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Post by kazcasa on Sept 3, 2011 16:54:53 GMT
Hi all, this is our 1st post on this great site. We have 4 rescued brothers, all around 5 months old. 3 are very busy and 1 is quieter but all 3 of the busy ones seem obsessed with chewing the cage bars. They have a constant supply of toys, chews and hay so aren't short of chewable options so we are confused as to why they choose metal?
All advice appreciated, thanks
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Post by Maravilla on Sept 3, 2011 17:46:20 GMT
Hi,
yes, some degus have this really annoying habit. One reason could be boredom. But to help you to find the real reason for this behaviour it would be helpful to know better the cage, interior, sizes etc. (maybe you have a foto?) Especially young degus like yours are very active and need lots of space to run, run, run, run... just to dissipate their excess of energy.
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Post by NightwishRaven999 on Sept 3, 2011 17:51:29 GMT
Hello ! Welcome to the forum.
As Maravilla pointed out, it would be useful to know more about the cage.
Degus are very active animals and will sometimes resort to constant chewing on the cage bars if they feel cramped. Do you have a safe room or play pen where you could let the degus out for a run once every day ?
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Post by kazcasa on Sept 3, 2011 18:31:05 GMT
Hello, our cage is approx 5f high by 3ft wide and has 2 full floors and 2 half levels. I have actually just had all 4 in our bath enclosure climbing all over me which they seemed to love. As our living area is open plan I am frightened of just letting them run loose as i wonder how we'd ever catch them? I will get my son to help to upload a photo as I'm rubbish as tech stuff  Thanks for your answers already though. |
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 3, 2011 21:09:58 GMT
Do you have wheels for them to run in?
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Post by kazcasa on Sept 4, 2011 10:40:50 GMT
We have a wheel which none of them use and a flying saucer which 1 of them loves and its him who bar chews most too. Just had them bounding up and down our stairs but daren't let them loose in our main room still!
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Post by Maravilla on Sept 4, 2011 11:01:06 GMT
Any chance to build a permanent playground? Playing and running outside the cage can be positive... but, there is a huge but: there are as well degus who enjoy it so much they even claim it by chewing bars etc. I mean, they can see it as part of their territory and could want to use or check it when you don't want them to do so... It's therefore I am suggesting a permanent playground which they can use whenever they want to do so, which is protected (degus can jump 60-80 cm with some training). You can put some "toys" in there and provide them more space. An example you can find here (sorry for being in German; but it could give you some ideas of what I am meaning). I would connect it with the cage so that they really can use it at any time. |
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Post by natfigg on Sept 4, 2011 19:42:19 GMT
You can buy a bitter spray to put on the bars, it's degu safe. Also make sure you have plenty of wood for them to chew on and toys. You can re arrange the toys and make them workforce their food by burying it or wrapping in tissue paper. It gives them tasks and stops them getting bored. If you don't want your degus running loose then you can get them a late running ball to use round the house.
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Post by natfigg on Sept 4, 2011 19:43:55 GMT
Sorry for spelling *work for* and *large*
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Post by Maravilla on Sept 6, 2011 15:54:03 GMT
then you can get them a late running ball to use round the house. What do you mean by this? Are you talking about these excercise or jogging balls where you put in the degu/ hamster/ mouse? Please don't do it!!!! These things are not made for animals... it's pure stress for them. It hasn't anything to do with fun, exercise or something like that. It's just cruel for the animals!! So please, don't even think about such a possibility. Besides, it's made out of plastic, a material which can be chewed easily... but can cause harm in a degu's stomach. So, please, for the best of your animal, keep your hands away from this. |
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