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Pebbles82 · 04-04-2017, 05:03 AM

Lots of good advice from others already - especially Cypher and Souffle. Not all dog chews are suitable for hammies, but the whimzee vegetable ones are and hamsters seem to go crazy for them.

I agree it is not about having enough to chew, it's a combination of it being a habit and a bit of cage stress because it's all a bit new. It's a lovely big cage, so not likely to be the size of the cage, but things that can make them chew bars to get out are

1) Too much cleaning out in the first two weeks (generally it's advised not to do a cage clean for two weeks and just spot clean the pee area if it gets stinky).
2) Something not right in the cage that is stressing her or she is trying to let you know - eg if a wheel is stuck and not spinning, or if there isn't enough substrate or nesting material.
3) It may have become a habit as Souffle says.

I agree with getting her a regular wheel. How big is the flying saucer? Syrians need a 12" flying saucer. If it's smaller than that, that could well be the reason she is chewing as it will be hard for her to run on she will be getting pent up energy and frustrated.

If it is a 12" one then maybe have an upright wheel as well, if you have room for both. They run much better with an upright wheel.

So my suggestion for right now would be

1) Loads more substrate - fill it to the top of the cage base and heap it up in the middle.
2) Make sure she has loads of nesting material - plain white toilet paper - tear each sheet into strips and put a large mound of it somewhere in the cage so she can pouch it and build a nest with it.
3) Get an 11" wheel - having both that and the flying saucer would be good if you have room for both but if the flying saucer is smaller than 12" diameter, then take it out when the wheel arrives.

Using a litter tray can save on substrate a lot as well so you can afford to put more in and just spot clean now and then - they tend to use a litter tray if you put it in the area (usually a corner of the cage) they use for a toilet. Most people put chinchilla bathing sand in it. You could put a little bit of pee'd on substrate on top of the sand the first couple of times so it still smells like her pee corner, until she gets used to it.

If you can't afford the wheel, potty and sand all at once, then just get the wheel

You can use any dish as a litter tray and just put substrate in it for now. The sand soaks it up well and helps reduce odours, so needs cleaning out less.

This 28cm (11") Trixie wheel is about the cheapest and is quite popular - she will love it

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trixie-Exer...s=Trixie+wheel

I used this litter tray

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Houses-Ha...=Hamster+potty

And this is the chinchilla bathing sand that is suitable for hamsters

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Supreme-Pet...a+bathing+sand

Where is her nest? If you remove her nest regularly when cleaning out this can cause stress behaviours too. Ideally you leave the nest unless it's pee'd in as it's their number one most important thing! Next to their hoards. Also best not to remove hoards unless they are pee'd on, and then try and leave some dry hoard behind and add new food to replace what you removed, in exactly the same place.

If she's nesting in the little white house on the shelf in the Alaska that could be an issue too as they do better with a bigger house that is open underneath and on top of the good depth of substrate, so they can bury hoards under the nest and snack inside their house

A shoe box makes a good house/hide. Cut the bottom out and cut a hole in the front long side for a door and keep the lid as a lift-off roof, so then you can check inside without having to lift the house out and her nest falling apart.

04-04-2017, 05:03 AM
Pebbles82 Hamster Antics Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 23,533	Re: Sore face from chewing bars :( Lots of good advice from others already - especially Cypher and Souffle. Not all dog chews are suitable for hammies, but the whimzee vegetable ones are and hamsters seem to go crazy for them. I agree it is not about having enough to chew, it's a combination of it being a habit and a bit of cage stress because it's all a bit new. It's a lovely big cage, so not likely to be the size of the cage, but things that can make them chew bars to get out are 1) Too much cleaning out in the first two weeks (generally it's advised not to do a cage clean for two weeks and just spot clean the pee area if it gets stinky). 2) Something not right in the cage that is stressing her or she is trying to let you know - eg if a wheel is stuck and not spinning, or if there isn't enough substrate or nesting material. 3) It may have become a habit as Souffle says. I agree with getting her a regular wheel. How big is the flying saucer? Syrians need a 12" flying saucer. If it's smaller than that, that could well be the reason she is chewing as it will be hard for her to run on she will be getting pent up energy and frustrated. If it is a 12" one then maybe have an upright wheel as well, if you have room for both. They run much better with an upright wheel. So my suggestion for right now would be 1) Loads more substrate - fill it to the top of the cage base and heap it up in the middle. 2) Make sure she has loads of nesting material - plain white toilet paper - tear each sheet into strips and put a large mound of it somewhere in the cage so she can pouch it and build a nest with it. 3) Get an 11" wheel - having both that and the flying saucer would be good if you have room for both but if the flying saucer is smaller than 12" diameter, then take it out when the wheel arrives. Using a litter tray can save on substrate a lot as well so you can afford to put more in and just spot clean now and then - they tend to use a litter tray if you put it in the area (usually a corner of the cage) they use for a toilet. Most people put chinchilla bathing sand in it. You could put a little bit of pee'd on substrate on top of the sand the first couple of times so it still smells like her pee corner, until she gets used to it. If you can't afford the wheel, potty and sand all at once, then just get the wheel You can use any dish as a litter tray and just put substrate in it for now. The sand soaks it up well and helps reduce odours, so needs cleaning out less. This 28cm (11") Trixie wheel is about the cheapest and is quite popular - she will love it https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trixie-Exer...s=Trixie+wheel I used this litter tray https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Houses-Ha...=Hamster+potty And this is the chinchilla bathing sand that is suitable for hamsters https://www.amazon.co.uk/Supreme-Pet...a+bathing+sand Where is her nest? If you remove her nest regularly when cleaning out this can cause stress behaviours too. Ideally you leave the nest unless it's pee'd in as it's their number one most important thing! Next to their hoards. Also best not to remove hoards unless they are pee'd on, and then try and leave some dry hoard behind and add new food to replace what you removed, in exactly the same place. If she's nesting in the little white house on the shelf in the Alaska that could be an issue too as they do better with a bigger house that is open underneath and on top of the good depth of substrate, so they can bury hoards under the nest and snack inside their house A shoe box makes a good house/hide. Cut the bottom out and cut a hole in the front long side for a door and keep the lid as a lift-off roof, so then you can check inside without having to lift the house out and her nest falling apart.