Chewing IKEA Detolf Mesh Lid

[HamsterServant57]

Hi everyone

I've been lurking on HC for a while but just registered as I couldn't see much on this topic and I'm pretty stuck for ideas.

I have a female Syrian hamster who is around 10 months old. Honey lives in an IKEA detolf with homemade wire mesh lid (not raised). Unfortunately she has a habit of chewing on these lids which is frustrating and annoying while I'm trying to sleep! I also worry that one day she'll manage to chew her way out and escape as the wire mesh is thinner than traditional cage bars.

She has lots of chew toys (different types of wood, apple sticks, whimzee, the occasional nut in a shell) but always goes back to the lid. This is easy for her to reach as the Detolf isn't very tall as it is and on the one half of the cage she has as much bedding as will fit (along with toys and hides she can climb on). She gets 30mins+ playtime out of her cage nearly every night. Is there anything I can do to stop her? Or any way of blocking the area without stopping the ventilation? I don't know if there's a reason she does it or if its just habit at this point. It's probably not for attention as she's pretty ambivalent about me. I know female Syrians are notoriously hard to please but does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks!