Chew, chew, chew...

Aaaarghhh, I am going stir crazy!!!

All night long Willow chews, and chews, and chews... on the metal bars of her cage. Right behind my headboard.

Apart from the fact it's driving me stir-crazy and waking me up several times a night, I also know it's no good for her teeth.

She has plenty in her cage to chew on, various different wooden toys, a sisal veggie play patch, toilet roll tubes, balls to play with. She gets given a mass of hay to see her through the night, fresh water. She has blankies, a carrier and a fabric hidey house to sleep in, yet still chew, chew, chew...

Anyone have any experience of Chew Stoppa/Bitter Apple type sprays? Or any other ideas welcomed!!!

i use chew stoppa spray but only stops one of the buns
i think maybe put a cover just on the side where your headboard is it may work if she can't see you in bed

I don't think she cares whether or not I'm in there Mike, I think it is just becoming a habit for her at night time

FluffSlave wrote:I don't think she cares whether or not I'm in there Mike, I think it is just becoming a habit for her at night time

Rob

I think what Rob has suggested is probably the best way forward. Nibbler only chews on his pen when he knows we're up and wants out or noms (he's inbetween bedroom and bathroom so there's no sneeking past him in the mornings!), so maybe if she can't see you she won't be tempted to chew?

I've tried bitter spray with Nibbler before, had no effect but successfully managed to get ourselves back when we rearranged the room

fiver wrote:

FluffSlave wrote:I don't think she cares whether or not I'm in there Mike, I think it is just becoming a habit for her at night time

Rob

It's been a long day, and a lack of sleep thanks to my charming bun!

Do you thing she is chewing for attention?

If so, I think you ought to leap straight out of bed and offer her a Fenugreek Crunchie and a noserub




Humum, on the other hand, has suggested cable-tying cardboard to that bit of the bars, on the inside - see if that puts her off or whether the sound of cardboard being ripped apart also keep you awake

It could well be for attention Sparky, as she does stop when she is yelled at for two seconds, and it's then as though she starts again for the reaction

However, I think there's part of her that's simply developing the habit of chewing the bars for some reason, as even when she's not shut in in the day she still does it sometimes

I will give the cardboard a go if it continues much longer, however I'm not so keen to cable tie cardboard along the inside of the whole pen, which is what she's chewing at present

Sounds like attention to me.......we tried chew stoppa - Daisy thought it was quite tasty and as a result I have very little skirting board left.......

little monkey!

Oh the joys of buns, eh?

you could try olbas oil.......Daisy didnt chew that! Smells a little bit when you first wipe it on but it fades within a few hours.

You can stuff the bars with cardboard - I have done this in my cage/crate to give them something to chew.

Oh I might give the Olbas Oil a go, I've not heard many good reviews about Chew Stoppa so far!

Oh that's a good idea Cheryl. I don't think it's a lack of things to chew though. God knows that rabbit has more toys than she can shake a stick at, including plenty of chewy toys. And hay!

Flo did used to chew in one corner in the old cage but this stopped her. You need to pack the squares of cardboard tight so they are hard to remove. As well as being better chewing material they block the access to the bars.

Will give the Olbas Oil a go and failing that the cardboard!

Cheryl I'm going to show my mum that picture the next time she complains about there being a few tiny strands of hay on the floor!

It is the rabbits' room they are responsible for it. I think it is just stubborness that stops them from learning to use the hoover. The hay is kept in those drawers and Bruce pulls out all the over hangs.

i used clove oil,i diluted it in water and sprayed it on,now i know it tastes foul,as ive used it on myself (obviously not for chewing ) but it stopped snowflake

Hector has started to eat the little bits that get on the floor when he's out in the evening, maybe he understood her when she had a go at me

Bets way if you can is just ignore her, dont shout or talk to her as it spurs her on.

We had a reall issue with Sheamus bar chewing, so we sprayed chew stopper on the bars that only seemed to slow him down. I ignoring him stopped it even tho we thought too it was habbit. She just wants your attention

Sparky wrote:
Humum, on the other hand, has suggested cable-tying cardboard to that bit of the bars, on the inside - see if that puts her off or whether the sound of cardboard being ripped apart also keep you awake

We have tried this with Nibbler when he just wouldn't stop with one corner, regardless of whether he was shut in or not. I have to say it has eventually made him stop going at it, but for a while we did hear the sound of cardboard slapping against the metal bars which was equally as noisy!

when my kids were young they would play with the boxes more than the toys and i think your willow could be the same

I agree Rob

Well anyway, good news! Last night she started the usual chewing as the light went off, but I just ignored her and didn't respond once and she gave up. And I managed to get some sleep! Hoorah!

I hope she keeps it up, but if I do need to resort to the Olbas Oil, will it need diluting before I apply it?