Chewing through detolf cage?

[MissJeliza]

Hi guys I have a bit of a dilemma with Daenerys and her Detolf cage,

She is a female syrian hamster, she's also very large, much bigger then my past Syrians.

From almost the beginning of putting her in the detolf she's been almost obsessed with a small hole on the end piece of wood which i now realise on the original design should have had a small plastic stopper in but for some reason I didn't add into her when I built it.

She's been working on it every night and slowly chewing away at it
I've been concerned from the beginning and have tried everything to deter her, with distractions in the area, covering it with toys ect but she's still moves everything and chews it,
Today I realised she's actually gotten it completely through the wood in a small area, which is obiously concerning. Although slightly impressive for sheer will power and strength/ time she's put into it.

I've now put a large block wood nesting box in the way that was originally intended for a degu but I never used so hopefully she can't move that but we will see in the morning,
Thankfully she's in an animal room so of she does somehow escape she's not in any danger from my cats as the door is always closed.

If the box doesn't work what can I do?
Should I get the piece replaced?
Is that even an option?
Any ideas would be handy!

[Princess Pixie]

Sounds like you've got yourself a chewer like my Flower!
What you could do, I know this sounds silly but it does work, is invest in some industrial strength Velcro with the sticky backs and actually stuck the nesting box you've got there in place. She'll never move that! I'm using it to stick my Flowers water bottle to the side of her tank and it's ridiculously strong. It might work. If she can't get to the hole she may well lose interest.

[cypher]

Could you use a bolt & washer for the hole? That often works.

[Jennie F]

Originally Posted by cypher

Could you use a bolt & washer for the hole? That often works.

This bolt and washer method worked for my mouthy girl. I also used some of the thick cardboard leftover from inside the detolf box to block the bolt and wedged it in between the bottom bars, then put the wheel in front. She soon forgot about it and only occasionally goes back to have a nibble on the cardboard.

If the hole is too big for that method, as Princess Pixie suggested, try velco on the nesting box.

Good luck

[WelshHammi]

I bought a giant wooden bridge and shaped it and glued it to my corner as mine was the same! Seemed to work as she couldn't reach!

[MissJeliza]

How incredible that a good amount of hamsters are able to damage their cages like that!
It's crazy really! Such strong teeth! Such determination!

I checked this morning and she hasn't moved the box but I will velcro for piece of mind else I'll constantly worry about it,

My dwarf Igor also has a detolf cage and he's never tried to chew his way put, although his does have the original plug in place as it was originally build as the cabinet,
That's how I saw the difference between the two!

I'm a little confused what is the bolt and washer method?
I'm not so good with handy man stuff so im not sure?

[cypher]

Originally Posted by MissJeliza

I'm a little confused what is the bolt and washer method?

Have a look at the fourth photo here.
Managing Bar Chewers

[MissJeliza]

Okay I know what those are!
I'll show my partner and see what we come up with!

[EJoy123]

Have you still got the glass shelves? Could you cover the end with one of those?

[Rsclio197]

My girl Poppy did this in her detolf. She was almost through the other side before I realised. I had double sided Velcro I used to place a wooden house in front of the hole. That solved it and she didn't bother no more. Good luck!