Hamster in Heat

greysome · 12-10-2014, 04:00 AM

Hi all,

I was just wondering if anyone's (female) hamsters in heat behaved differently? Hazel Nut is particularly vocal while in heat and seems much more affectionate. Normally, she'll let me pet her for a little bit and then push me away or climb up my hand and try to go up my arm to let me know she wants out of her cage (at least, when she isn't letting me know by immediately lunging for the opened entrance). However, today at least, while she's in heat, she just wanted me to hold and cuddle her. Actually, she didn't go on my hand today, she stood on her willow tunnel, looked at me, then got into position so I could easily grab her around her midsection and bring her up. I figured we'd work more on taming and getting her used to being picked up in different ways in case I had to grab her for an emergency or something so decided to pick her up and out of her cage for a minute, then put her back in. She just kept going back up the tunnel and getting in the same position (her rump wasn't up and her back was entirely straight so I assume it wasn't the come hither position) and I finally realized she just wanted to be held/petted. Oddly, she was a bit like a dog with the petting and seemed to particularly like scritches to the jaw/neck area as she angled her head for me to scratch there.

Are changes in behavior normal for females in heat? I'm hoping she continues to be more affectionate even when she's not in heat as when she's in heat, she definitely smells it (and thus, so does my hand after the petting)

Thin Lizzy · 12-10-2014, 04:10 AM

Hi Greysome,
When Twinkle's in heat I find her more vocal and she loves being petted.
I think it's perfectly normal!
She's not too keen on being held during it though - it's as if she's saying "stomach cramps - I'm on my period" lol.

4Taylor20 · 12-10-2014, 07:10 AM

how can you tell when theyre in heat...? sorry if this is a dumb question..

NiceCrocs · 12-10-2014, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Taylor20

how can you tell when theyre in heat...? sorry if this is a dumb question..

Some (but not all) females have a particularly pungent scent when they are in heat, and if you stroke their lower backs they will generally freeze and sort of, er, 'present' themselves. That's the easiest way to tell

some females are very sneaky about it though; it's almost impossible for me to tell when Margo is in heat.

Goldie Flower · 12-10-2014, 11:31 AM

Arya changes a lot when she's in heat, I never get a pungent scent or anything like that but she will not sit still! She's normally an active hamster anyway but when she's in heat it's like she's got to try and be everywhere at once. I've noticed if I stroke down her back that she 'presents' herself like NiceCrocs said.

I've recently adopted a female dwarf ham and I can't tell when she's in heat at all so I suppose they are all different with their experiences

Oatmeal_Cupcake · 12-10-2014, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiceCrocs

Some (but not all) females have a particularly pungent scent when they are in heat, and if you stroke their lower backs they will generally freeze and sort of, er, 'present' themselves. That's the easiest way to tell

some females are very sneaky about it though; it's almost impossible for me to tell when Margo is in heat.

Yep! Ha ha, Kit Kat would do exactly that! Just freeze up and she would lift her little tail all the way up. She was adorable. xD

greysome · 12-11-2014, 02:48 AM

Thin Lizzy- Ah, so it's not just Hazel Nut! Of course she would want the most affection when she's at her stinkiest. Hazel Nut doesn't mind being held but seems to prefer just lying flat/being held flat against my chest.

4Taylor20- Not a dumb question at all! NiceCrocs answered it. In Hazel Nut's case, she stinks--I can't think of how to describe it. She hasn't done the rump-up pose to me but she is apparently very affectionate. I'm not sure about Teddy yet though--if she's been in heat, I haven't seen/smelled any sign of it.

NiceCrocs-- you say present themselves, I say it's their "come hither" stance (which read's better than their back end's come hither glance)

Goldie Flower-- Haha, Arya sounds like a character. I swear though Hazel Nut isn't as active when she's in heat, she scent-marks EVERYTHING at this time with her newly-created...perfume. You'd think she was afraid the boys might not get the hint if only she was...perfumed. She also sits by the cage wall, just staring out for attention whereas normally, if she's by the cage wall and not moving, it's because she made a stash there.

Oatmeal Cupcake-- Well now, I'm kinda hurt Hazel Nut hasn't presented herself to me...all the other female hammies seem to being it to their caretakers....

4Taylor20 · 12-12-2014, 10:05 AM

do they secrete some icky ooze? my syrian does and its disgusting.

Skeever · 12-12-2014, 10:10 AM

Now I want to see a hamster face with a 'come hither' look.....

Yes, taylor there is a milky discharge during their cycle. I forget but it's not throughout their cycle, but only during the onset or ....someone with female syrians can probably pinpoint it more.

Hetty · 12-15-2014, 01:27 PM

As the mum of two female Syrians, I can say there is differences to how they have their quarter day visit.... Lola would become very very affectionate and very very loudly vocal. She would rub rub and ''anoint'' every conceivable object (corners, shoes, mugs, hands, knees......) in the vicinity with her glands. She'd practically do gymnastics to really rub her mild lady stench in/on/around on her objects of affection (which was pretty amazing for her level of puff and chub). She'd also ''present'' and freeze for a long time in said ''presenting position'' and then call loudly..... Which made for awkward conversation......

Whereas Daisy is also seriously affectionate all the time, suddenly play time gets epic...
she seriously seriously stinks.....as in I have to open a window. And as usual, she really want to rub me and cuddle up to me when she's at the zenith of her stench. She never ever has ''presented'' and is quite silent. But she does become ''busy'': the cage must be rearranged as loudly and as long into the wee hours of the night as possible...... Everything is to be investigated, rubbed copiously and then the climbing begins.....
Skeever, I think the ''butt plume quiver'' a la Daisy may be the equivalent of a human come hither stare. Generally I can't really make out which direction Daisy is staring at......