I don't understand how to get my hamster used to free roaming

[Shadow Cat]

... before she destroys my bedroom!

I made a pen for her using storage cube sides joined together with cable ties. I put a mat down so she doesn't eat my carpet. I put loads of hides and tunnels and toys and chews in the space while also leaving room to run about if she wants. But all she wants to do is to chew her way out.

I try every evening that I'm home (that will be all of them for the foreseeable future) but the experience seems to stress us both out. She attacks the edges of the pen with such ferocity no matter what I do. I don't know how to make her comfortable. I can't just leave her alone until she calms down, she won't give up until she's escaped. She can lift the damn thing up too, she's surprisingly strong.

She's too feisty to hold, that's another issue, only this to say that nothing I seem to do makes her calm. She has a large cage with plenty of enrichment but still seems restless. I figured she was after more out of cage time but when I take her out of her cage (in a shoe box because she won't let me pick her up) she seems even more stressed until I put her back.

I understand that hamsters need out of cage time but she seems to hate it so much it's upsetting.

Does anyone have any tips because honestly I'm completely lost.

Thank you

[LunaTheHamster1]

If it was me I would try taming her a bit more, before letting her free roam, then if she is tamer, you can interact with her a bit more and distract her with toys etc when she is out and about. Some nights all my hammies want to do is escape, other nights they just want to climb up me, and other nights when I am too worn out I just stick them in a big plastic box playpen with lots of toys.
How does she react to you when she is her cage? i would be feeding her and letting her get used to my hands, then as a temporary measure use a big cardboard box with some toys in and let her get used to your hands/arms in that.

[Shadow Cat]

When she is in her cage she's curious when she hears me, she will come to the door of her cage and I'll open it sometimes but she won't crawl out. She will eat treats out of my palm in her cage but sometimes when she comes into my hand I lift it up a little and she jumps off immediately. She isn't a baby anymore so I worry I've taken it too slow and it's too late. I hope not. I really would love for her to be comfortable being handled.

Thank you.

[Shadow Cat]

So, with no evening plans in sight for the forseeable future, I'm going to make a real effort to tame my little lady. I've watched a few videos today and I think I have a plan, at least to begin with. Wish me luck please, I've never done this before.

[LunaTheHamster1]

Goodluck you can do it. Remember slowly and patience can go a long way.