Goose

Species: Dwarf Hybrid 

Gender: Male

Est. DOB: May/June 2025

Likes: Burrowing, Quiet time & That snuggly space under a bridge.

Dislikes: Being woken up, Sharing space & Wiggly fingers.

Requirements:

Cage: Min. 90x50x50cm - As per HSS guidelines

Wheel: Min. 21cm - As per HSS guidelines. 

Bedding: 

I use a mixture of the following bedding, however you only need one (1) kind of any of the stated paper based beddings. I personally enjoy mixing textures as I have access to various types via donations. 

  • Oxbow Pure Comfort 

    • NOTE: it is important to manually crumble the compressed bedding when it is taken from the packaging while the hamster is NOT in the enclosure as this can create dust. Once this is done though, it will be fine for the hamster.

  • Teabag Bedding from FatPouches

  • Jonsanty Hamster Bedding

OPTIONAL: 

  • Timothy hay or Aspen shavings to provide texture and structure for tunnelling mixed into the paper bedding, or to place inside hideouts as extra texture.

    • Currently using Niteangel and Kaytee, but Oxbow is also ok.

      • ALTERNATIVE: Can also use the Marukan brand of Aspen shavings.

        • Optional: Shredded tissue paper for a pop of colour! Currently using IKEA brand coloured paper napkins.

    • I also have placed some Niteangel brand dry moss layered with other hamster safe wood substrates in a few hideouts for texture. Shout out to all the kind donors out there!

Food: 

Currently using a mixture of FatPouches Standard Hamster Seed Mix and Bunny Dream Expert Dwarf Hamster. 

  • I encourage you to also get a foraging mix from FatPouches such as the Foraging Seed Mix or Delight Mix! This can be sprinkled and lightly mixed into the bedding every few days. 

  • Alternative foraging choices can simply be another brand of HSS approved seed mix such as Rodipet brand to provide diversity in “healthy” feed/foraging.

I've also provided him with sprays like millet and flax. Millet sprays that are marketed towards pet birds are just as tasty for hamsters. 

Enrichment:

At least 3 hideouts 

  • Can be one large nesting area/chamber hideout and 2 smaller ceramic or cardboard hideouts.

      • A main nesting area can be made by connecting 2 hideouts with one tunnel (EG: plain tunnel with middle hole, or T shaped tunnel - DIY them with cardboard toilet tubes!)

  • It is recommended he has enough bedding to properly dig around in. Please refer to the HSS website for further advice.

    • OPTIONAL: Non perishable treats and food hidden in bedding.

  • OPTIONAL: A dig jar or box partially filled with coco peat and mixed with non-perishable (as in not too oily to attract ants) and dry treats and seeds, as well as some short stalks of sprays. 

    • The FÖRVAR jar from IKEA is a good choice for this kind of enrichment activity!

    • RAJTAN from IKEA is another alternative. 

    • As long as the jar or container is slightly tilted or easy for him to get in and out of it should be fine. 

Fosterer’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deep.space.ham9/ 

Profile: 

Why Goose you ask? Well he screamed the entire ride home. But once he got into his new enclosure, and realised he had nobody to be on alert about, he calmed down and hasn’t made a peep since! Goose is a bit of a scaredy cat, but that’s only because he hasn’t learned to trust yet. 

Part of a batch of 14 surrendered hamsters, there’s no doubt that his fear comes from some kind of hammy trauma of being housed with 13 other hammies, but with a little love and care, he will feel safe enough to stop nipping at your fingers out of fear. But in the meantime, he’s gotten to be a lovely round 45g and his healthy appetite and need for speed has made him the cutest and softest cotton ball. 

Will you be the one to teach Goose how to fly without fear?