Stopping degus chewing.

[degunewbie]

Hey guys, obviously they chew everything, and I give them all sorts to chew on. But there are some things I just cant have them chewing. Most importantly is the bottom of house doors (trying to make escape routes I imagine) and skirting boards. Is there any way to stop them chewing certain things? Yesterday when they were out, I tried a bit of cellotape, but that didnt help one bit. It got ripped off; it just created the extra problem of what if they chew the tape, that won't end well.

[savvy]

The only way is to physically block off anything you don't want chewed.

[deguconvert]

It's a few years back now, but one of our members used to cover up the original skirting boards in her flat with new ones that she would very lightly attach over top. Easier to fill in a few nail holes than to repair the chewing. As I recall she would also attach some strips of wood along the bottom of doors to provide some protection in areas where she couldn't prevent them from access.

[teemu]

The only ways I've found to work is to either cover/block things off or carefully watch them like a hawk and tell them off every time they get up to mischief. They love skirting boards and door edges!

[bouncy]

Getting a degu to stop chewing is like trying to stop a human from breathing. It's a necessity for them. If there are specific things you don't want chewed, either remove or cover them. Sorry!

[degunewbie]

Haha. I have tried to stop them by telling them off. It is a losing battle. Just ends up with me harassing Mary and prodding her away with my finger for 2 hours straight; and even the prod barely works she just stays there batting my hand away squeaking, hoping I'll relent. A stand-off basically. I move to one spot to stop her, so she runs to the opposite furthest distance spot to chew there instead haha. For some reason, Sarah is actually very good, very well behaved in this instance, and very rarely chews the building.

I'll try the fake skirting idea that's a good one.

[moletteuk]

Yeah, it's no fun for you or the goos if you are telling them off for the whole of playtime.

The fake skirtings can actually be velcroed on with self adhesive velcro. I think you would have to be careful that the goos could chew through the fake ones quite quickly if they set their mind to it.

I tend to think a playpen is the way forward or room divider keeping them in a safe area.

[klbishop]

Im really sorry but there is nothing I have found and had to replace doors and skirting boards.....

[bouncy]

When they first came home, Sneaky and Snoozy became the only goos who ever had a taste for my kitchen units (their playground). I simply put corotherm sheets around the kitchen. They still have the full run of the kitchen, and I get to keep the units intact. I'd already replaced the skirting with a lip of porcelain floor tiles when I laid it, so I just have to clean up wee and poo.

[deguconvert]

That's brilliant, Bouncy! Corotherm works really well for playpens as well, right? I'm not sure if I'm thinking of the right thing. I should google it.
Edit: Definitely NOT the same stuff I was thinking of. LOL!

[bouncy]

Perspex was too expensive an option, and too brittle for me to move and lift atop my wall units. Corotherm is much lighter and resilient!

[degunewbie]

Thanks guys, all of this is very helpful.

I do have a playpen, but even that I am actually a little bit tense about because it always seems they are looking to jump out or get under. I actually feel I have to put them away quite quickly when I get them out in it, because it gets a little tense. It is metal, but they certainly could escape. Plus if I could give them even more space then that would be ideal.

I actually wouldnt mind having to replace the skirting and doors, as annoying as it would be. But problem is it isnt my house, I rent, yes for a long time now I have been here, but it isnt my property to decide that. And I live with housemates who are fans of the goos and support them, and want them to be happy, but I wouldnt want to put them in the situation of the goos messing up their home too, you know. The other problem is the skirting I think is plaster board, and it is painted so I imagine it is not suitable for them to chew. I hope to get my own place in a couple of years, so can do something more permanent for them.

What I am thinking based on this advice is getting corotherm cut to size for the skirting boards, which I could blue tack on and remove in the corridors? My family home has a lot of raw wood, so I could also easily get some blocks cut to size by my father for the doors. Mary can push hides and boxes and things easily to get access to the doors, as she has shown me. But a couple of heavy wood blocks hopefully could do the trick? In terms of my room, I could do something more permanent and screw in some fake skirting and fill in the screw holes when I leave this home, that would be fine.

Does that sound sensible? Not sure I'm over complicating things.

[bouncy]

I would use the full width of corotherm, not just the skirting board height, or you'll have to put metal edging to it. More secure than blue tack, try those Command velcro strips - stronger, and also removable from the walls if you move.