Apparently when a captive hamster does it it's usually caused by a nutrient deficiency. There was some research like a decade ago on how corn based diets didn't offer enough B3 and would create nearly 100% cannibalism rates, with similar problems in diets lacking in protein.

So if you've ever had a mad cannibal hamster mom don't worry, it was YOUR fault!

Sometimes the babies eat the mom too. Yes I speak from... I guess second-hand experience. First-hand would imply I was a matricidal cannibal hamster.

You can use the calories to do anything, even make more babies!

Mama hamster ain't letting no predators have all those nutrients.

They just forgot the cheek pouch isn't meant for baby, but i wouldn't blame them, you're not you when you're panicking.

Hamsters are cannibals.

It’s weird, I know, because they’re so cute. They are though,

I listened to a lecture recently on the devouring mother archetype.