Hamsters are cute, fuzzy little animals that depend on you to keep them alive. When it comes to the subject of whether hamsters can go outside, they would find it a little difficult to cope with that. Having said that, animals like guinea pigs and rabbits can survive outdoors if they have the right conditions. So, in this article we are going to discuss the reasons as to why the hamsters cannot go outside and all the other details you need to be aware of in this regard. Besides, you can learn some of the key tips and tricks that you could practice when taking the hamsters outdoors.
Table of Contents
Is it good for hamsters to go outside?
To briefly answer, it is not good for hamsters to go outside. Usually, cats and dogs are given injections where they will be protected from outside risks and from other infections. However, hamsters don’t have any injections like this. That said, hamsters are prone to parasitic, bacteria, and virus attacks. In fact, they could pose an immense risk to the hamsters if you don’t treat them well.
Furthermore, hamsters are prey animals. So, this means noises and other smells can cause some trouble for the hamsters. In other words, that would make them stressed. They can also have an impact on the health of the hamsters too.
In addition to that, it is noteworthy that hamsters are nocturnal creatures and they would be active during the night. On the other hand, they would be fast asleep during midday. So, if you take them out at night, it will be even more dangerous for them. Keep in mind that hamsters have very sensitive eyesight and that they try to avoid bright areas as much as possible. So, to sum up, it is not good for the hamsters to go outside.
Due to what reasons you cannot take the hamsters outside.
Temperature changes
Hamsters usually prefer to stay at temperatures around 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Since the temperature range is very narrow, it is very unlikely that they can go outside. Keep in mind that hamsters will go into hibernation when the temperature hits 50 degrees Fahrenheit or below. If the hamsters experience freezing temperatures, chances are that it could even kill the hamsters.
However, heat may be harmful to the hamsters. This could be a serious issue if you had placed the cage directly in the sun. So, considering the temperature change factors, it would be best if you could keep them indoors.
Safety
Hamsters are prey animals, and many other animals may pose a threat to them. For example predators such as cats, coyotes and snakes could try to hunt them for food. Even if there are no predators around the hamsters , they may still tend to live suspiciously looking for predators. When they try to hide, it would make them stressed. So, if a hamster is living outdoors, it is very likely that they will be in fear most of the time.
Other Risks of Outdoor Living
In addition to the aforesaid factors, hamsters who live outdoors may experience numerous diseases and other health-related issues. However, if we compare an outdoor living hamster with an indoor living hamster, it is very unlikely that indoor hamsters would go through those issues.
You can commonly spot ringworm and other mite infestations among the hamsters you have kept outdoors. In fact, outdoor hamsters may come across various animals that may carry those conditions a lot more often when compared with hamsters that you have kept indoors. Besides, if you kept the hamsters outdoors for too long, it would make them more stressed, which would ultimately make them sick too.
Living outdoors
Store bread hamsters can not survive in the wild. Instead, they are a set of animals whom you can breed indoors. Ideally, you need to choose a warm cage where the hamsters can access food quite easily too. Furthermore, ensure that there is proper ventilation as well. It is noteworthy that you place their cage away from the drafty areas as well.
Do hamsters like to go outside?
Hamsters like to go outside of cages as this would mean they do not need to exercise. All living creatures would like to hang around outside and do exercise. Hence, hamsters are no exception to them. So, it would be best if you could release the hamsters from cages to the outside once every day. If it is not possible, you need to take them outside at least once a week since they actually prefer to go outside. That would allow the hamsters to move freely just like the other animals can do. The hamsters you set free for some time would be happy and healthier all the time.
Having said that, when you do this activity, you need to make sure that you take care of them well. Unless their lives are at risk. As we have covered in the beginning, there could be potential risks which could harm your beloved hamsters. These are tiny animals, and they would find it difficult to cope with them. As such, you need to make sure that you allow the hamsters to be outdoors whilst ensuring that they remain fun and enthusiastic but, most importantly, safe and secure too.
Can hamsters go outside on grass?
Hamsters can go outside on the grass. However, you need to make sure that you accompany them and keep them under your observation all the time. Keep in mind that hamsters like to eat grass. So, if they came across grass, they would end up eating it without any hesitation. Having said that, it is not something which you should discourage as long as the grass is chemical free. Furthermore, it has to be a clean area as well. If the hamsters end up eating dirty, chemically treated grass, it would result in unnecessary problems for the hamsters. To conclude, it would be best if you could avoid taking them outdoors, especially on grass.
Can hamsters go outside in the sun?
Hamsters cannot go outside, especially during direct sunlight. So, you should never leave them exposed to direct sunlight as it would be harmful to them. Hamsters are quite sensitive to bright sunlight, and I always recommend you avoid exposing them to direct sunlight as much as you can.
How much outdoor time is necessary for a hamster?
Usually, hamsters need about 10-15 minutes per day outside. As aforesaid, hamsters would prefer to be outside at least once a day. Having said that, indoor hamsters do not prefer to go through drastic temperature changes. The drastic temperature variations would be worrisome for the hamsters.
So, when you move the hamsters from indoors to outdoors, chances are that they will experience this situation. Ultimately, it will have a negative impact on the hamsters. So, to sum up, you can consider bringing the hamsters outside once a day when the temperature variation is not too intense. Having said that, some experts suggest that it would be best to take the hamsters outside once a week.
On another note, if you don’t opt to take the hamsters outside, you can consider investing in a tunnel system as it would stimulate the hamsters to engage in exercises. In fact, they would find it very interesting to navigate through the tunnel. This way, you can protect the hamsters from all the potential risks and dangers that they may come across when you set them free outside.
How often should hamsters go outside?
Generally speaking, you need to take the hamsters outside at least once a day. However, when you do this, you need to practice all the precautionary steps so that you will not fall into trouble. For example, if you just set them free without monitoring them and if you live close to a street, chances are that they may meet with an accident. So I suggest you carry the hamsters whilst carrying a container all the time so that you will be ready whenever you have to cage them.
You can consider taking the hamster playpen outside and keeping them there. That would allow them to be outside whilst enjoying some fresh air, but in a much more secure way. Take them to a closed patio area or even a fenced backyard so that they can roam free. Ensure that there is no swimming pool or any other area where they can get lost. So, whenever you take the hamsters outside, ensure that you keep supervising them. This is the most crucial thing you need to keep in mind.
Can I keep my hamster outside?
You can keep the hamsters outside as long as the climate conditions and housing conditions are favorable for them. Hamsters are cute little creatures that you can feed with inexpensive food. More importantly, they don’t take a lot of space either. So, one might think that it is best to keep the hamsters outside so that they can get some fresh air and do some exercise. However, is this a good idea?
If I answer the question of whether you can keep the hamsters outside, you can keep the hamsters outside as long as the climate and the housing conditions are healthy for the hamsters. Do not leave them outdoors if the temperature is too intense. Besides , you need to be careful when keeping the hamsters outside if there are predators that would hunt the hamsters.
These are nocturnal animal species, and it would be difficult for you to keep them outside during the night. Undoubtedly, hamsters would make great pets. However, you need to determine what the hamsters exactly need and ensure that you provide them accordingly.
Can I put my hamster cage outside?
If you have appropriate climate conditions, you can consider having a cage for your beloved hamsters. However, you need to check whether you have an appropriate enclosure to keep them outdoors too. If you are keeping them in a play pen, it needs to ideally have a concrete base with a thick layer of either soil or sand.
It is critically important that you provide a concrete base, as without it, the hamsters may end up burrowing six feet deep into the ground. Furthermore, it would help to secure the hamsters from predators that could dig and harm them too. So, it is essential that you have a concrete base in the cage.
In addition to that, the substrate layer should be somewhat thick too; in fact, it needs to have a thickness of one and a half feet ( 50cm). It would mimic the same conditions they get in their natural habitats. They would tend to burrow in those conditions just like they would do in their natural habitats. You can consider using wood shavings for this purpose. However, they would not be as effective as soil or sand. Besides, you may also consider having some of the natural plants, such as herbs and fruit trees, as they are safe for the hamsters.
Apart from that, I encourage you to construct the pen from a predator-proof material such as weld mesh. Furthermore, make sure that your enclosure has an enclosed roof, as chances are that predators may tend to attack the hamsters from the land from the air too.
Some people might think that it would be a fine idea to move the hamsters to an outdoor cage, thinking that it would improve the living conditions and the quality of life of the hamsters. Furthermore, they would tend to keep the hamster cages outside so that they don’t have to clean them quite as much as when you keep them indoors.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can dwarf hamsters go outside
Dwarf hamsters can go outside as long as there are healthy temperatures for them. They can only survive in a temperature range of around 65 degrees Fahrenheit to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. So, if the temperature outdoors goes below or beyond that, it would be best to keep them indoors.
Conclusion
Hamsters need a moderate temperature. So, if you wish to keep them outside, you need to ensure that the weather conditions and the housing conditions suit them well. If you can provide those conditions, they can survive outside pretty well. However, most of the time, it would be somewhat difficult for the hamsters’ owners to fulfill this task.
Hello, my name is James and I’ve been caring for tiny pets for over 14 years with a passion. I enjoy passing on my expertise to other individuals in order for them to have the same amount of enjoyment as I do.
