Incessant Chewing

[vmorin918]

My 2 girls (one is 1.5 years, the other is 4 months. Mother & Daughter) have been chewing on things from tome to time but nothing concerning. The last 3-5 days they have been chewing on their litter box ALL the time (it’s a plastic tray about 11”x13”) that sits in front of their hay bag. They are in a 2x4 C&C cage with a 1x2 loft.

We are planning to expand to a 3x4 cage, with a 3x2 loft that would be their kitchen area. I thought about making a new litter box from coroplast, but I’ve been trying to find some edging since they probably would chew on that too.

Has anyone experienced this and how did you remedy it? I’m concerned that they are digesting plastic. Like I said they’ve chewed a little in the past but nothing like this. I’ve attached a picture of the tray and their cage.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Do they have things that they are allowed to chew on such as toys made of willow etc? Do you change up their toys every now and then to keep them interested in items which they can chew? New and different hidey houses and tunnels, or carrot cottages or haycubes.
Have you tried just putting a big pile of hay in the middle of their cage as that may be enough to keep them interested in something other than remodelling their cage?! Using forage mixed amongst their hay can give them something to do.

As an aside, it looks like that may be a bowl of pellets underneath the ramp - do correct me if I’m wrong - but they should only have limited pellets of just one tablespoon per piggy per day.

 

[vmorin918]

I always thought it was 1/8 of a cup per pig per day. The graze from the pellets so I’m not sure that would be the issue. I do agree changing the cage up with new hideys, tunnels and stuff to keep them interested is a great idea!

 

[Piggies&buns]

I always thought it was 1/8 of a cup per pig per day. The graze from the pellets so I’m not sure that would be the issue. I do agree changing the cage up with new hideys, tunnels and stuff to keep them interested is a great idea!

It’s definitely worth trying! I tend to leave my two with a particular item for a week or so and then switch it out for a few weeks to keep them interested in all items. A big pile of hay with a handful of forage mixed in can keep my boys entertained for ages! Hiding their veg in tunnels or scatter feeding rather than using bowls for veg can also help keep them entertained.

I’m not familiar with cup measures so just looked it up and it seems that 1/8th of a cup is equivalent of two tablespoons. So you need only add 1/8th of a cup between them both not 1/8th per pig. Babies can have two tablespoons until four months old but after that you’d want to limit the pellets to one tablespoon per day.
The problem with them having constant access to graze on pellets is that they are like junk food and most piggies would prefer to eat them and it can stop them from getting enough hay in the quantities required. Ideally pellet bowls should be removed after a meal of pellets has been given. I usually only leave my boys with their pellet bowl for up to one hour and then remove the bowl, leaving them plenty of hay to eat throughout the day from then on until veg time
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

 

[vmorin918]

When mine “graze” the pellets, it’s only a couple bites here or there. I’ll try to just give them pellets in the morning and see what happens!

 

[vmorin918]

It’s definitely worth trying! I tend to leave my two with a particular item for a week or so and then switch it out for a few weeks to keep them interested in all items. A big pile of hay with a handful of forage mixed in can keep my boys entertained for ages! Hiding their veg in tunnels or scatter feeding rather than using bowls for veg can also help keep them entertained.

I’m not familiar with cup measures so just looked it up and it seems that 1/8th of a cup is equivalent of two tablespoons. So you need only add 1/8th of a cup between them both not 1/8th per pig. Babies can have two tablespoons until four months old but after that you’d want to limit the pellets to one tablespoon per day.
The problem with them having constant access to graze on pellets is that they are like junk food and most piggies would prefer to eat them and it can stop them from getting enough hay in the quantities required. Ideally pellet bowls should be removed after a meal of pellets has been given. I usually only leave my boys with their pellet bowl for up to one hour and then remove the bowl, leaving them plenty of hay to eat throughout the day from then on until veg time
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

I also feel like each pig is different. I’ve had dogs where if you left their bowl filled all day they’d constantly eat until they were sick, and other dogs will eat until their full and that’s it. I’m sure they’re all different but I haven’t noticed either of them gorging. With the baby piggy I understood that they should have unlimited access anyway until 6 months.

Anyway, my husband is going to go pick up a tunnel and new chew toys, etc. I just got a new cuddle cup in the mail so perhaps all this will distract them. We are gonna increase floor time and give them different toys in their play pen too.