Hamster falling asleep in toilet after handling...Normal?

[Clare UK]

Is it normal behavior for a hamster to instantly go to their toilet when they are put back in their cages after handling and sitting there until they fall asleep?
My hamster does this almost every time I put her back in her cage and she always looks so sad either sitting there staring into space or lying with her head on one side with one eye and ear pressed into the potty litter and one eye staring straight up. The idea that the potty little she has her eye in may not be totally clean worries me. Nothing seems to move her she just sits/lays there like a stone.

[Pebbles82]

Well they do do some funny things sometimes, especially if they're dopey, but every time seems a bit unusual. Maybe it's a general behavioural issue. What sort of cage is she in?

[Clare UK]

She's in a DIY bin cage Pics here > Ideas needed for toys and enrichment please. (now with a working larger silent spinner)

She's my first hamster so I've no clue what normal behaviour is but this seems odd to me. It doesn't matter if she's been running around like a mini whippet with me outside the cage or having a little cuddle time and a nap on my lap the moment she goes back in her cage she goes straight to her toilet.

[cypher]

Not sure if there is such a thing as normal with hams lol! but I guess that is a little unusual, I wonder if it's because it has more of her scent on it than the rest of the cage & it's reassuring for her when she goes back into her cage to go to that spot first.
When they're young they can fall asleep in what seem like the oddest places or odd times, my youngest always used to run around & then suddenly fall asleep on the spot for a few minutes when she first woke up in the evenings & even now her evening routine begins with a good groom, a bit of a run around & then falling asleep in the open!
How long does she stay like that?
I wouldn't worry about the litter, it should be absorbent enough that having one eye (presumably closed!) resting on it won't do any harm.
As long as she appears fine in all other ways I wouldn't worry too much, it may be a behaviour thing she'll just grow out of.

[Pebbles82]

Nice bin cage set up! Does she actually use her house or is that her nest in the far corner? I'm just wondering, if she might want something to go to sleep in and build her nest in, like a house with more space inside? I've got one that Charlie's toilet actually fits inside. Even a shoe box upside down with a door cut into it might do, in that back corner maybe. If she's not using the house it might be because she wants to build a bigger nest and I think it's recommended that they do have a hide or something. I know you have the bendy stick bridges for shelter as well, but they need something more enclosed as well.