Rats Chewing Through Bins?

does anyone else have this happen to them? (i am talking the standard wooden rack with the plastic cement mixing tubs)

and if you have had it happen to you, is there a way you can prevent it?

i had an escapee today and that was not fun trying to catch her. she ran and got stuck under the baseboard, what a pain haha

i was thinking using sheet metal or mesh for the inside of the tubs, but i was wondering is there was an easier more logical way to fix it.

I believe if you put something else in there that is safe for them to chew on it may help. I am not 100% on this so if someone else has some tips or a list of items that would be safe for their rats to chew on I would also love some other input! :)

Blocks of wood and other chewables in the tub, and feed off the ones you find to be chewers... I don't have any problems with rats chewing out of my rack...

I do not have experience with colonies myself, but a friend of mine invited me over to look at his. If the mice and ASFs (rats are illegal here for us) felt stressed about food or water at ANY point, they would start to chew their way out. This could be just not enough places to find food, or not enough access to water. One day his ASFs water bottle ran out, and they chewed holes in the tub and got out. However, all the other colonies that had food and water plentifully remained happily in their tubs.

So is it possible there is food or water stress going on with your colonies that would cause them to feel the need to 'escape'?

It can happen

Rats who know how to chew will teach other so any rats that are in a chewed up tub must be culled.

As to prevent chewing make sure there is no grove or gap allowing rats to get started, make sure they have a good food source and water and provide a piece of wood in their tubs.

All of mine are provided with a piece of 2 x 4 and there is no chewing.

I have heard that old TP rolls and egg cartons are ok too. Is there any truth to that? I have never had a rat chew through a tub yet but I would love to know all kinds of ways to keep it that way! :)

And regarding Vasiliki's post: if you have a gravitational(?) water system there is a possibility that the tube has become clogged somehow. I have heard of this happening on one or two occasions but I would imagine it is pretty rare.

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Originally Posted by Andybill

I have heard that old TP rolls and egg cartons are ok too. Is there any truth to that? I have never had a rat chew through a tub yet but I would love to know all kinds of ways to keep it that way! :)

And regarding Vasiliki's post: if you have a gravitational(?) water system there is a possibility that the tube has become clogged somehow. I have heard of this happening on one or two occasions but I would imagine it is pretty rare.

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Yes, TP rolls and paper towel rolls are fine to put in the tub, but they don't last long. Wood blocks will be much better/durable and won't have to be replaced as often.

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Originally Posted by Inknsteel

Blocks of wood and other chewables in the tub, and feed off the ones you find to be chewers... I don't have any problems with rats chewing out of my rack...

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X2 I also get wood blocks for our colony.


M

i am going to try using blocks. thanks! and it cant be the food because they always have plenty of food and water. and i can't feed them off because its my breeders doing it haha

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Originally Posted by Inknsteel

Blocks of wood and other chewables in the tub, and feed off the ones you find to be chewers... I don't have any problems with rats chewing out of my rack...

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^ this. I have a few hundred at this point and have yet to have any even try to chew the tubs, let alone actually get out. I just cut the pieces of left over 2x4 or 2x2's into chunks and toss them in the tubs with the rats. They gnaw on them and when the wood gets too nasty, I toss it and start over. It's worked great thus far, knock on wood, lol!