How to Take Care of Your Hamster?

The hamster is a bouncy, funny and acrobatic animal. The only condition for him to be in good health, to offer him adapted living conditions.

Here are some practical tips to take care of your hamster every day.

Choose the cage

Choosing the hamster cage from cheap hamster supplies is essential because your companion must feel at ease. In fact, the bigger it is, the better.

Ideally, the hamster cage should measure L60 X 130 H 40, and if there is a mezzanine, it's even better. Take care to choose horizontal bars so that it can climb against the walls.

Inside the cage, give him a shelter to sleep, have materials (but no cotton!) To build his nest, the special litter rodent, a ceramic feeder and a bottle-type watering trough.

The location of the cage

It is important that the hamster cage is high, on a table for example, in a bright room without the sun's rays touching the cage, away from drafts and changes in temperature.

The hamster sleeps during the day, so it is important that this place is calm!

Hamster hygiene

No need to wash or even brush your hamster (except angora), he is already taking care of himself.

It is a question of cleaning your cheap hamster cages regularly so that it does not suffer from health problems. Remove the feces each day and change the litter completely one to two times a week.

Change the water every day and remove the food he does not eat. You can remove the nest each month, taking care to keep a part of it to build the new one.

To exercise

The tunnels, the wheel, the ball, the ladder ... so many accessories that make the hamster want to spend himself. Do not hesitate to take him out of his cage at the end of the day to let him frolic under your watch.

A balanced diet

The hamster is omnivorous, so he needs a varied diet. Opt for dry foods (croquettes for a hamster, a mix of various seeds, cereals, oatmeal), vegetables and fresh fruits and animal proteins (minced meat, mealworms, yogurt, lean white cheese). You can also give him dry hay for digestion!

Be careful, the hamster tends to be overweight, the daily ration of an adult should not exceed 15 grams.

Care of teeth and claws

The hamster is a rodent, its incisors, therefore, grow continuously. So that the hamster lime naturally, you can give him nuts and nuts, dry bread or branches. If that is not enough, you will have to take your hamster to the vet for filing.

It's the same for claws, if they grow too much they can cripple it and you will have to cut them.

What to do to Have a Happy Pet Bird?

If you have a pet, its comfort should be your priority. This is true for all animals, including birds. Here are some tips that will help you shape a house of happiness for your feathered friend.

Transform your cage into a sanctuary

Cover the cage with a nice tablecloth, pillow or scarf. You can use it to cover the cage of your bird during the night to help him sleep.

Tie a small tree branch into your parrot's cage. Your pet can climb and sharpen its beak.

Mix white vinegar and water equally to turn your birdcage into a shining home. You can also use it to clean his plastic toys. After cleaning the cage with your mixture, simply rinse with water and dry with a clean cloth.

Hang a toy in your bird's cage by attaching wooden reels to a leather cord and attaching it diagonally near the ceiling of the cage. Your bird will have a lot of fun pecking it and swinging the reels.

Keep your bird busy

It's easy to keep a bird busy. Although all sorts of bird toys are found in cheap bird supplies stores, you can easily entertain yourself with things that are lying around. Juice jugs, mop heads, and straw brooms are all good toys for birds that like to snatch feathers. Here are some other examples:

Plastic bottle caps.

Plastic juice jugs with cut top portion and frayed edges with scissors.

Shredded paper.

A natural straw broom.

Clothespins without iron wire.

Small wooden balls.

Turn objects into toys

Also, try turning the following objects into toys to give your bird hours of pleasure.

Plastic bottles: Add a new dimension to clear plastic bottles by placing balls, plastic pins or other brightly colored objects, and replacing the cap. Your bird will have for hours to wonder how to get the objects inside.

Old jewelry: nothing better than old jewelry to occupy your pet bird. Hang an old bracelet, necklace or ring shining on the ceiling of the cage. Just avoid jewels with gems or other pieces that your bird might snatch and swallow. For safety reasons, place these objects on the outside of the cage so that your bird can peck at them, but without bringing them inside.

Regardless of the type of bird, comfort is of crucial importance. Regularly clean their cage and decorate it with small homemade toys or items lying around at home.

How to Cut the Nails of a Bird?

A regular routine part of grooming your bird should include cutting his nails. Like ours, one of the bird nails grow continuously and require a filling every two weeks. To cut the nails of your bird in a healthy and effective way, learning the proper technique is essential.

Things you need

Size avian nail clippers

styptic powder

Little Dremel tool

Instructions

Before cutting the nails of your bird, you must hold it. Gently lift your bird wrapping your hand around his entire body. Your palm should be facing the back.

Turn your bird over until his legs are extended and his feet are up in the air. Talk to your pet bird in a comforting voice, using his name frequently.

Use your fingers to stabilize the legs and feet of your bird. With an avian trimming nail cutter that you can get from bird supplies online cut 16/01 inches from the tip of the nail on small birds, and 1/8-inch on large pet birds.

With a small Dremel tool, drop the tips of your bird's nails to smooth and round off the rough edges.

If bleeding is present, dab the cutting nail tips with a pinch of hemostatic powder. Hold your bird until the bleeding stops.

Tips and Warnings

your bird's nails should be cut if they clog his movements or he is unable to keep his feet flat on a solid surface. Even short nails should be dulled and dropped to prevent scratching, or getting claws stuck on various surfaces. Nails with excessive growth should be cut in small portions, over time to avoid cutting in the quick.

If you have a big bird, for his safety and yours, you can enlist help by forbidding him. Keep hemostatic powder on hand to suppress any bleeding caused by the filling. Excessive growth, or an unnatural form of your bird's nails, may be symptomatic of the disease and your pet bird should be examined by an avian veterinarian.

Traveling By Train or Car With Your Cat

Moving, newcomer, vacation ... sometimes you have to make long trips by car or train with your four-legged friend. Here are some tips to optimize the ride!

A few days before departure

l We think to make some necessary shopping essential elements to travel and stay of our cat:

l Buy disposable pads (baby department) to prevent accidents

l Buy Feliway spray if you have a stressed cat

l Ask your vet for a small plastic syringe so that you can give him a drink occasionally and avoid dehydration

l Leave him at the disposal of the transport box so that he gets used to it, already putting a disposable pad and one or two toys that are available in cat products online shops.

A few hours before departure

l Remove the bowl of croquettes and water

l Encourage your cat to litter

l If you have a stressed cat, spray Feliway in the transport case 15 minutes before departure

l Put your collar or harness on it, with a small medallion with the chip number and if possible a valid phone number

The big departure

l If you travel during hot weather and you do not have air conditioning, put a wet cloth on the transport cage, and install there sheltered from the sun (use a sun visor on the windows for example)

l NEVER leave your pet out of the crate. By car, at each stop, try to drink it with the syringe. If your cat is stressed, do not let him get out of the crate during the stop, this can be an additional stressor. For an unstressed cat, you can let him frolic for a few moments, under surveillance and always in possession of his harness or collar, attached to the transport crate. By train, leave it constantly in its transport crate.

l A cat is quite capable of holding several hours by car, if you have the impression that he is hungry, give him one or two croquettes but no whole bowl

l Attach the transport case securely with the seat belt when traveling by car, with the leash securely fastened to the transport crate. We are never too careful!