How to Build a Wooden Hamster Playhouse

Hamsters thrive in a stimulating environment, just like any other intelligent creature. Providing places for your hamster to indulge its need to burrow, spy, climb and hoard will prevent obsessive chewing of cage bars, attempts to escape and aggression against cage mates. Wood is a good choice for a hamster playhouse because hamsters need to chew to prevent overgrowth of the teeth.

Things You'll Need

  • 5 feet of 2-by-2-inch stock lumber 40 inches of 1-by-2-inch stock lumber 40 inches of plastic U-channel, 1/4 inch wide Clear silicone adhesive Variety of shapes and sizes of hardwood blocks, scrap boards and dowel rods 3 packages of unflavored gelatin mix for glue 1/2 cup corn syrup 2 old half-sheet cake pans One wire rack matching the dimensions of the cake pans One box of 1-inch-long finishing nails 48-by-20-inch piece of screen mesh Files Sandpaper Sanding blocks Cardboard tubes Empty tea boxes
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Instructions

    • 1

      Collect a variety of shapes and sizes of wood blocks, scrap hardwood and dowel rods. Hardwoods such as maple, oak or walnut will last longer than soft woods such as pine. Make sure none of the blocks has any paint, stain or varnish on them. If necessary, use paint stripper and then sand until the wood is smooth and free of any coatings.

    • 2

      Use an old sheet cake pan with matching cooling rack for the playhouse floor. This will make it easy to clean. Use a second sheet cake pan for the cover.

    • 3

      Cut four pieces of 2-by-2-inch lumber, 18 inches long. These will be the four corner pillars of the playhouse frame. Cut two pieces of 1-by-2-inch stock lumber the length of the sheet cake pan, and two pieces the same width as the sheet cake pan. Miter each piece so that the corners fit together smoothly. Lay the 1-by-2-inch pieces on the tops of the pillars. Use two finishing nails to secure each piece to the pillars, with a nail close to the outer corner of each piece, and a second nail close to the inner corner where each piece meets.

    • 4

      Fold the top and bottom edge of the screen mesh down twice, 1/2 inch along its length each time, for a total of 1 inch folded down. Staple the screen mesh around the four sides of the playhouse frame, leaving the top uncovered. The second sheet cake pan will be your top. Set the playhouse frame aside.

    • 5

      Sand all wood pieces. Arrange the blocks and wood scraps you have collected in any configuration you choose on one of the sheet cake pans. Be sure to create holes, tunnels and rooms. Do not stack pieces any higher than 6 inches shorter than the playhouse frame. When you are satisfied with the way the blocks are stacked, use finishing nails to attach the blocks together permanently.

    • 6

      Place the playhouse frame over your wooden hamster playhouse. Place your hamster in a bottom corner. Be sure to hang a water bottle and leave a small amount of food in a corner. Place cardboard tubes and empty tea boxes in another corner for your hamster to chew into bedding. Cover the playhouse with the second sheet cake pan and place something heavy on top to prevent your hamster from escaping and to keep other household pets away.