Preserving the nest

AlfredHam · 07-06-2016, 05:51 PM

Alfie is due a cage clean out tomorrow, normally this would be easy but I switched to Fitch on the last cage clean. Since the change he's shunned all toilet paper and nests solely in the Fitch, usually I'd lift out his nest and pop it back in the same place but I doubt it will hold to keep it as it is at the moment. I've tried giving him more toilet paper in the hope he makes it into a nest but he's decided to bury it in his sandbath instead

Any ideas on preserving his nest?

AlfredHam · 07-06-2016, 05:52 PM

His house is the main stinky place as that's where he wees, although not in the lovingly provided potty which is instead used as a hoarding shrine lol

cypher · 07-07-2016, 12:21 AM

If his nest is just fitch then I don't think you can really, I wouldn't worry about it too much he'll soon build a new one so just put back a little of the fitch with his scent on it.

AlfredHam · 07-07-2016, 12:32 AM

Thanks cypher, I was afraid of that being the answer! I hate him weeing in his house, it makes me really paranoid about the ammonia but I hate disturbing his little private area

cypher · 07-07-2016, 01:02 AM

I know how you feel, I've had the same problem with some of mine but they seem to get used to you cleaning up after them, best to dive in & do little & often trying to avoid a big clean out if he keeps on peeing in there.

Pebbles82 · 07-07-2016, 06:23 AM

Maybe you could move his potty? ie if he is weeing in a different area to the potty, could you move the potty to that area? It helps to keep a bit of the old nest and leave it behind if you can - ie a bit that isn't wet and not too whiffy

AlfredHam · 07-07-2016, 12:39 PM

I can't really move the potty because of his nest placing :/ I've seen some smaller corner ones in the local pet shop that I might get though to try and fit in. I'm permanently back at my parents now though so I took the opportunity to change his substrate over this afternoon whilst he was still in the carrier. I thought better a bit of added stress now than two lots of smaller stress within a few days, his house was really starting to smell and I don't have a day off until Wednesday so it would be another week which is way too long :/

Pebbles82 · 07-07-2016, 01:14 PM

Maybe he'd move his nest if you move his potty

Especially if you have to take the nest out anyway. Just a thought.

AlfredHam · 07-07-2016, 01:25 PM

Possibly! I've done his clean out now so I'll maybe try and pop a new potty in next week, he does quite like his shrine so I don't think I'd want to move it