Every pet rodent owner wants his pet to live with convenience and comfort. In such cases, a do-it-yourself hamster house can be built at home. How to do this and what should be the house for a hamster? Several methods of constructing a structure are presented in this article.
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Ideas on how to make a comfortable hamster house
In fact, there are many options for the production of such houses, but we will pay attention only to the most popular and demanded types. So how to make a hamster house at home? The most common methods are presented below.
Option 1 - from plastic bottles
What needs to be prepared in advance for the production of a house from plastic bottles:
- three or six five-liter water bottles;
- sharpened stationery knife;
- wide tape;
- four to five regular liter plastic bottles.
In general, the manufacturing procedure for such a structure includes several steps:
- development of a drawing or diagram;
- preparation of all necessary components;
- direct assembly of materials.
In this case, the most difficult stage is the development of the drawing.
It should be noted that everything here depends solely on your imagination, but we will advise you to adhere to several recommendations:
- the rodent house must have a modular system, for one module you will need three five-liter eggplants;
- during production, it is necessary to resolve the issue with tiers in advance, for example, if the area is small, then it is better to make the superstructures in height;
- Consider additionally a place for non-essential components such as a wheel, a place for feeders and drinkers, and a possible place for the hamster to sleep.
After that, let's move on to slicing all the elements:
- It is necessary to cut off the necks from two large eggplants (five-liter), from the remaining third - both the neck and the bottom.
- Using the last canister, make a rectangular hole in the middle. It must be large enough so that a hand can fit into it without any problems.
- In the event that the modules of your future design will be located in length, then in one of the bottoms it is necessary to cut a hole of such a size so that the rodent can freely climb into it.
- The rest of the modules are constructed in the same way.
If your house is made in the form of tiers, then you will also need an additional ladder, which you can build with your own hands from the remaining scraps. All additional components should be made from 1 liter bottles. You shouldn't have any problems with feeders and drinkers either, they do it very simply. As for the wheel, things are a little more complicated here, in particular, you need to cut two plastic strips along the entire length of the bottle, and then solder them together.
All structural modules are attached using wide stationery tape.
Option 2 - made of cardboard
Another option is a house made of cardboard, in particular, from tubes for rolls of toilet paper or paper towels. In addition to the cardboard tubes, you also need scissors.
What steps does the process consist of:
- To begin with, one tube is taken, it is carefully flattened in such a way as shown in the photo in the gallery.
- A semicircle is cut out in the middle of the cardboard on both sides, again, pay attention to the photo.
- The folded tube unfolds. The same steps are repeated with the other tube or tubes.
- The resulting blanks must be inserted into one another, in particular, into the cut holes.
So you can get yourself a completely easy-to-make house for a rodent, made in the form of a maze. Keep in mind that hamsters really like these rolls, many animals get great pleasure from walking on such pipes.
Option 3 - out of a box of paper napkins
It is very easy, you can even say that almost free, you can bring considerable pleasure to your rodent by creating a house for him from a box for paper napkins.
What you need for this:
- of course, the box itself;
- one or more rolls of toilet paper, as in the previous case;
- scissors;
- regular PVA glue or any other that is suitable for paper.
So, what stages does the manufacture of a structure consist of:
- First of all, take the box, which will actually serve as a home, and clean it of film and plastic. The place through which the napkins are taken out is especially important. The box can be used of any size and dimensions, the main thing is that it is not very small, if it is in the shape of a square, then this is the most optimal option.
- The box is cut in such a way that, as a result, a house with a semicircular entrance is obtained, see the photo for more details.
- Next, the cardboard tube that you prepared in advance is cut to the required size and inserted into the entrance of the house. She will play the role of such a labyrinth for a hamster. You can take several pipes to make the maze more confusing, but if you already have a small cage, then one pipe can be limited.
- Now, with the help of glue, you need to lubricate the end of the semicircular entrance, after which a tube is applied to it.
- The resulting joint must be fixed until the glue is completely dry.
In general, all stages have been completed at this point. If you wish, you can make two similar houses and connect them with a tube. To do this, the holes must be equipped at the same level in both boxes.
Option 4 - from a plastic container
Another good option is to make a cardboard house from a plastic dish container. Basically, these components can be found in any hardware store without exception. Their cost is quite low, so there is no need to worry about spending finances. Of course, when buying a container, you must also take into account the size of the rodent, but you should not buy too large containers. In general, its shape also does not play a particularly important role.
We make a house for a rodent with our own hands from a plastic container:
- Since the container is plastic, you will most likely not be able to use a utility knife to cut out the entrance to the house. Most likely, the blade will just break. Therefore, if the plastic is really thick, then you will need to use a soldering iron. If not, then still use a knife. The soldering iron needs to be heated to almost maximum, after which a hole should be cut to enter the future house.
- Then, using the same soldering iron, on the lid and generally around the entire perimeter of the structure, you should make holes for ventilation. It is necessary that there is always fresh air inside, so there should be enough holes.
- In general, this completes the procedure for creating a house from a plastic container. The final stage will be the filling of sawdust inside, which will act as bedding in the new dwelling.
If you wish, keep in mind that the house can be made two-story, so you can purchase a second container in advance for this purpose. In this case, an entrance to the second floor is cut out on the roof of the container on the first tier using the same soldering iron, and on the second floor - a corresponding hole, only at the bottom.
Photo gallery
The request returned an empty result.Video "Home for a pet hamster"
A house built with your own hands - see the video about it.
Have you got a little fluffy pet? A hamster cage and other interior details can be purchased at a pet store or pet market. But this is not necessary - you can do it on your own. Let's look at what kind of house for your favorite hamster you can make with your own hands.
To DIY a coconut house for your hamster, drain the coconut by making small holes in it. Then place the coconut on the table and mark the area where the hamster's entrance to the coconut will be. Drill a 5 cm hole where the entrance to the house should be. Take out the coconut pulp and eat it. Wash the inside of the coconut and sand the edges of the hole with sandpaper if necessary.
Note that you may have difficulty extracting the pulp of the coconut. To facilitate this process, after the hole is made, place the coconut in the freezer overnight. The next day, you will find the pulp separated from the shell and you can remove it with a chisel (chisel). You may need outside help (an adult, preferably a man) to complete this procedure.
Do-it-yourself wooden house for. Take a piece of plywood or a wooden board 1-4 cm thick. Saw out and sand with sandpaper two wooden blanks 12.5 cm long and two more blanks 14.5 cm long.You can choose the height of the blanks yourself, so that your hamster is not cramped. Drill a 6 cm hole in one of the 12.5 cm pieces.
Then drill one or two holes in the 14.5 cm part using a 2.5 cm drill bit to ensure good ventilation. After that, sand all the holes with sandpaper and knock all the parts together with nails. Be sure to make sure that the tips of the nails do not stick out of the wood, as they can injure your hamster.
Hamster house made of cardboard tubes
You can make a house for your hamster using toilet paper rolls or paper towels. To do this, you will need two cardboard tubes and scissors.
How to make a house:
- Take one tube and gently flatten it as shown in the photo.
- Cut a semicircle down the middle of the tube on both sides.
- Straighten the folded tube.
- Do the same with the second tube.
- Insert the processed workpieces one into the other into the holes obtained.
As a result, we will get a house-labyrinth that is easy to make with our own hands for our hamster.
Hamster ramp ladder
Use a piece of wood or plywood to make a rectangular piece of the correct size, sand down any rough areas with sandpaper, and remove any splinters. Cut out several grooves across the resulting board - 2 mm deep, every centimeter, which will serve as a good hold for the hamster. Place the board at an angle and watch your pet climb the ramp (ramp).
Pipes in the hamster house
Rolls of toilet paper or paper towels can be used as pipes for hamsters.
These rolls are great fun for hamsters as most of them enjoy exploring these pipes. Using multiple rolls of toilet paper or paper towels in your hamster's cage will provide an interesting hideout.
Rolls can be either full or empty (tube from roll only). Toilet paper or paper towels can also be chewy fun for your rodent. Some hamsters like to play in roll tubes, while other hamsters like to rip toilet paper or paper towel into small pieces and make a nest out of them!
Labyrinths are another favorite activity for the hamster. To create them, you can use rolls of wrapping paper, shoe boxes, plastic cans, cereal boxes, short lengths of PVC tubing, cylindrical cereal containers, etc. from plastic bottles can be found at the specified link.
The maze is a fun project for all hamster owners, it will also be a good puzzle game for your pet and let him have some fun! Place the maze in the play area and watch your hamster walk!
Hamster toilet
First, find a small, sturdy plastic container with a lid. Then cut a 5-7.5 cm diameter hole from the side of the container. Position this hole approximately 2.5 cm above the base (1.3 cm for dwarf hamsters) so that debris is not scattered when the hamster is done! Finally, use sandpaper to smooth the edges of the hole in order to secure entry and exit. If the plastic absorbs the smell of urine or the hamster shows any interest in gnawing it, then the homemade pot will have to be replaced from time to time.
You can also use a non-bite glass pot instead of a plastic one. The great thing about the glass pot is that you only need a half-liter jar with a wide mouth or a 250ml jar for dwarf hamsters jam - put it in the corner of the cage, that's the perfect place for it! This way, you can very quickly organize a toilet for your hamster that is easy to clean and cannot be chewed. It will serve your pet for a long time in meeting its natural needs. Just make sure the toilet jar is big enough for your hamster to turn around in it.
Despite the fact that most pets already live in the house, in our house, they still need a house of their own. Here is such a paradox.
Fortunately, the work of creating their own house is not so laborious and costly. Let's say right away that you do not have to apply for a mortgage, neither for yourself nor for your hamster, everything is much simpler and easier here. That's how!? We will tell about this in our article on how to make a house for your pet - a hamster.
Basic criteria for a hamster house
The hamster is a thrifty animal and also cautious. This means that he loves secluded places, while with the ability to store his supplies there, which he will collect from his feeder. In general, it should be such a reliable and impregnable den, at least that's how the hamster should think ...
Directly for the hamster itself, a living space of about 7 * 7 * 5 cm is needed, it is also desirable to have such an area for supplies, that's actually the whole house in terms of volume.
If we talk about the materials used for construction, then they must "breathe", that is, let the air pass through, which is important for a healthy and not humid climate in the house.
That is why we would not recommend making a house out of moisture-proof material, such as plastic bottles and Tetrapak packages. The most successful materials are cardboard, which is easy to process and from which it is easy to make more and more houses and extensions to them, as well as plywood and wood. True, here it will be much more difficult to process wood parts than the same cardboard, which means that for someone it will already become a problem. But first things first…
DIY options for making a house for a hamster (from bottles, boxes, wood)
So, the first options will be the most simple, but not so desirable. This is the use of plastic or food packaging. A hamster house is easy to make from plastic bottles. We cut them with a clerical knife or scissors, build up by inserting the bottle into the bottle. That seems to be all ... But we will repeat once again that we do not recommend using plastic for the house, because you yourself do not like to walk in synthetics, but imagine that you are wearing polyethylene.
The same example can be realized not only with plastic bottles, but also with packaging for chips.
A tube packaging is perfect for this. All that remains is to put on her own cover with a slot - a door and make holes for ventilation.
Another option is to use a modular constructor - Lego. Also easy, simple, fast ...
At the same time, variations of the Lego house can be changed regularly and without much difficulty without any problems.
Now that we have gone through the easiest and not entirely successful options, since these houses do not "breathe", let's talk about priority opportunities.
Quite not complicated and at the same time quite a life version of a house for a hamster, there will be a house made of cardboard or paper.
If you are too lazy to glue the house, then for this you can take some kind of cardboard box from the packaging. This option is also worthy of attention and should not be forgotten about.
And the last and the best option is to make a hamster house out of wood. For this, thin and small planks are quite suitable.
They must be marked in accordance with the construction of the house and glued together. As for cardboard, PVA glue is suitable in this case. This house will not only be comfortable for your pet, but also durable, since its hamster will not gnaw like a cardboard house, which is also important.
If you decide to buy a house for a hamster, then you also pay attention primarily to wooden houses.
This is the best option for your pet.
Drain the liquid through the small holes. Place the nut on a table and mark it out. The weakest point, in addition to the three "eyes", is considered a distance of 1/3 from the base. Take a knife or a kitchen hatchet and hit the coconut hard, keep hitting until the nut cracks. To quickly extract the pulp of the coconut, first place it in the freezer for 12 hours. The "entrance" to the house must have a diameter of at least 5 cm. Sand the hole with sandpaper.
If you have a tree at hand
The next structure will consist of a wooden board or plywood 1-3 cm thick. Cut two pieces 12.5 and 14.5 cm long. The height of the blanks depends on the size of the hamster and your personal preferences. In one of the smaller blanks, cut a hole 5–6 cm in diameter.
In the larger part, drill two 2.5 cm windows. Of course, your furry friend won't look in them, but they will provide sufficient ventilation. Sand all parts and holes with sandpaper. Knock down the details and make sure the ends of the nails won't cut the animal.
Building material - cardboard tubes
Such "building material" is easy to find in rolls of toilet paper and paper towels. Flatten one tube and cut a semicircle in the center of each side. Do the same with the second tube. Insert both tubes into each other so that the holes match.
Plastic house
To create a plastic house, a familiar plastic container is suitable, which is used to store food. The size will depend only on the preferences of your pet and the "filling" of the living space.
On the lid of the container, draw a 45x15 cm rectangle and cut out with scissors. Cut a 50x20 cm rectangle out of a plastic or metal mesh.Use super glue to attach the mesh to the container lid. Simple manipulations made it possible to obtain ventilation. If you don't want to mess with the glue, use bolts and nuts.
If a shaggy inhabitant of royal blood, and in your plan is the construction of a real palace. Take another container and ventilate it as described above. Cut holes on the sides of both containers with a sharp knife and insert a cardboard or plastic tube into it, fix with glue. Remember that the diameter of the tunnel tube must be large enough for the hamster.
Temporary housing
A temporary house will require paper towels, a balloon, and a container of water. Tear the towels into separate pieces, inflate the balloon. Moisten each leaf and apply evenly to the ball. After drying, burst the ball, cut out the hole-door and remove the ball. This design is short-lived. Since a thrifty rodent will certainly decide to try it "for a tooth".
Today we will learn how to make houses for hamsters with our own hands. It is necessary to take care of a shelter for the animal even before buying it, because this small creature, having got into a new environment for it, at first needs a protected place. Over time, the baby will get used to it, start playing and go out to get to know people. You need to foresee everything: the hamster's house should have a sleeping place, good ventilation and a convenient entrance.
Things to keep in mind when creating a rodent house
The main task of the hamster's nest is to shelter the baby from prying eyes. The house should be small, but cozy, so that the animal feels comfortable and safe.
Craftsmen create houses for hamsters from various materials: coconut shell, boxes, bottles. It is important to remember that the animal tastes everything, so the material should be non-toxic, dense.
Another caveat: the house will need to be cleaned steadily. When arranging the nest, make sure that it is comfortable for you to penetrate into it for cleaning.
House for a hamster made of paper
If you urgently need to settle a rodent (you gave it, brought a child, and so on, but there is no shelter for the animal), then do not use a jar. It is cold, air does not pass into it well, and if you place it on a window on a sunny day, the jar will heat up and the animal will simply "roast".
Use paper to create a temporary shelter for your baby. Remember, this house for a hamster will not last long - some copies manage to deal with a paper nest in a few hours: the paper is gnawed, the baby is released, and then it will be very difficult to find it in the apartment.
Make a house out of paper, place the animal in it, and think about buying a strong shelter or making it yourself. To make a paper house for a hamster you will need:
- balloon;
- toilet paper;
- water.
To make a house out of all this, you need to follow simple instructions:
- Inflate the balloon by half or even a third. There should be little space.
- Divide the toilet paper into small pieces, soak them in water, wring out to prevent moisture from dripping.
- Put paper on the ball so that it completely disappears under it. Apply at least eight coats - this way the house will last longer.
- Remove the structure to dry on the battery (in the summer, you can remove it to the balcony).
- When the paper is dry, pierce the balloon with a needle to deflate the air, then remove it altogether by punching a hole in the paper. The same hole will serve as an entrance for the baby.
The house is ready, but do not forget that you need to quickly make something more durable.
Coconut Rodent Dwelling
It will seem to many that making such a house is very easy. But this is an erroneous opinion, you will have to tinker with the dwelling for up to several hours, because the shell needs to be well cleaned of pulp.
A coconut house for a hamster (a photo of an interesting idea can be seen above) is small and suitable only for medium-sized breeds, for example, Dzungarian ones.
Pick a suitable nut and start creating a house out of it:
- Use a knife to make holes in the coconut "eyes", drain the milk from it.
- Use a blunt object (the handle of a knife will do) knock on the shell in order to find the most vulnerable spot in it. A crack should appear, cut this part off. If no cracks appear, then the fruit is not quite ripe, in this case you will have to work with a hacksaw.
- Place the coconut in the freezer for a few hours. When the nut is frozen and then thawed, it will be easier to get rid of the pulp.
- Scrub the pulp well.
- Expand the cut point on the shell - this is necessary so that the house stands firmly in the cage, and does not roll on it.
- Cut out the entrance to the house, sand the edges. Then it all depends on your imagination: you can make a beautiful arch, cut out a window, and so on.
If you decide not to stop at the entrance and cut out beautiful windows, then remember that they must be decorative. Make the cuts small so that excess light does not enter. This is a house for a hamster who likes to sleep in total darkness.
Place foam rubber, cotton wool, or just a piece of material in the nest. The rodent himself will already finish the arrangement of his home, creating a comfortable, warm and soft sleeping place in it.
House made of wood
Next, we will share the secret of how to make a wooden hamster house. Deciduous wood is ideal for work. You can use plywood, it is easy to work with, it will not leave splinters, and the hamster will not cope with it so quickly, tasting it. The plywood should be no thinner than 1 centimeter.
Do not close the house tightly, make a removable roof (it will be easier to clean this way), ventilation, convenient entrance.
Prepare several sheets of wood: walls, roof. The height of the dwelling must be at least 10 centimeters, the walls must be at least 15 centimeters. Make the roof wider so that it does not fall inside the rodent's shelter. Further you will need:
- pencil and ruler;
- circular saw (if not, then a jigsaw);
- file;
- hammer;
- sandpaper;
- screws or small nails.
Never use glue to join parts. The hamster will definitely eat it, get poisoned and, most likely, die.
Perform the following work:
- Process all the details of the future house with a file, then with sandpaper. This must be done to remove small burrs that can harm the animal.
- Make a few small holes in the walls for ventilation. Make a hamster entrance in the front wall. Sand each hole and entrance with sandpaper.
- Fasten the structure with screws or studs. For greater convenience, make slats and it is with their help that you fasten all the walls.
- The bottom of the house does not need to be covered. The bottom of the cage will serve as the floor. Do not nail the roof, it should be easy to remove - it will be easier for you to clean up the house and remove from it an animal that does not want to be in contact for a long time!
House out of the box
Everyone in the house has an unnecessary shoebox. But by itself it is large, so you have to cut it.
Hamster houses made of cardboard are not the most durable, the animal will surely gnaw it. You cannot use glue, we have already written about this. Then how to hold the parts together? Cook the flour paste. The hamster will gnaw the cardboard and the natural glue you cooked, this combination will not bring harm to health.
First of all, cut the box into parts, set the size yourself. For the Dzungarian, a small house is suitable - 10 x 15 centimeters. If the breed is Syrian or other large, then make the housing more spacious.
Connect the parts with a klester, let dry. Next, cut out the entrance (small), if desired - the windows.
Bottle house
Take a dark plastic bottle, cut a piece with a bottom size suitable for the cover. You will get a glass in which the bottom is the back wall, the cut point is the entrance. To prevent the house from rolling around in the cage, cut off one wall so that you can place the bottle as steadily as possible.
Use a hot knitting needle to make several holes through which the house will be ventilated.
The outside walls can be pasted over with cloth or paper, but use only paste to join.
House-mitten
This option is suitable for small breeds of hamsters.
Take an unnecessary knitted mitten. The hole for the hand will serve as the entrance, but the hamster will not just go there. Insert a cardboard circle into this hole. Convenient to use a toilet paper roll. Cut a ring from it and thread it into a mitten. The house is ready! Fast, simple and cost-effective!
Finally
In this article, we wrote about how to make a house for hamsters with your own hands. There are many more options: someone uses paper sleeves, others create real masterpieces from cardboard and plastic bottles. The main thing is to remember the tips: space, comfort, warmth, ventilation and the absence of toxic materials.