Chewable toys?

[Amanda1801]

Hi,

Jeff's teeth have grown back - they are almost meeting - and he's chewing the bars of his cage again - this is how he broke his upper incisors off in the first place!

What kind of chew toys can I provide for him? He previously had a wooden log, but didnt chew that one!

Inspiration please!

 

[Ilovemypigs]

Mine have some willow type toys, cardboard boxes, like the hard paper/cardboard tunnel things, ermmm they also have a bell shaped treat thats really hard and hangs on the side of the cage. They love them and I think they are good for the teeth as they are really hard

 

[Salt n Peppers mum]

Jeff, don't break your teeth again ! rolleyes

Thing is, it's possible Jeff's chewing has nothing to do with wanting something to chew. I think he's chewing the bars because he wants stimulation- attention- a good pelt round ?
Think about the problem of chewing the bars as a behaviour but the root cause of the behaviour is the problem that needs to be addressed.

Piggies dont usually chew on the bars because they just want something to chew on it's their way of getting our attention or sometimes to relieve boredom. Or in Jeff's case from his background it could be from habit from boredom when he was at the rescue.

So possible solutions is to change his home around often, use paper bags stuffed with hay etc as toys. Give him more playtime and get him to forage for his food more. You could try the willow type wood if you think it is just that he wants to chew on something, but in my experience hay is piggies best chew toy. keep topping up with different types of hay always gets my lot excited. Orchard grass, oat hay, Timothy and readigrass for instance.

I also think that once Jeff is ready for re-homing and finds a friend he'll be more settled and busy with his new wife or wifettes and not his bars ?

x

 

[Neheigh]

I use a toilet roll with each end blocked up then a little hole in the side stuff it with yummy treats so they have to work for there treat problem solving is a great boredom breaker when we have to Qauretine horses we give them things to think about other than being stuck indoors guessing most animals the same give jeff a challenge there great fun to watch while they try to figure it out my pig yuna now pushes the tube to get the treats where as Rikku just rips it apart to get at them

 

[majorjuan23]

Hi, I'm new

Hi, My name's Briana. I had a guinea pig named Zoe and she was beautiful but she died. Now I want a new one, but I want it to live a long time and take care of him/her properly. I want to know how to make friends with a guinea pig without scaring him/her.
Sincerely, Briana

 

[Amanda1801]

I think it probably is partly habitual, as he used to do it at feeding times at the animal shelter - then obviously food appeared - not as stupid as he looks :^-

he has lots of floor time, and I've picked him up some more toys and stuff today, I stuff toilet rolls with hay and hide stinky celery in amongst the hay and stuff, hang veg from the top of his cage (difficult, cos hes not in a permanent cage yet, hes in a bodge job until I know whether I'm keeping him!) but I just figured if he *wanted* to chew, wood or something had to be a better idea than metal bars which break off teefies!