What's he telling me?! Spring cleaning and digging

[Pebbles82]

Well, last night I was talking outloud to Charlie's cage and asking Charlie what kind of cage he'd prefer and did he like digging. This morning I go downstairs and find there is a bit of an animal smell in the room, see his cage and he's been digging! First time ever. He's dug all the substrate down to the cage floor out in one area and piled it all up at the edge of the cage near the door (is he telling me to replace that bit?!). Not sure what's going on, maybe he is just spring cleaning lol. Or maybe he's telling me yes he'd like a cage he can dig in, or maybe he just thought he'd been abandoned and was trying to escape (I've had flu so haven't been near him for about 5 days or taken him out of the cage and just put his food out after using antibacterial handwash).

I decided I had to see if he was still in there, and seeing the mound of substrate wondered if he was under it instead of in his house, or worse, maybe the strong smell was something else that had got in his cage and this was a burial mound! The smell seemed to be just wee and shavings so maybe he wee'd on his new big pile of substrate.

Anyway nothing under it and he was in his house. He seems fine although I thought his nose looked a bit bluey purple colour - will check it later. I think he might be moving his toilet - he's already decided the house isn't big enough for a nest, a pantry and a toilet so the toilet has become a pantry. Will have to wait and see where he's decided to do the toilet stuff now.

The bit of blue floor in the photo you can see had about 4" of substrate on it before the digging.

[cypher]

lol! mine do things like that sometimes, suddenly moving all the substrate around & digging it out of houses, it sounds like Charlie may well be doing a bit of spring cleaning, perhaps he knows he's going to move house & is having a bit of a sort out!

[Pebbles82]

Lol. Yes it's funny isn't it? He has never done anything like this before. It does seem to be something to do with leaving him alone for a few days - or just Spring. His nose doesn't look purply any more now. I had to put some extra substrate in last night to cover up the bare floor and it doesn't seem to have bothered him. I was about to do a partial cage clean, replacing a third of the substrate, but not sure whether to do it or not now, if he is reorganising things himself! I think they're just having a cleanout when they do this.

[Thin Lizzy]

Spring cleaning! Twinkle did hers last week and what a mess lol!
Charlie might be missing his one on one time but, you've not been well so you did the right thing.

[Pebbles82]

Certainly is a mess and quite smelly too! Whereas normally the cage doesn't smell at all - I think he must have dug out the smelly bits into a pile and then wee'd on them urgh! I do think it's quite helpful of him though, leaving me a nice pile to replace by the door - yes I get the message Charlie, it's time for a clean. Nobody else in this house is that helpful lol!

[Pebbles82]

Ah I've got it! I know what he's done. He pulled all the smelly substrate out of his house and piled it up at the side, and then pulled the clean substrate into the house leaving a big gap down to the floor. Which is why the pile smelled bad. He's a clever boy - he's spring cleaned his own house out.

I've now put a load of extra substrate in and started using the Supreme Cosi n dri which is now mixed in with Fitch and the remnants of some shavings. Charlie approves and I found him standing contentedly in it under his vine branch the other night looking pleased. It's nice and soft and he seems to like it.

[Thin Lizzy]

Can Charlie spring clean my cupboard? I can't open it far as things start falling out and I find myself pushing the stuff back in and leaning against the door for 5 minutes lol!

[Pebbles82]

Yes I was wondering if he'd do the rest of the house lol!

[Piebald]

Mine next please! I'll pay peanuts . . .

[Pebbles82]

Ha ha - now that was really witty! Charlie says yes thanks he'll have the peanuts but he's sick of housework so no thanks to that.