Welcome to my little Fairy Garden!

About Fairy Garden Hamsters & My Goals

Fairy Garden Hamsters, which is located approximately 50 minutes south of Pittsburgh in Monongahela, PA, was established in 2024 to help provide the Northeast with well bred hamsters. After years of working as a rescue, I decided the only way to break the rodent mill to rescue cycle is by providing an alternative to pet shops and rodent mills in the first place. Additionally, I’m trying to improve the local atmosphere surrounding hamsters and their care through public education and advocacy, as well as pushing to ban the sale of live animals in stores.

I’m working closely with the CHA and OHC and am under direct mentorship from Poppy Bee Hamstery. I aim to breed for temperament, health/longevity, and conformation, with a special focus on rust based colors and longhair. I would like to someday work with roborovski’s too, but I don’t have a timeline for this.

My Care Standards

I’m using enclosures that are at least 775 square inches for all of FGH’s breeding hamsters, with a goal of upgrading everyone into 1000 square inch enclosures over time. Any pregnant/nursing females and pups are kept in converted 50 gallon Sterilite bins. Once the pups are weaned at 4 weeks, the mother returns to her normal enclosure and the pups are separated into same sex bins. Once the pups are 8 weeks old, they will either go to pet homes or they’ll be kept behind for breeding and will receive their own enclosure.

Wheels at least 11” and at least 8” of paper bedding are provided in all enclosures (except for the bins - the pups don’t have wheels until they’re weaned and in same sex bins, and bedding will be limited to 4-6”). Sand, cork granules, coco fiber, coco husk, and orchard hay are provided in all enclosures (except for the bins). All enclosures have various hides and clutter, subject to change based on a hamster’s individual needs.

Diet consists of a seed mix - we currently use Snow White Rescue Cottage’s Enchanted Forage seed mix! - paired with Mazuri Rat and Mouse for any pregnant/nursing hamster or hamster under 12 or so months old, as well as fresh foods and any necessary supplemental foods (like mush for nursing mothers, pups, or seniors). After that the Mazuri Rat and Mouse is replaced with a lower protein lab block like Teklad 18% Rodent Diet. Botanical forage mixes are provided but they are limited to a few safe ingredients to avoid any negative consequences on their fertility or pregnancies. My breeding hamsters also have a variety of sprays available.

The room temperature is kept between 65F and 75F, and the room’s humidity is kept between 40-60%. Both are monitored with hygrometers located in various parts of the room, and the room is kept consistently between those values with the support of natural temperature regulation during warmer weather since the room is in a basement, a space heater for colder weather, and a dehumidifier. I also run an air purifier at all times and replace the filter as needed.

All items are sanitized before being used by another hamster, or disposed of if sanitization is not possible. I regularly perform health checks on my hamsters, and they will see my exotic vet if an illness is suspected. Hands are washed before and after handling, and/or disposable gloves may be worn to help prevent the spread of pathogens.