How do you stop degus from bitting skirting bords

[gemgem]

I have three degus called Chocolate , Chip and Cookie.
They like to bite the skirting bords.
How do you stop this habbit ?
From gemgem XXX

[degualot]

This is an issue that plagues many a Degu owner.

Firstly there isn't anything you can do about the habit because it's not really a habit it's more instinctive. Degus constantly bite things because they need to keep their teeth warn down. They do this by biting everything possible in sight and there's nothing you can do to stop them.

I'm assuming the issue with the skirting boards is during playtime. I have a few suggestions that may help.

Firstly, Toys, make sure your play area has many interesting wooden chew toys to play with and nibble at. Hopefully this will take their interest away from the skirting boards but It won't stop them altogether.

You can aslo try bitter apple spray, you can get it from pet stores and online, mostly used for Dogs but it's ok for Degus, if leaves a horrible sour taste on anything you spray it on which stops them chewing. Downside is you have to keep spraying the boards everytime and the stuff is not cheap and doesn't last long.Another problem with this approach is most Degus don't care if wood has been sprayed with it and they seem impervious to it's effects.

the only other option which is what nearly all degu owners have to do is to use sometype of physical barrier.

I cut some mesh up around the same size of my skirting board, and bent the top inward so it sticks out from the skirtingboard I then got some large washers and a screw and secred it to the skirting board by lightly screwing it onto them. so my whole skirting board is now covered in mesh and they leave it alone. I'll get some picks to show you.

Or you would put cardboard over the skirting board and a little up the wall so they can't reach the top and just rip it off. However this approach will not last forever and you might have to replace cardboard everytime they chew threw a section.

Another option would be a wood barrier made from Kilin Dried pine boards. Again you would have to find a way to sequre it to the skirtingboard.

Basically you have to physically create a barrier of some sort, you will never stop them wanting to chew skirtingboards. It's just built into them to bite all kinds of things. Including electrical wiring, they love cables, keep them clear at all times.

Personally I would go with the mesh approach it really worked for me, ok so your lightly screwing the mesh ontop with a washer but it's only a tiny hole and well that's what skiritng boards are for anyway. it's either that or they get destroyed by Goos gone mad.

Like I say i'll put up some picks. Hope this helps...

[degualot]

there ya go, sorry for the bad quality. This is my setup

Also notice on the top edge which is an L shape helps keep the mesh away from the skirtingboard, this is to ensure they can't reach the physcial wood because there is a gap between the mesh and the wood of around 1cm. This is also good if you want to secure cables to the skirting board as they can't reach past the mesh holes.

remember if you do so this, you don't have to scew the screw all the way in, you just need a longish scew and a washer, the screw only needs to hold the mesh to the skirtingboard just enough to hold it in place. To ensure a gap between the board and the mesh..

Hope this helps.

[deguconvert]

That's brilliant!! I love it! I'm so glad you posted a photo of this. I really find it helpful.

[blossombrooks]

Ooh I might do that!! Well done, that's genius! :-)

[marccc]

REMOVE THE SKIRTING BOARDS!

sorry dont think theres a way! if there is tho let me no, maybe i can apply the same technique to leather sofas !

[degualot]

Thanks guys, works for me, hopefully will help others if they have the mesh to do it.