Another bar chewer

[Ceretrea]

I see there are other topics here but I thought I would post will I was looking for solutions.

Kasala has started bar chewing in her new HH. Some nights are worse than others and she doesn't do it at all when I give her a nut to chew on instead. She is fond of hazelnuts, almonds and oine nuts but I worry I can't give her too many of these as it may be bad for her (fatty foods?). Anyhow, I have tried putting wood toys in and she ignores them, she ignores cardboard tubes and occassionally nibble the rope toy in there but otherwise the bars seem to be her fav.

I don't want to get her a tank cage as the HH was so expensive although if she really needs one then so be it. I'll try some other ideas first. What do you get a hammie with a taste for nothing but nuts and bars? lol

[internet_nobody]

Have you tried dog biscuits? They could be secured in the places she chews to distract her from the bars. On my zoo zones i've found using a wooden blocks to cover "chew points" like the water bottle hole means they stop (plastic must be more fun to gnaw :P).

Once they start it is a nightmare to get them to stop, I have found with dwarfs that completely ignoring them when they do it seems to reduce the length of time they spend chewing (and rushing over to pick them up 'cos you think they're bored means they chew more - they're smarter than we think!). If you're giving her nuts when she chews she also might be doing it for a reward. Apart from the noise being annoying, and them stripping paint off the bars its not really bad for them but there is a risk of breaking teeth if they are surprised mid-chew.

[Bunsey]

Originally Posted by internet_nobody

rushing over to pick them up 'cos you think they're bored means they chew more .

absolutely. A lot of mine do it on purpose to get noticed and to let you know they're ready to come out to play. To be honest, i find it useful with some of them. Otherwise they don't get noticed as quickly. They don't do it when we're not in the room.

[Ceretrea]

Well, I don't think I have put the nuts in as an immediate reaction to the chewing, but I will remember to be careful to make sure she doesn't make the association. She did have a rubbed spot on her nose the other day but that has healed and furred back over..she has a little white patch there now

She also chews in the exact same place (at the moment). I will lower the ledge she sits on so she can't reach and she if she goes to a different spot then I can try and cover it up like you suggested.

Ty for the ideas, never thought about the association but you are absolutely right, there is no reason why a hamster couldn't do that when even creatures such as goldfish will attention seek.

I'll let you know how it goes