Don't know what to do!

[Bea and the hammies]

My hamster Willow is about 2 years old. She is not friendly with people and screeches if interacted with. I tried taming her many times when she was younger, but have now accepted that that is just her personality. I need to clean her cage, which is a 34inch X 18inch bin cage. I don't want her to go through the stress of having to go in her ball and and I've cleaned most of her cage while she slept. I have to clean the area around and in her nest without scaring her to much. Any suggestions???

[SecretlyDying]

Maybe you could pop her in a playpen/tub with lots of toys to distract her then really quickly sort the nest area out leaving some of the old substrate/bedding behind so the scent is familiar to her and also scatter some food/treats around the cage so when she goes back in theres something for her to do before checking her nest. :3

[Thin Lizzy]

If you can put her in a box of some sort with some of her things from the cage, she'll be familiar with it.
Then quickly do her nest and surrounding area making sure you leave some old bedding and substrate and blend it with the new so she has some of her smell still there.

[DrKMcK]

It really sounds like you might not have a whole lot of choice about removing her from the cage, whether it's with a ball, or a box, or another kind of container. Having her in the tub...with the drain well blocked, of course...as suggested above, might keep her occupied until you are done. Sometimes, what must be done, must be done.
I do want to say this though. At 2 years old, your hammy is a lovely age. I think it is just wonderful that you accept her as she is and give her the space she needs. Not every hamster is cuddley, or even wants to be touched or handled. Being able to allow your hamster that space away from humans shows real caring for a small furry soul. A "look, don't touch" hammy is not for everyone. I am just glad she has you. {hugs}
Welcome to Hamster Central!!!

[Karamelloh]

I used to have a very untame hamster as a kid, back when I knew how to care for hamsters but just basic things. At the time I had one hamster prior then I had the untame hamster and his brother at the same time. I had both from a very young age and began taming ASAP but only one became extremely tame and the other was extremely untame even though I constantly tried taming him. What I used to do is have a container in the cage and leave it in there. It would have bedding in it and my hamster would go in it daily and occationally sleep in it. To ensure he would go in it I would stick food in it while he was sleeping. Then I would wait until he was in the little containter and close it, remove it from the cage, clean it, and put the container back into the cage.

[Thin Lizzy]

That's a really great idea!
Bea and the hammies - I think karmelloh's idea is simply perfect!

[Pebbles82]

I used to do this with the ball before Charlie was tame. Leave the ball in the cage and when he hopped into it, pop the lid on - I'd screw it on properly after lifting the ball out, and just hold the lid on. If you don't want to leave him in the ball you could use the ball as a 'transporter' to a pet carrier (I put Charlie in his pet carrier with substrate and his old house in when cage cleaning), or just a big bucket with substrate and a toy or house in. If he doesn't pee in his nest, then try not to disturb it too much and just spot clean round it for now maybe and check his hoards for anything that might go off. They get very territorial about their nests.

[Karamelloh]

No problem! I am happy to help!