Pet hamsters will be nice enjoyable to spend time with, even once you’re simply watching them of their habitat. With regards to selecting them up and dealing with them, although, the method can appear a bit overwhelming and even intimidating at first. They’re so small and fragile!
The excellent news is that holding a hamster safely and correctly is simple as soon as you understand what you’re doing and also you get just a little follow in, however solely do it in case your hamster is used to it and enjoys it. In the event that they do, here’s a step-by-step information for holding your hamster safely and correctly.
Preparation
You will need to be sure to completely wash your palms earlier than dealing with your pet hamster. Hamsters have a robust sense of odor and in the event that they odor something that alarms them or in the event that they decide up the scent of one other animal that you simply’ve been dealing with, they could really feel threatened and attempt to chunk you in protection. Washing your palms with unscented cleaning soap will assist be sure that you don’t scare your hamster with lingering scents and that you simply don’t switch any micro organism or germs to them.
The 7 Suggestions for Holding a Hamster Safely & Correctly
1. Get Shut for Acclimation
Earlier than selecting up your hamster, allow them to sniff you, and get acclimated to your shut presence. You are able to do this by slowly placing your hand of their habitat and letting it linger close to them, being cautious to not contact them fairly but. Allow them to strategy you and supply treats in return. Being too aggressive or working too rapidly can scare the hamster and make them petrified of future makes an attempt to carry them.
2. Encourage Your Hamster to Get in Your Hand
Flip your hand the other way up so your palm is open and displaying, and encourage your hamster to climb onto your palm. If you happen to keep nonetheless and be affected person, your hamster may climb onto your hand on their very own. You possibly can attempt to entice them by placing a deal with, like a sunflower seed, in your palm. In case your hamster doesn’t need to get in your hand, come again once more later and take a look at once more. After a number of tries, the method must be profitable.
3. Use a Scooping Technique
As soon as your hamster is within the palm of your hand and appears calm and comfy, gently fold your fingers up round them with out completely enclosing them and scoop them up out of their habitat. It’s necessary to make use of each palms and maintain your hamster near you so that you don’t by accident drop them in the event that they attempt to get away. In the event that they do attempt to escape, put them again of their habitat as rapidly as doable to attenuate any stress that the dealing with is inflicting them.
4. Make Sluggish Actions
Whereas holding your hamster, make gradual actions, and watch out to not jerk round when doable. Fast and erratic actions can stress the animal and make them scared to be held. They might attempt to chunk or soar off and injure themselves within the course of. Utilizing gradual actions and staying nonetheless will assist preserve your hamster calm and stress-free.
5. Supply a Deal with
Providing a deal with to your hamster when you’re holding them, no less than throughout the first few instances, will assist the animal see the dealing with as a constructive expertise. In case your hamster is aware of that they’ll get a deal with everytime you maintain them, they’ll begin to sit up for the dealing with classes and fortunately climb into your palm once you supply it to them. Be certain that the deal with is small so it doesn’t lower into their common food regimen. Sunflower seeds, carrots, apples, and broccoli are all wholesome deal with choices to contemplate.
6. Hold Dealing with Classes Quick
Even when your hamster continues to be and appears calm when you maintain them, the motion might be stressing them out, particularly in the event that they’re not used to being dealt with. So, for the primary a number of dealing with classes, it’s a good suggestion to maintain the classes quick. Spend simply 5 minutes or so holding your hamster earlier than slowly placing them again within the habitat once more. When you’re assured that your hamster is comfy being dealt with, you’ll be able to prolong the dealing with instances till you might be spending as a lot time as you’d like with them.
7. Make Time for Dealing with Typically
Holding your hamster regularly is a good technique to bond with the animal. As soon as they’re comfy with the method, dealing with can assist them really feel protected and safe. In case your hamster doesn’t thoughts, you’ll be able to deal with them as much as two or 3 times a day! Simply accomplish that briefly spurts. Ready too many days between classes also can preserve your hamster from getting used to the dealing with, which in flip, could cause stress each time you do determine to deal with them.
A Ultimate Recap
Wash your palms, take your time, let your pet hamster get comfy with you, after which benefit from the time you spend holding your hamster. That’s all there may be to it! There is no such thing as a motive to be afraid of holding your hamster with the assistance of the following tips and methods. At all times supervise youngsters and older youngsters after they’re dealing with a pet hamster to make sure the security of the animal and everybody else concerned, however be certain they’re sufficiently old and perceive how you can behave round such a fragile animal. Younger youngsters mustn’t deal with hamsters.
In case your hamster is skittish and dislikes being dealt with or will not be eager on being held, respect that and don’t pressure an interplay which may be uncomfortable, or nerve-racking, doubtlessly even harmful if the hamster tries to leap off your hand.
Featured Picture Credit score: sabza, Shutterstock