Problem with rats chewing at tubs

Long story short I built a rat rack because my new rat guy is kind of far and I wanted to only go twice a week and needed somewhere to keep the extras. I used a DIY I saw online and it came together pretty well. It uses the Home Depot black mixing tubs.

Here's the whole rack (the tub on the top is the extra and keeps the cats off the top. The white tops cover the mazuri food and keeps the dogs from messing with it. I clean all the tubs every 2 days.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/09/26/2enuguty.jpg

The tubs have this little hole on one end and you can see on each tub it has teeth marks.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/09/26/yzyse3eg.jpg

And when I cleaned this morning I found this.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/09/26/asanavam.jpg

All of the rats are accounted for but I'm trying to figure out how to stop this. We keep them well fed and they always have water.

Any ideas?

Feed off the chewers. The others will see and learn

Yup, feed off the chewers.

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Hmm I guess I would have to catch them in the act and I didn't even know it was happening. Plus it's a constant cycle of new rodents as they all get fed within 2 weeks

You can patch the hole with wire. I use the smaller wire 1/4 inch? cut a square of wire that overlaps the hole. Use a dremel or soldering iron to put small holes in the tub around the hole. Use the strand of wire that comes with the roll of wire to feed one end through the small hole and the other through the chewed hole and secure the wire on like a bread tie. This will keep you from having to buy new bins each time they start.

A block of wood might be good for something to chew on as well.

I've seen ppl use epoxy and patch that hole so it can't be chewed. I used the wire method but drilled holes and pop riveted the wire on. They kick bedding out so I cut out a beer can and put that in between the wire and tub. You should just brees your own supply so you can feed off the chewers.

Chewing can be due to various reasons

Lack of food and water, gap between the tubs and frame etc.

You need to make sure that the part where the hole is in the pan is not accessive (it needs to be pushed back under the frame as much as possible)

You also need to provide your rats something to chew on (a piece of 2x4 will do)

You need to get rid of all the rats that were in that tub, rats that know how to chew will try again and even worse they will teach others therefore they need to be fed of.

Now as far as the damage I would simply replace the tub.

I have replaced the tub, I keep extras. I think the gap may be a little too big though. Maybe I'll have to try and cover the hole

I screwed on the cage wire over the hole my rats were chewing through. I think they got the message with the screws facing them.

I fed off all chewers, backed the hole with foil tape from the outside, put window screen over the hole from the inside, then filled it JB weld from the inside being sure to press the epoxy into the holes in the mesh as well as cover the mesh completely. It forms a big slick sheet of steel over the hole..... no one chews anymore lol

Add: No need to replace the tub, with ample dry time a very large hole can be patched with JB Weld. I tried patching the holes with wire, etc. but the tubs would snag on the rack.

Do you have any pics of this done

I'd take one if I wasn't stuck in bed. Back injury, haven't been able to walk very well for a couple days.

Oh sorry to hear well feel better. I'm going to start by tightening the gap up. I'll check out the jb weld stuff later

I saw a thread recently where someone put a bolt, washer and nut in the hole...Should work good and it's cheap an easy.

That sounds decent I just don't know what would have a low enough profile to clear the frame. Did they have any pics

I found the threads you were talking about and it seems simple enough thanks

I would start by putting the tub closer to the frame. My tubs literally have barely any gap; just enough for the tub to slide (there is a bit of resistance, though). I bred ASF's and didn't have a single chewout (not in that setup anyways...). Now I breed regular norway rats and haven't had a single chewout either.

I just moved them all up. I may also do a washer