Thread: chewing
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Old 04-06-2006, 10:04 AM  
Emma
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: North Somerset, UK
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Hi Becka!



(for those who don't know, Phoebe is Hazel's sister!)



Hazel is a menace about chewing everything, so it doesn't surprise me if Phoebe turns out the same! Like babyboos said though it is worth checking the bottle is working freely though I find Bristol water does scale up the bottles, especially the spouts.



If it is purely a behavioural thing, distraction is a method I try to use - change the cage about regularly (every few days), introduce new toys to it - hiding/hanging/chewing things - anything else for her to do basically. When a ham has concentrated his/her chewing on a particular spot on the bars, for example, I've jammed a biscuit or tasty chew through the bars at that spot, so they chew on that instead, maybe you could try jamming something through the bars right next to the water bottle as a distraction.



If all else fails, there are silent water bottles available - I haven't tried them myself, but have had them recommended - Rat Warehouse sell them http://www.ratwarehouse.com/shop_detail.php?item=115 (the spouts are lined with plastic to keep the noise down)



Personally I wouldn't use a dish as I feel it would be too easy for the hamster to tip it up and spill it, and so be without access to water - I'd try a bird drinker, the ones you see sold for budgies, and try and attach that to the cage somehow - like this kind of thing (so you know what I mean) http://www.petcentreonline.co.uk/ecomme ... ct~780.htm
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Emma

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Owned by Merry, Pippin, Lola & Shirley (roborovskis) Toby & Hazel (syrians)

Missing my angel Phoebe
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