How often is a female in heat (ready to mate)? How can I tell when a hamster is in heat?
A female is in heat about every four days, usually at night. If you are observant, you will notice signs when she is receptive to mating. When she is near a male or smells his scent (on your hands, for example, if you handled him before handling her), she will flatten her body and become as “stiff as a board.” I like to refer to her as being “frozen” at this point. This indicates that she is ready, willing, and able to be receptive to a male who wants to mate with her. If you keep track of her mating cycle, you will know which days are best to try getting her together with a male.
