Fisher, K., Gebhardt-Heinrich, S. G., Steiger, A. 2007. Behaviour of golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) kept in four different cage sizes. Animal Welfare 16(1), 53-62.
Hamsters spent most of their active time inside the running-wheel (58% in 1,800 cm2, 74% in 2,500 cm2, 63% in 5,000 cm2 and 70% in 10,000 cm2). Although hamsters displayed wire-gnawing in all cage sizes, hamsters in small cages performed wire-gnawing more often and for longer periods. In small cages, more hamsters made use of the roof of their shelter which could indicate that additional space was increasing welfare.
Year
2007