Managing Bar Chewers

[nyannies]

This is a wonderful guide but I don't think I saw anyone mention this. Hamsters dislike the taste of olive oil so for anyone looking to put off their hamster from chewing until they can get a proper fix, or just as an extra measure, rub some all over the bars! You could try using it just on the spot, dab a cotton ball and rub the inside and outside of the cage. I had my previous hamster constantly chew his bars, and my recent hamster started doing the same so I moved to a much larger cage with just a wire top. It still nibbles on some of the metal components like the wheel stand and such but a lot less. Also it could be that its teeth are just itchy, usually outgrown past the "teenager years".

[Scargirl]

They don't like lime or lemon juice either (Neither do I!).

[mylittlefluffyhamster]

This is super duper helpful I will try some of these out as Poppy has a flyng saucer and I think she has outgrown it!
time for an upgrade!!!
thank you! xx

[Hamster_Brat]

My hamster Dahmer won't chew anything but the bars! I have given her cardboard tubes, egg boxes, logs, sticks and treats which promote chewing, and at any one time she has at least two wooden toys in her cage. She will play with these but refuses to chew anything other than the bars (or my sleeve). What can i do!!!

[Mahavo]

Sorry to reply to an old thread!

I joined this forum today just to reply my results after seeing this thread a week ago!

My little Pixel is a bar chewer and even with all the toys/boredom breakers i buy and plus she has a 12inch wheel and a Hamster Heaven she continued!

This thread really helped me get to the bottom of the pesky bar chewing and she hasn't chewed in a couple of days now! I think it was down to getting her out when chewing or giving her attention for it! Oops silly me for rewarding a habbit!

Thank you to the OP for this post it has really helped!

[flowerfairy]

The only thing that stopped my last hamster, Harvest from chewing was to put her into a huuge cage. She was fine then. It was a wooden (oh the irony) five foot double story rabbit hutch. No problems at all. She loved to run around and I would regularly change stuff around for her to keep things entertaining.

I left her bed the same and put her food and water bowls in the same place but swapped toys around and gave her two wheels for variety.

[Rsclio197]

I connected 3 cages together with tubes and she immediately stopped! They just get stressed and bored being in such a small location for period of time.

[xFluffyHamsterx]

What does anyone suggest I put on the bars to stop my hamster chewing? I've tried chew sticks, toys etc and nothing seems to work so I think if I put (something) on there he'll hopefully stop. I don't have lemon juice atm so anything else?

Thank u

[CMB]

Try different materials to chew. Like cardboard, willow, grass mats/tunnels, loafer. Whimzee dog chews are often enjoyed by hamsters.

Wood is often boring to hamsters but you can soak the wood chews in fruit juice. I would use a low sugar juice.

Nuts in the shell may be a distraction from bar chewing. You may have to make a hole in the shell to start with.

[cypher]

Cardboard often works well, they may chew that instead of the bars but at least it's harmless & cheap & easy to replace.