how to stop chewing

[trikesorz]

I've got my breeders in plastic cages from petsmart and I have a female that keeps chewing the corners. I can stick my finger threwone of the holes, I have some card board in there for them to chew but she still chews on the corners. Should I put blocks of wood in there or should I put a little tabasco sauce on the corners to make her stop chewing?

[spitzu]

I would feed her off immediately and just replace her. Additionally, you could look into building a rack system or just use 10 gal tanks. There are some nice DIY threads here that may give you some ideas.

[llovelace]

You could also put wire mesh in the corners to prevent chew outs, if you don't want to feed her off.

[PitOnTheProwl]

I would give her some wood blocks to see if that helps.

[Alexandra V]

Yeah, I'd try giving her something harder to chew than cardboard. Maybe a piece of wood, or if you can find them, the naturally shed deer alters that we sell at the pet food store I work at (though I don't know if they're available everywhere). They were originally made for dogs because they don't splinter easily but they also made smaller hunks for rodents to chew, and they get a little of the good stuff (marrow) inside as an added bonus.

[jason79]

If you don't feed off the chewers they will teach the rest to chew. I would feed her off and replace her.

[BuckeyeBalls]

If you don't feed off the chewers they will teach the rest to chew. I would feed her off and replace her.

X2

A chewer will teach a non chewer to chew. Then u got 2 chewers

Then 3...Then 4... Then u got all chewing rats

[snakesRkewl]

I feed off my chewers too

[SlitherinSisters]

Yep, I feed off the chewers as well. I also don't offer anything for my rats to chew on other than their rodent block food. A block of wood won't stop them from chewing, chewers know that chewing=freedom. And they will teach others! I added some new blood and had to feed off almost all of them, plus some of my own stock.

As for fixing the tubs. I just solder/drill some little holes around the hole and wire hardwired cloth over the chewed hole.

[Shenzi Sixaxis]

I agree. If you have any chewers, keep a few pups if you really need/want that line, then get rid of it. I had a doe that taught her pups to chew, chew, chew. Now my rat bin lids won't snap on, but chewing is down a LOT since I got rid of her, and only the two older daughters from her chew, but as they are pretty much my little babies and produce large litters like mom, they're staying. I've just about gotten them to learn that chewing = a HARD slap to the face.

And everyone's right-- adding chew toys just gives them something to mess with before going back to what they're chewing on unless it has tasty food inside.