After two weeks, Merlin and Arthur have settled in and are fine when in their cage, but I can't really say the same for when it comes to being in their pen (which is roughly 2x1m, lined with fleece and has housing, chews, hay etc, inside). Arthur is perfectly happy to potter about and eat veggies, but not so Merlin! He wants out. He chews on the bars, and today finally managed to push the door open and escape several times... and seemed to be having the time of his life. The ironing basket was the most amazing thing ever (he bounced in and out of it repeatedly), everything in the room was thoroughly investigated, he managed to get hold of my phone and drag it across the room (things like that), and, basically, he didn't seem to be at all afraid but thoroughly enjoying himself exploring. There was no trying to hide or panicking. When I put him back in the pen, he immediately started chewing at the bars and trying to push his way out. He doesn't do this in the cage. Only when in the pen. Generally he's a bit of a bulldozer anyway ("what are doorways for when I can push the house up and get out that way?" or you'll see the house seemingly moving around the cage on its own) and seems the more energetic of the two. He can usually be found zooming and popcorning about everywhere, and is actually, though not the boss, the more outgoing of the two. He'll be the first to explore new things, and I caught him (after my chihuahua had snuck into the room) greeting said chihuahua through the bars. His confidence seems to have increased an awful lot.
I'm not too sure how to deal with the pen situation. I'm more than happy to let them have the run of a room, but would this be letting him have his own way and encouraging bad behaviour (such as chewing the bars; if he demands, he'll get it)? Should I persevere with the pen, and how, then, do I stop him from chewing at the bars? Whenever I move him away (with difficulty), he's back to chewing at them two seconds later and basically throwing what I can only say is a tantrum to get out. I haven't seem them fight with each other (Arthur will sometimes rumblestrut), and they spend most of their time together (where Arthur goes, Merlin's not too far away), share food, etc., so I don't think it's a case of Merlin wanting space away from Arthur. I'm just worried about reinforcing bad behaviour.
I'm not too sure how to deal with the pen situation. I'm more than happy to let them have the run of a room, but would this be letting him have his own way and encouraging bad behaviour (such as chewing the bars; if he demands, he'll get it)? Should I persevere with the pen, and how, then, do I stop him from chewing at the bars? Whenever I move him away (with difficulty), he's back to chewing at them two seconds later and basically throwing what I can only say is a tantrum to get out. I haven't seem them fight with each other (Arthur will sometimes rumblestrut), and they spend most of their time together (where Arthur goes, Merlin's not too far away), share food, etc., so I don't think it's a case of Merlin wanting space away from Arthur. I'm just worried about reinforcing bad behaviour.
