Cage Cleaning
The general rule no matter
how many hamsters you have in a cage is to clean it at least
once a week. The bin or
cage should be emptied once a week and washed thoroughly with
water and soap (or other anti-microbial agent). Let the cage
sit for 10 minutes once you have scrubbed it so that the soap
will have a chance to kill bacteria. Then rinse and dry the cage
thoroughly before putting the hamster back. Try to pick up a
small portion of your hamster's sleeping nest and set
it
aside.
They
do
not
like their nests disturbed so it is much kinder to give part
of it back once cage cleaning is over. Just taking a little tissue
from the top which is cleaner will do as the hamsters scent should
be on it.
My favorite cleaning agents are hot white vinegar
or grape fruit seed extract
as it
breaks
down waste well and is pretty cheap. A 2 oz bottle can be purchased
at almost any health food store and the cleaning solution can
be made in a spray bottle by adding 30 drops in an 8 oz bottle
of warm water. GSE can also be purchased online at http://www.nutriteam.com
If your hamster has babies, DO NOT clean the
cage until the babies are 10 days old. If
you do it before this, you run the risk of the mother eating
her young. Even when the babies are 10 days old, it
is better to carefully scoop up the nest and set it in a bowl. Then clean the
cage and put the nest back. This will cause the mother the least amount of
stress. If you must, start with an entirely clean cage with
none of the old nest, the
mother will probably run around with her babies for awhile but usually will
settle back down.
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