How to Build Wooden Hamster Homes

Hamsters enjoy hiding, so a wood house is an ideal addition to your hamster cage. Wooden hamster houses are preferred over plastic structures due to the hamster's tendency to chew. Plastic bits can cause a potentially deadly intestinal obstruction, making wood ideal for a hamster house. An array of wood types are suitable for this project, though there are a few that should be avoided: cedar, and woods from evergreen trees, like pine. These can be harmful to the hamster. In addition, this project is screw- and nail-free. Wood glue will be used to attach the wood, as screws and nails can injure the hamster when it chews on the house.

Things You'll Need

  • Protective eyewear
  • Face mask
  • Untreated wood
  • Table saw, hand saw or circular saw
  • Jigsaw
  • Medium-grit sandpaper
  • Sanding block
  • Wood glue
  • Bar clamp
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Instructions

    • 1

      Don a face mask and protective eyewear.

    • 2

      Cut two 5-by-4-inch wood rectangles with a saw. These will be the front and back walls.

    • 3

      Cut one 4 1/2-by-4-inch wood rectangle with a saw. This will be the roof.

    • 4

      Cut two 4-inch wood squares with a saw. These will be the side walls.

    • 5

      Cut a door into one of the 5-by-4-inch wooden rectangles using a jigsaw. Cut the door into the center of one of the rectangle's long sides. It should be approximately three inches tall and two inches wide. The door shape can be an arch or a rectangle.

    • 6

      Sand the edges of the wood blocks. Use medium-grit sandpaper.

    • 7

      Apply a line of wood glue to the ends of the two short sides of the 4 1/2-by-4-inch wood rectangle (the roof piece).

    • 8

      Place a 4-by-4-inch square (the side walls) at each end of the roof piece. The squares should stand upright, pressed against the glued ends of the roof piece. The side walls should form a 45-degree angle to the roof piece. The roof and side walls will form a wide, squared-off "U" shape.

    • 9

      Secure a bar clamp around the wood. The bar portion of the clamp should sit parallel to the rectangular roof piece. The clamp feet should sit on the side walls. The clamp will press the side walls onto the ends of the roof piece, holding them together until the wood glue dries.

    • 10

      Remove the clamp once the wood glue has dried. Consult the product packaging to determine the recommended drying time.

    • 11

      Apply a line of wood glue to the front and back edges of the roof and side walls and adhere the front and back walls to the roof and side walls. The edge of the front wall with the door must face away from the roof.

    • 12

      Fasten a bar clamp around the house. The bar should sit parallel to the roof board. Position one foot at the top center of the front wall, where it meets the roof. Position the second foot at the top center of the back wall, where it meets the roof.

    • 13

      Remove the clamp once the wood glue is dry.

    • 14

      Sand off any excess wood glue that seeped out of the joints.