Recent bar chewing...

[Golden_Syrian_Hammmies]

Hi everyone just some advice regarding bar chewing. I have read the sticky thread here by vectis also. Fudge recently has started chewing the bars of his cage just in the mornings sometimes it can be at 5 or later. This morning he did it there about 5/10 mins ago (its now 7.50am) I don't know why he's started all of a sudden? He is in an Alaska cafe with plenty to do, he has a good sized wheel which he uses, a large whimzee toothbrush which he does use (but recently don't think he has been using it that much). As well as getting his normal Museli mix I also give fresh veg and fruit now and again and porridge every couple of days. He gets out of his cage when he wants though he is a funny ham about coming out at night preparing to wait till I put the lights out. Though recently he has become more sociable. The only thing I can think of is that his teeth are growing which I know they continually do and he feels he has nothing to chew on? I'm running out of ideas. It's hard to listen to him bar chewing without wanting to go and get him out/distract him to stop him as I don't it to become an attention seeking habit. But I don't want him damaging his teeth and the bars of the cage :/ he does only do it for 10 mins or so but id rather he didn't. I just don't want to think he is doing it because he is bored or stressed.

[xFluffyHamsterx]

He might be doing it to get your attention? My hammy did that too without a reason! I managed to make him stop actually by hand feeding him treats so he's distracted. Try and get those gnawing sticks that hang down from the top of the cage, they are very good too.

[Golden_Syrian_Hammmies]

Thanks FluffyHamster for your reply. Yes you could be right. I was thinking that might be a possibility as I didn't know what else it could be. He hasn't actually done it the last few mornings which is good. I have given him one of those sticks, he really likes them, try to always have one in his cage. He is a wee rascal!

[Pebbles82]

Certainly give him plenty of other things to chew on - Antos mini toothbrushes and crocodile chews are very popular with most hammies. I've also used the Rosewood naturals dandelion and mini rodent sticks. Some toilet rolls or a cardboard box would also give him something to rip up and chew if he likes ripping things up!

They often chew bars in cages that are too small, because they're cooped up and want to get out, or are stressed because the cage is small, but the Alaska isn't a small cage. It can become a habit though. If it's around 5 or 6am it does sound like he is active and wanting to come out, but things to chew on might help. Adding enrichment to the cage can help as well. So lots of deep substrate - pile it up in the middle of the cage even, where it can't fall out of the bars - a good sized house and lots of torn up white toilet paper for nesting material - put a new big mound of it out if you haven't already. And try scattering half his hamster mix in the cage. I sometimes put half the usual amount in the bowl and scatter the other half around the cage on the substrate - they love foraging for it.

These are the chew sticks I mentioned

I usually get four mini sized ones at a time - they last quite a while

https://www.viovet.co.uk/Antos_Cerea...=Antos&sct_r=2

https://www.viovet.co.uk/Boredom_Bre...delion&sct_r=1

https://www.viovet.co.uk/Boredom_Bre...sticks&sct_r=1

I also got Charlie one of these when I first got him. It's not cheap but it's quite big - 2 or 3 inches long. He spent hours and hours trying to chew the carrot out of the middle and chewed all the bark off the outside. I would try getting this one and some antos toothbrush mini chews

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rosewood-Bo...od+carrot+chew

[flowerfairy]

Kashi chews the bars of her barney cage for a few mins here and there. All those lovely hanging treats last about 15 minutes each and dont stop the bar chewing completely.

I thread cardboard in the bars every day and she goes mad shredding it into teeny pieces. She is one of those hamsters that needs a lotmof enrichment so i change her toys round often and put new stuff in regularly.

[xFluffyHamsterx]

Originally Posted by Golden_Syrian_Hammmies

Thanks FluffyHamster for your reply. Yes you could be right. I was thinking that might be a possibility as I didn't know what else it could be. He hasn't actually done it the last few mornings which is good. I have given him one of those sticks, he really likes them, try to always have one in his cage. He is a wee rascal!

Thats good! It's quite funny, actually, how fast our hamsters have actually snapped out of it!

[Golden_Syrian_Hammmies]

Serendipity he has one of the large whimzee toothbrushes which he does use and I actually recently bought the carrot log as I saw it and thought it would be good! He doesn't really seem to be much of a cardboard chewer as I did make one of those flowers, he had a bit of a nibble and then nope not really interested! It seems to be hard together them to chew things that you want them to chew lol. When he does it he has woke me the wee monkey so I get him out for a bit. He has a good bit of subtracte in his cage now (thanks to your advice ) cage is due a spot clean were I will remove some old and replace with more. Thanks for all the links will check out the chews, there are so many things on the market..I love going into p@h and looking at (and buying!) the hamster products I could spend ages.


That's a good idea flowerfairy to thread the cardboard through the wires. It might distract him and give him that to chew instead. They can get bored just like the rest of us so need plenty to do.


Yes Fluffyhamster it's a strange one! At least though they don't do it constant which is a blessing otherwise I would go spare! I really don't want him damaging his teeth or the cage, they can have enough teeth problems as they get older without chipping them on cage bars!


Ps. I have been reading your thread serendipity re: Charlie's teeth problem. I hope you get sorted soon! Vets who don't know much about hamsters is a bit of a concern, we really do need vets who are more knowledgeable in hamster health.

[Pebbles82]

Lol sorry GSH am I repeating myself Threading cardboard sounds a good idea to try Yes am going to ring another vet on Monday.

[Golden_Syrian_Hammmies]

Don't worry lol. He's not much of a cardboard chewer but it might be worth a try. Currently he is out nibbling his hanging chew stick though I have laid it flat inside his large rat tube as it catches all the bits that comes off and isn't as noisy as when hanging from the bars. Will be thinking of you. Hope you and little Charlie get sorted he's so cute. I loved the photos of your vet outing whole waiting for the taxi

[Pebbles82]

Thank you