Sudden bar chewing?

LadyPikachu · 01-27-2015, 12:27 AM

Pikachu gas suddenly taken to bar chewing. She is in my bedroom and it is. EXTREMELY loud. I am a light sleeper, and I'm getting so upset with her because she was a diamond since I got her especially since the addition of her new wheel. Would just run on her bridge and on her wheel, making only noises I could sleep with. I've not long bought her a Hamster Heaven cage.. And I went through a lot of trouble getting it (The story for that is actually all over this forum lol) so it is really distressing her doing this after all the trouble I went through. She loves her cage too so I don't understand.

She has toys all over her cage, but still enough floor space to have a good run as most of them are hanging which she loves and does play with them. She has a 11" Wonderland Wheel which she seems to run on fine, her water bottle is working and her cage is big enough that she should be okay.

I can't figure out why she is doing this? She doesn't seem ill, there's no other changes in her behaviour. She stops if I gently blow on her face, but I have to get up and blow on her gently every time she does it which is a pain. I tried putting cardboard on the bars and she just destroyed the cardboard.

I'm wondering if I attach her old cage on top in replacement of the penthouse if the extra room would discourage her from it? But her old cage is barred too so I can just see that maybe making things worse.

The main places she is biting are the big door at the front in the middle and the door on the penthouse. I don't ever let her out when she does bite the bars, the only thing she gets if I do get up is me blowing gently on her (Which makes her almost cock her head at me like a dog, if it really upset her I wouldn't do it.) and sometimes me shouting "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME I HAVE TO BE UP AT 6AM!" which she just seems to stare at me .. Almost laughing .. Little sod.

I'm going to order her another bridge as she really loves the one she has now and feel it may help.

Any other ideas? I have read the Bar Chewer sticky but I know there's more ideas since then!

velma · 01-27-2015, 03:10 AM

I don't have this problem as I have tanks (and any past bar chewing with former hams I know now was down to small cages.) I know I've read a few people on here have problems with bar chewing when their hamster is trying to get their attention to take them out to play. I just wondered if that was it as she is chewing her door? Not very helpful as I don't know how to make her stop but it could be attention rather than inadequate environment as it sounds like she has plenty of stuff in her cage. Does she chew her chew toys?
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Teddy001 · 01-27-2015, 05:47 AM

Someone had the same happen when she bought a Hamster Heaven. She took off the loft, and her hamster stopped bar chewing.

Erin.R · 01-27-2015, 07:24 AM

Do you have a ball for her to run in? The only ones that bar chew in my room, out of 8 syrians, are my 4 girls. They chew on their doors because they know that's how they get out. I have found that letting them run in the ball for an hour or even 2 before I go to bed makes them not want to bar bite. Some nights they will still try but if I turn the lights out they know I am not getting back up. Of course they have to take little breaks to drink or potty, they will let you know when they have rested enough and want to come back out. I also rotate them, because I have so many, and each one comes out for a play on the bed for 15mins then back in the ball and its another ones turn. Makes for a long night but I love it. I really think some hammies need to get out and have a little more exercise outside the cage, most of my boys are just like "playtime is over, ah whatever I'll go do something else" but my younger females are al demanding lol.

LadyPikachu · 01-27-2015, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin.R

Do you have a ball for her to run in? The only ones that bar chew in my room, out of 8 syrians, are my 4 girls. They chew on their doors because they know that's how they get out. I have found that letting them run in the ball for an hour or even 2 before I go to bed makes them not want to bar bite. Some nights they will still try but if I turn the lights out they know I am not getting back up. Of course they have to take little breaks to drink or potty, they will let you know when they have rested enough and want to come back out. I also rotate them, because I have so many, and each one comes out for a play on the bed for 15mins then back in the ball and its another ones turn. Makes for a long night but I love it. I really think some hammies need to get out and have a little more exercise outside the cage, most of my boys are just like "playtime is over, ah whatever I'll go do something else" but my younger females are al demanding lol.

She comes out for play time and a run every single single night and sometimes my Mum will have some time with her as soon as she wakes up before it get home from work, I can't give her any more time than I already do really.. I don't think she particularly even enjoys out of cage play time as I have to convince her to come out most nights.

At this stage I think she is just doing it to upset me . :c

LadyPikachu · 01-27-2015, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teddy001

Someone had the same happen when she bought a Hamster Heaven. She took off the loft, and her hamster stopped bar chewing.

I am really considering removing it if she carries on, but it is so sad as she loves it! Might try and get a small tank cage with tube bits and put that on top to replace it ? I've seen a few people do that.

LadyPikachu · 01-27-2015, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by velma

I don't have this problem as I have tanks (and any past bar chewing with former hams I know now was down to small cages.) I know I've read a few people on here have problems with bar chewing when their hamster is trying to get their attention to take them out to play. I just wondered if that was it as she is chewing her door? Not very helpful as I don't know how to make her stop but it could be attention rather than inadequate environment as it sounds like she has plenty of stuff in her cage. Does she chew her chew toys?
.

All her chews are well nibbled, and I see her playing with them all the time. :c

It would be sweet if she was doing it for my attention but she seems a very independent hammy.. She keeps herself to herself. She will let me cuddle her but never for long. I have to convince het to come out most of the time.. Usually by tricking her in to her my hand or her ball with treats haha! When she does come out she can be affectionate but mostly Indiana Jones mode xD

I just want to stop her doing it before I end up hating her lol!

bbbarker · 01-27-2015, 10:33 AM

I understand how much of a pain bar chewing can be, especially when you are trying to sleep

My hammy Bruno started bar chewing a few weeks after I got him, I too didn't see any change in his behavior and of course like yourself automatically began to worry. After doing a bit of research I came to the conclusion he was bored, so straight away I went out and bought him new toys and as soon as they went in his cage the bar chewing stopped and he hasn't done it since. He too had plenty of toys in but I just assumed he got bored of them toys, I think its important to change what toys are in there cage. Today I picked up my new female hammy Tibbles, and straight away have realised she is a chewer, her old cage had chunks chewed at and as soon as she got in her new cage she started chewing the bars. Her cage is big enough but again I'm putting it down to her needing a few more toys, I didn't have time to go out and get her as many toys as I would of liked to and although she has got a seesaw toy, a toilet roll and a few wooden toys I am going to get her a few more tomorrow and hopefully that stops the bar chewing. I also agree with what other people have said with regards to taking her out to play, I would take her out in her ball for an hour and then let her be handled for as long as he likes. I think the longer she is out playing and exploring the more it will tire her out and less bar chewing. Good luck

LadyPikachu · 01-27-2015, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbbarker

I understand how much of a pain bar chewing can be, especially when you are trying to sleep

My hammy Bruno started bar chewing a few weeks after I got him, I too didn't see any change in his behavior and of course like yourself automatically began to worry. After doing a bit of research I came to the conclusion he was bored, so straight away I went out and bought him new toys and as soon as they went in his cage the bar chewing stopped and he hasn't done it since. He too had plenty of toys in but I just assumed he got bored of them toys, I think its important to change what toys are in there cage. Today I picked up my new female hammy Tibbles, and straight away have realised she is a chewer, her old cage had chunks chewed at and as soon as she got in her new cage she started chewing the bars. Her cage is big enough but again I'm putting it down to her needing a few more toys, I didn't have time to go out and get her as many toys as I would of liked to and although she has got a seesaw toy, a toilet roll and a few wooden toys I am going to get her a few more tomorrow and hopefully that stops the bar chewing. I also agree with what other people have said with regards to taking her out to play, I would take her out in her ball for an hour and then let her be handled for as long as he likes. I think the longer she is out playing and exploring the more it will tire her out and less bar chewing. Good luck

Hmm I think buying more toys and chews for her may possibly work, I honestly can't give her any more ball and handling time than I already do. I spend at least 1 hour but usually up to 2 with her every night and I work 10 hours a day getting up at 6am aha, and I even spot clean her cage while she is in it now as she likes sniffing my hand and watching me.. sometimes she seems to play hide and seek with my hand haha! It's rather cute.

I will order her some new toys though. If that fails I'm sure I'll get more suggestions from this forum.

Thank you for your advice

bbbarker · 01-27-2015, 02:32 PM

Like I said earlier I adopted my female hammy today and at first she was only chewing the bars a few times and over the last couple of hours its become clear to me from her previous home shes picked up a habit of chewing the bars A LOT!! I've been doing some research and ErinAnimals on YouTube recommended using olive oil and rubbing it on the bars she is chewing, in Tibbles case she is biting all the bars so every time shes gone to the bars to chew I have rubbed some olive oil on. If I keep this up doing it 2 times a day for a couple of week maybe morning depending how bad her habit is she should stop. Maybe try this and hopefully it works for you