to make sure he is really watched for issues with his healing stump.  Last night he got a clean bill from the vet but he is being pampered while I'm away.  He is as sweet as the Bakalava and Woolsey so I'm sure they'll all have a fun time.

These images were taken  at his re-check.

Introducing Baklava...a real sweet treat

Baklava came to us on 2/21/2013.  He is a sweet boy, about 6 months old.  This picture was taken on 3/5/2013.  He's settled in quite nicely.

He loves his food and he absolutely loves his sand bath.  He's the only hamster I have that I see in it quite a bit.  Here he is in his sand bath.  (It is a square glass canister on its side.)

Here is a butt shot!  He's got some fuzzy wisps of fur!

I've had to rearrange his cage since he came here because he didn't care for the burrow.

You can see his igloo that he refuses to sleep in.  Instead, he made his nest under his wheel.  :/
Welcome Baklava!  We hope you love it here!

Hamster Cage Set-up Redesign

I set up the inside of the hamsters' cages differently this week.

 Rose's wheel and hanging toy.  Food has been moved near the water bottles.

 Top view of the cage, this is her burrow and balcony.  She is actually inside the igloo in the digging box right now.

 Pulled back view.

 The tube that goes from the cage to inside the burrow.

Another view of the burrow.












Kurumi's Cage:

 Bath, wheel, hanging toy.

View of the burrow and balcony.  You can see Kurumi exploring the back.

 Her wheel, hanging chew and sand bath.

 Kurumi on her balcony over her burrow.

 You can just make out the tube to her burrow!

A pulled back view of the cage.

 Kurumi happy with her new digs!

These cages are made by Quality Cage.  They are not on their site but they are 32" x 16" x 16" and are collapsible.

Rosie Being Her Adorable Self

These pictures were taken on 1/6/2013.  She is being her usual sweet self!

Kurumi Looking Cute

Kurumi had some shots taken when I was shooting pictures of the critters.

Here she is looking cute.

Here she is on her log.

And she is putting up with me holding her to take a picture.  She is really very sweet and doesn't mind being held at all.