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Old 06-16-2019, 08:30 AM   #1
rowan22
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Exclamation urgent help needed with hole in cage!

Hi there, again... (i feel like all I do is post questions on this forum!)
Last night I returned home from work at 6am to find my lovely, angelic hamster had chewed a syrian hamster sized hole right in the side of her Barney cage. After searching the cage and a quick scan of the room I managed to find her underneath the cupboard her cage was on (bit of a boring escape - she didn't even explore!!).

I do not have a spare 'cage' for her at the moment, only a travel cage and a small play-box. (kind of like an ikea samla but small).

So, at 6am, I had to panic to find a temporary solution to this problem! In my panic I didnt manage to get a photograph of the hole, but, its a hamster-shaped hole in the top corner of the base of the Barney cage.

I know there is a thread on here about fixing holes in cages but their suggestion is to patch up the hole with thin plastic and in my case I think my lovely girl is just too determined - I'd give it one night before she chewed her way through that too.

I was thinking about maybe using Plexiglass to cover the hole since I'm fairly certain she wouldn't be able to chew through it. However, I need some help - what adhesive can i use to stick it over the hole? Also, should i stick it on the outside and the inside?

Are there any other solutions to this? I can't really afford to get a glass tank which is big enough because I'm a student and I work in a bar! I know the ikea detolf would be amazing and is my absolute dream cage but I live in a student accommodation where I have to hide my hamsters cage from my landlord whenever they come round, which can be as frequent as once a month sometimes. Unless anyone has any good tips on how to disguise a detolf as a piece of furniture

Oh, also, my hamster has plenty of chew toys! She has loads of whimzee aligators, carrot chews, wicker balls, and almost everything in her cage is wood which she is free to chew so I don't know why she insists on torturing me like this.

Please, please, if anyone has any suggestions can you help me because I'm struggling here!
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Old 06-16-2019, 09:01 AM   #2
Ria P
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Default Re: urgent help needed with hole in cage!

The little devil! I don't have an answer to your question but i'm sure someone else will come up with ideas.

What i want to say is that you'd better check your room over especially wiring, cables, electronics etc. You don't know when your hamster escaped and she may have been sitting under the cupboard tired and hungry after exploring your room.

That is one determined hamster lady to have chewed her way out of a Barney!
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Old 06-16-2019, 10:33 AM   #3
rowan22
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Default Re: urgent help needed with hole in cage!

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Originally Posted by Ria P View Post
The little devil! I don't have an answer to your question but i'm sure someone else will come up with ideas.

What i want to say is that you'd better check your room over especially wiring, cables, electronics etc. You don't know when your hamster escaped and she may have been sitting under the cupboard tired and hungry after exploring your room.

That is one determined hamster lady to have chewed her way out of a Barney!
I sure hope so because I really don’t know what to do at all it’s really disheartening because I only bought her this cage recently and I just don’t earn enough money to keep replacing it every time she chews through the base. ive checked the wires etc in the room and it all seems fine, I’m hoping she didn’t do any damage to the carpet etc but I can’t see anything at the moment.
She is absolutely mental, I’ve honestly never had a hamster so destructive.. the hamster I had years ago was in a much smaller cage due to my ignorance / being young and not knowing they needed a lot of space, and she never once chewed her cage! It’s crazy. I seriously don’t have the room or the ability to put her into a larger cage than this, nor can I put her in a glass one like the detolf so I’m hoping someone can help
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Old 06-16-2019, 11:20 AM   #4
Coco61
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Default Re: urgent help needed with hole in cage!

Rowan, I have tried to find the thread moderator Vectis did on mending chewed cages. I can't find, have you seen it? I recall that apart from plastic repairs, she showed photos of a metal bolt with circular plates either side of the hole. I have a barney cage and I have the wooden shelf down at the level of the base so that there would not be space for a hamster to chew a hole at the top of the base. I assume this is what she has done. Perhaps you can get some shelves from the internet (ranch houses do a good selection ) to prevent her reaching the edge after you have plugged the gap you now have. It's a bad habit and must be stopped but some hams just won't.
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Old 06-16-2019, 11:57 AM   #5
rowan22
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Default Re: urgent help needed with hole in cage!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Coco61 View Post
Rowan, I have tried to find the thread moderator Vectis did on mending chewed cages. I can't find, have you seen it? I recall that apart from plastic repairs, she showed photos of a metal bolt with circular plates either side of the hole. I have a barney cage and I have the wooden shelf down at the level of the base so that there would not be space for a hamster to chew a hole at the top of the base. I assume this is what she has done. Perhaps you can get some shelves from the internet (ranch houses do a good selection ) to prevent her reaching the edge after you have plugged the gap you now have. It's a bad habit and must be stopped but some hams just won't.
Hey! yep i've seen it, she suggested using washers but the hole is honestly too big for that now. I'd say its about 6cm wide and 4cm high. The problem with putting shelves over it is that the hole is just underneath the 'lip' of the base - if you know what I mean. So a shelf wouldn't cover it. The only thing I can think of doing is putting plexiglass over it but i dont know how to safely adhere it to the cage.
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Old 06-16-2019, 12:28 PM   #6
Coco61
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Default Re: urgent help needed with hole in cage!

I am not much good on safe but strong glue. Hope someone else can help you. Maybe think of a piece both inside and out so one chewed piece won't lead to an escape.
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Old 06-16-2019, 12:38 PM   #7
Ria P
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Default Re: urgent help needed with hole in cage!

I wonder if its possible to re-enforce the corners with corner metal brackets from the outside like they used to for travelling trunks. B&Q might be able to advise. They would need to be attached with washers and a bolt via drilled holes i guess.
I don't know enough about hamsters to have an idea on how to stop this behaviour. The Barney is a great cage and doesn't come cheap so you are doing all you can. I don't understand why she's not happy in there. Does she have a big enough wheel?
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Old 06-16-2019, 01:06 PM   #8
souffle
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Default Re: urgent help needed with hole in cage!

Did she start the hole on one of the water bottle insert areas or one of the indents? Those all need blocked using metal washers. I'd use superglue and glue on some perspex or plastic over the hole ( from a folder or clipboard) Once set then get a log bridge or wooden hut or something and use wire through the bars to strap it to the cage side and stop her getting access to that area at all.
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Old 06-16-2019, 03:05 PM   #9
rowan22
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Default Re: urgent help needed with hole in cage!

Corner metal brackets may work, I'm not the best at DIY (ive actually never done any lol), and I live in a student house so we have no tools but I could buy some if thats a viable option. I don't have the faintest idea of how to use a drill though and I don't want to cause more damage to the cage... Yep she has the 28cm trixie wheel - she's not a huge runner tbh, never has been but the option is definitely there for her. I've ordered her some more toys and stuff and will continue to do so so that I can switch them around from time to time to make her home more interesting for her.

I wasn't aware there was water bottle insert areas/indents in the cage so no i dont think so! She just started chewing at the corner. Is perspex flexible at all? or would I just need to get a few pieces and try and cover it?
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Old 06-16-2019, 03:42 PM   #10
rowan22
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Default Re: urgent help needed with hole in cage!

Just ordered some pieces of perspex but they wont arrive until next week... In the mean time I've put her house in the corner where the hole is and I found a small dumbell plate to go on top of it which she definitely can't move. This means she probably can't get to that hole, but i'm hoping she doesn't start another one! This is the only thing I can think of doing until the perspex arrives.
The poor girl must have tired herself out last night because she was awake until 8am (As was I -.-) and she keeps falling asleep in the middle of her cage. I'm taking her to the vets tomorrow to get her checked out and hoping its not that she's in pain or anything.
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