It's driving me MAD!!! - Paw Talk

Z00keepa · #1 04-20-2005, 02:49 AM

AARGH! My hamster Jellybean has started biting the wire on his cage, and it makes that PANGGG sound - you'll know what i mean if you have a wire one! And she starts doing it from about 10 at night and then if i ever get to sleep i get woken again by it at about 3 in the morning. It's making me really tired at school and i don't know what to do... I've given her wood blocks which she uses but prefers the cage, i've tried putting small amounts of vinegar on the main parts but she just went hyper!, i'v tried giving her other materials to chew like a small teddy, some plastic, but she keeps on with the metal bars... I moved her downstairs the other night but my dad doesn't want the small pets down there because he doesn't like them.

I can't really afford to buy a new cage but she's really acting like she hates being there (its not small but she seems desperate to get out) Has anyone else had the same problem and how did u overcome it?

dragonmaster · #2 04-20-2005, 08:13 AM

Hamsters are escape artists and hamsters love to chew, hence the chewing on the bars. It's not that she doesn't like the cage, it's just that she naturally wants to be outside of it, so don't worry that you are keeping her in a bad environment or anything.

As for getting her to stop chewing on the bars, good luck. I have never managed to get a hamster to stop chewing on something s/he wanted to chew on without just taking said item away, no matter how much I wanted him/her to stop. I only just switched to a martin's cage about a week ago, and until then my hamster was in an aquarium, which solves that chewing thing. However she's in a different room, so her chewing at night doesn't bother me.

What type of cage do you have?

Amethystbelle · #3 04-20-2005, 09:37 AM

I totally agree with the above post once your hammy starts chewing theres no stopping it unless you put her in a tank so she can't chew. I've been there those sleepless nights i once moved mine into another room and i could still hear it pinging the bars they are such little critters

Z00keepa · #4 04-20-2005, 12:11 PM

Quote:


	What type of cage do you have?

thanks for the messages, i have a 3 storey, all wire cage, not massive but definately not small for 1 hammie.

dragonmaster · #5 04-20-2005, 01:32 PM

Yea, that sounds a lot like the one I just bought. I just don't know a way for her to not chew on it, I'm sorry. On the bright side, eventually you will probably get used to the noise. I know when I got my very first hamster and he was in my bedroom the wheel he had was horrid and it kept me up all night because it made a nasty noise while he was running in it, but eventually I just got used to it and I could sleep. (Eventually I also got a different wheel, but that's another story.)

If the chewing really bothers you that much, though, I suggest that you save up some money and convert to an aquarium.

Z00keepa · #6 04-20-2005, 01:38 PM

Thanks, by the way a tip for squeaky wheels, put a bit of vegetable or sunflower oil on the piece that sticks through the wheel - it just glides round!

Just today, i got a call inviting me for a trial weekend at my first job

so if i get it, i'll be able to save up and buy a different house for her...

Also, i just read that chewing constantly on the bars can give them brain damage!?

never heard that one before...

dragonmaster · #7 04-20-2005, 01:47 PM

Yes, I knew that about the oil. However that particular wheel was bad for her anyways. I was 13 and not very knowledgeable about such things. I have since procured a noiseless, healthy wheel.

Where did you read that chewing will give them brain damage? Hamsters need to chew to keep their teeth down.

Z00keepa · #8 04-20-2005, 01:52 PM

I think it was just cage bar chewing, rather than chewing in general but it was on this website...

http://www.hamsterific.com/CageBarChewing.cfm

Its talking about the chewing misaligning the brain, and the teeth... seems odd because hamsters always chew the bars and iv never heard of that b4 but maybe...

suzbee · #9 04-20-2005, 02:17 PM

Hmm... when I had Smeagol in a cage, she used to drive me crazy with the chewing at night. I found that she stopped doing it (or did it far less) when I gave her time in her running ball each day. Tired her out maybe?

More likely, she was just agitated and needed some change of pace.

I do agree that some hammies just like to chew, chew, chew. But maybe a change in routine could help.

Z00keepa · #10 04-20-2005, 03:51 PM

Thanks for the comments!! I usually only put her in the ball when i clean her out because she is always running on the wheel but i will give that a go! Maybe for 10 minutes before i go to bed each night, then at least it will give me a little time 2 get some sleep!!! thanks all

dragonmaster · #11 04-20-2005, 04:35 PM

This might sound silly, but do you let her out of the cage at other times? Whether to play with you or roam at all?

**Sasami** · #12 04-20-2005, 04:39 PM

How often does your hamster get out? It may be that she'd bored and needs more out-of-cage time. I used to let my hamsters out every day. They usually got about a half-hour of playtime at the least.

Z00keepa · #13 04-21-2005, 10:29 AM

She comes out every day, to be held and i let her climb on me

for about 15 mins... maybe its not long enough but i dont want 2 deprive her of water for too long because she always has a long drink when she goes back

last night i let her go in the ball for about 15 minutes before i went to bed and she didnt do any cage chewing for ages. I got to sleep fine but she woke me up at 1 oclock in the morning!

arg

Zouave · #14 04-23-2005, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sasami


	How often does your hamster get out? It may be that she'd bored and needs more out-of-cage time. I used to let my hamsters out every day. They usually got about a half-hour of playtime at the least.

Keep in mind that they often want to get out in order to FORAGE for food. Sprinkle some mix in a play bin. I often see some of mine take half an hour sifting through it like a vacuum cleaner. They pouch the food and take it home, and are less hyper afterwards.

Z00keepa · #15 04-24-2005, 07:23 AM

Quote:


	Sprinkle some mix in a play bin. I often see some of mine take half an hour sifting through it like a vacuum cleaner.

Thank you, that's a really good idea - I will try it tonight!!

I suppose putting all their food in a little bowl isn't a very creative way to entertain

It's nothing like their natural environment... i really like your idea - thanks again!!