Bar Chewing

AprilPearl · 06-17-2017, 10:37 PM

As much as I love Quigley, he is not in my good books this morning. I’ve had him since Wednesday and since then he has chewed the bars every night. Last night, I am pretty sure he did it all night (his cage is in my room). I can’t be certain though, because I moved out on the early hours of the morning to sleep in my brother’s empty bed!

Quigley has a big cage. It is 100cm X 50cm X 50cm - bigger than the Alaska (84cm X 48.5cm X 44cm) he was living in at his breeder’s house). He also has lots of chew toys, which he ignores.

I think maybe he wants a wheel. But, his breeder told me not to give him in his cage until he is 8 - 9 weeks old. He will be 7 weeks old tomorrow.

What can I do? He ignores things wrapped through or against the bars to chew, even his whimzee!

I did have one thought: the only thing he will gnaw (besides the cage bars) seems to be his seed bar. I don't have that in his cage because I worried he might eat it instead of his mix. But, I could try putting it in for him to chew overnight.

AmityvilleHams · 06-17-2017, 10:39 PM

Just give him the wheel rather than waiting.It's much better to have a slightly small(highly unlikely IMO anyways)hamster than one who has developed a very serious habit or is just generally unhappy.

AprilPearl · 06-17-2017, 11:12 PM

That is a possibility Amity. It's just that he is so young and gets tired so easily. I let him have it in his playpen last night and he got all tuckered out and went to sleep on the floor after! I'm worried he might over exert himself and do some damage.

I did have one thought: the only thing he will gnaw (besides the cage bars) seems to be his seed bar. I don't have that in his cage because I worried he might eat it instead of his mix. But, I could try putting it in for him to chew overnight.

Well, I just asked his breeder if he it would be ok for him to have the wheel now, seeing as he is chewing so much and she said I should try him with it and see how he goes. Think I will put it in tonight. Fingers crossed that solves it.

If he still doesn't stop chewing the bars even once he has a wheel, is there anything that I could put on bars to get him to stop? I have heard that lemon juice on the bars can deter bar chewing... But I would be worried about the acidity harming him. At the same time, I'm afraid he could pull out a tooth from all this gnawing.

flowerfairy · 06-18-2017, 05:16 AM

I hope that having his wheel sorts it for him. He must have loads of energy to burn!

I threaded cardboard through the bars for Kashi when she first came to me and gave her boxes to destroy. She gradually calmed down and doesnt chew now. She always had a wheel.

**Bellatrix** · 06-18-2017, 05:36 AM

I know I'm kinda new to this but not giving him a wheel seems stupid to me.. considering hams are known for their ability to run 8-10 miles a night. Personally I'd just give him one. He must be so upset and frustrated if he's chewing like that.

AprilPearl · 06-18-2017, 05:45 AM

Thanks. Definitely giving him a wheel. Also thought he might chew this instead as it kind of looks like bars. Doesn’t say if it is safe for hamsters, though. Is it?

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pe...nd-play-roller

Also these:

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pe...aysticks-small

SKB_Hamsters · 06-18-2017, 07:38 AM

I think it sounds a good idea to see whether he stops bar chewing when he gets his wheel in his cage, especially if his breeder says it would be okay for him to have the wheel in his cage.

Also I wouldn't recommend putting lemon juice on the bars. I personally prefer to attach wooden chews or cardboard to the bars instead to act as a distraction instead.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AprilPearl

Thanks. Definitely giving him a wheel. Also thought he might chew this instead as it kind of looks like bars. Doesn’t say if it is safe for hamsters, though. Is it?

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pe...nd-play-roller

Also these:

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pe...aysticks-small

The hay and play roller I've seen in pets at home and it is very big (dimensions are 12.5 x 12 x 12 cm). You can however buy smaller barrel roller toys from vetuk (Wooden Rattler Circle Wood Chew for Small Animals - From Â£1.75) and (Wooden Rattler Triangle Wooden Chew for Small Animals - From Â£1.75)

The bendy bridge would be okay. I used to attach them to the bars when I had Sherbet to stop her bar chewing.

Also I used to use willow stick bunches (http://www.petsathome.com/webapp/wcs...-willow-sticks) and attach them to the areas of the bars where both Sherbet and Pumpkin used to bar chew - they used to have more interest in chewing them than the bars.

Drago · 06-18-2017, 08:46 AM

Many breeders advise against wheels when hamsters are young, I personally have never seen any real reason why, but have respected their advice as most have been in the hobby much longer than I. However, I personally see no issue with the wheel, and if he seems to be very obsessive then it's worth a try. Although part of me thinks it's likely a mix of him still settling and what I call "young age syndrome" in which hams are little devils! Do you bowl or scatter feed? If you bowl feed, try scattering and see if that helps to keep him busy

That toy is safe, but as mentioned above, it's quite large! The toy SKB linked would work wonderfully. Good luck with little Q

AprilPearl · 06-18-2017, 09:49 AM

Thanks all. I’ve used sisal rope to tie bendy bridges around as much of the bars as I can. I’ve put in the wooden toy that I linked as I happen to have it, but will try to get some of the smaller ones linked by SKB. I also found another hanging toy which has lots of popcicle sticks hanging from it which I think look “bar like” and there is another wooden puzzle type gnaw toy which he might enjoy. I have put in hemp mats on the platforms because he loves tearing at carpet (which I am quick to stop him doing) in the playpen so I figure he may choose to chew at that. I have also put in a few of those p@h willow sticks. Finally, I will give him his wheel to releive boredom.

AprilPearl · 06-18-2017, 01:16 PM

Palmer-Stephenson just sent me Quigley's pedigree. Turns out he is younger than I thought. He was born on the 7th of May, not the 1st. So, he is actually only just turning 6 weeks old today. And here I was thinking he was going to be 7 weeks old tomorrow. Hopefully he is still old enough for a wheel. Just weighed him and he is 105g, which isn't too bad for his age!