My girls on heat and is acting strange

[Booknerd11]

My little girl has just come on heat for the first time, and I was reading most people's experiences of their hamsters on heat and they seem to usually be more energetic. Is anyone else's hamster more tired when they're on heat? My girl is constantly asleep and only wakes up for short periods of time before going to bed again, she's barely on her wheel though she's usually always on it and she's getting annoyed at being handled or bothered in the slightest. I basically want to know if I'm alone in this experience? Thanks x

[Pebbles82]

It has been quite warm recently - could the heat be affecting her? I don't think their heat lasts very long (as it happens every four days) so keep an eye on her and see how she is tomorrow. Could you tempt her out of the cage and see how she is out of the cage? They often behave differently out of the cage than in it. eg a place where she can't escape if she isn't tame yet - dry bathtub with a couple of toys in? Or if she is hand tame maybe on top of the sofa (I used to bunch up a big blanket along the edge as a barrier - it can still be climbed over but gives you time to stop that or put a hamster ball in front for them to walk into rather than fall off). You could either lift her out or tempt her into a tube with a nice smelling treat at the far end cucumber or a piece of cheese or banana eg) and lift her out in the tube with hands over the ends into a box or something to transport her elsewhere.

[Booknerd11]

It won't be heat, I live too far north and our house is not hot but is a stable temperature. I will try to let her play in her ball. Thank you so much!!!

[SKB_Hamsters]

I never myself experienced a female hamster who is in heat to be lazy - as when they go into heat their hormones take over therefore they become more hyper as in the wild this would be the time they would search for a mate as they are only receptive for a very short window of time. This happens every 4 days.
Are you certain she was in heat? As I have noticed from only owning females that they typical have 2 lazy days and 2 hyper days in the 4 day cycle. With one of the hyper days being one of which when they are in heat (raises tail when stroked on lower back above tail).
How does she behave during the rest of the week?

[Booknerd11]

She was in heat for sure on Thursday night, it was her first time though so I'm still monitoring, she could have been having a tired day yesterday, thank you!

[SKB_Hamsters]

That sounds like a good idea to monitor - like you say it might be because it was her first one. Sometimes other factors such as weather, temperature, light can affect their heat cycles.

[Pebbles82]

How is she doing today?

[Booknerd11]

I had her out on the sofa with me and she seemed fine, back to her normal nutty self ☺️😍 Thank you so much for your help!

[dreamtree1234]

I ditto SKB's observations of female hamsters in heat. I'm glad that she fine now and is more active, too.

[Pebbles82]

Glad she is back to normal. Maybe just a blip