Summer might be beautiful, but many homeowners want a little milder weather.
After all, many people enjoy playing with their gliders in nice, cool weather. Humidness and lack of airflow in winter months contribute to these restless nights.
Your barn’s roof is the ideal place to keep these lovely little rodents sleeping over winter. So, do hamsters sleep more in winter?
Yes, hamsters sleep more in winter because their metabolism changes with the season. In the winter, hamsters’ metabolism slows way down and goes into hibernation mode which helps them survive cold weather.
Hamsters sleep more in winter because they eat less food and because their body temperature drops significantly as well.
During hibernation, hamsters’ heart rate and respiratory rate drop to around 50 beats per minute and 7 breaths per minute respectively; that’s why hamsters sleep more in winter.
Hamsters sleep more in winter because they need to conserve their dwindling energy stores.
Do Hamsters Sleep More In Winter?
Contents
Yes, hamsters sleep more in the winter since it helps them to survive the cold weather and the need to conserve energy is important.
Even though most hamsters sleep more in colder months, they certainly aren’t dormant when it’s warm.
How Long Do Hamsters Sleep?
Hamsters normally sleep for 12-14 hours each day, but sometimes less than that if there are babies in the house.
This implies they sleep many times each day, since they didn’t last more than about 14 hours total in their lifetimes.
What If Your Hamster Sleeps More Than Normal?
If your hamster is sleeping more than usual, he is probably sick or injured.
Hibernation may develop if your hamster is sick or injured and there’s just not enough food or other energy sources in your hamster’s environment to sustain his bodily functions like breathing and heartbeat.
While most houses do not get this chilly, if your hamster’s cage is cold, he may burrow down into his bedding and not come out for a day or so.
Before presuming your hamster is hibernating, be sure the temperatures in your house aren’t going below 67 degrees Fahrenheit.
If your hamster’s cage is always above 67 degrees, he may not be hibernating but could be sleeping more than usual due to the extra cold days he’s experiencing.
If you suspect your hamster is hibernating, you can turn off all the lights at night to reduce his energy bill.
If your hamster’s cage is constantly warmer than 50 degrees, he may not hibernate but could be trying to stay warm by sleeping more than usual.
How to Make the Hamster’s Cage a Better Sleeping Environment
Make an Appropriate Nest
The nest will be an insulated enclosure for your hamster to burrow into.
The hamster will not sleep in this nest directly, but it will serve for burrowing and resting while hibernating.
When a hamster needs to sleep more, such as during the colder months of the year, his instinct is to use whatever kind of bedding is available.
Any problems in this area can lead to your hamster trying to sleep more than usual, which can lead to health problems if not addressed properly.
Make sure the nest you use is big enough for your hamster to burrow into it properly and move around in to cover himself in the warmest spots.
This will put the hamster at less risk of overheating during his hibernation.
Maintain the Cage’s Cleanliness
The cage should constantly be kept clean so the bedding doesn’t stick and accumulate too much moisture.
You want to make sure there are fewer areas for mold or fungus to grow in the cage as this can lead to respiratory problems.
This is why hamsters’ cages should be kept relatively moist; there is moisture in the bedding which can help prevent fungus and mold from growing.
Ensure that it doesn’t get damp, though, or mold and fungus may become a problem.
This implies cleaning the cage on a daily basis to not just keep the bedding clean but also monitor the moisture levels in the cage.
Place the Cage in a Quiet Area
When dealing with hamsters that want to rest more, it is important to make sure the environment is quiet so their sleep not be disturbed.
It’s like having to sleep with a snoring spouse in the same room or some annoying kids jumping up and down on the bunk bed above your head at night.
The hamster will wake up from time to time to look for his food or try to escape.
An nervous hamster will get up further into his bedding, further away from the front of the cage, more nervous and more likely to burrow and overheat in his bedding.
This is why it is advised to place the hamster’s cage in a quiet area so he’s not constantly woken up by people talking in the room.
Less agitation, more energy, and a better sleeping environment for your hamster.
You will notice a sleepy hamster every now and then.
This will make the hamster simpler to handle.
These are significant advantages for sleeping hamsters.
Choose Warm Bedding
Because the hamster will burrow throughout the winter, the bedding must be able to hold up the burrowing activity and be warm for the hamster as he sleeps.
The proper bedding will fulfill the needs for heat and moisture control in the cage.
It will help your hamster to be comfortable when he burrows to avoid overheating and dehydration.
Unfortunately, some hamster owners do their hamsters a huge disservice by providing them with very poor quality bedding for their hamsters to sleep on.
Be vigilant in your search to find quality bedding for your hamster.
Also Read: Why Is Hamster Sleeping Without Bedding?
Conclusion
When it comes to sleeping, hamsters are different than humans.
If there is bad weather outside, they sleep more in warm places where their little bodies are not exposed to the elements.
It everything boils down to self-preservation, and hamsters are very good at that.
If you notice a shift in your hamster’s sleeping habits, check for illness, stress, or inadequate bedding.
As a consequence, it is advised to put warm bedding in the cage during the winter and make sure that you have a warm enough sleeping room for your hamsters.
