Makes sense, right? But why do guinea pigs turn their attention to their hutches? Especially if there is an abundance of fibre-rich pellets and hay right in front of them? While it is fairly common for guinea pigs to chew their hutch, it can also be a sign of an underlying problem.
We have identified 6 possible reasons your piggy could be chewing its cage. One of the main reasons your piggy will take to chewing its hutch is because it needs more of your attention. When you notice chewing going on, there is a good chance you walk over to the hutch and talk to your pet.
You may even pick it up for a cuddle and some reassuring. And in future, to get your attention, your cavy will chew its cage. If your guinea pig is doing this to get you to take notice, you need to up the ante and spend more time with your pet. Remember, piggies need lots of floor time, which allows them to forage, explore and most importantly, chew.
A run provides a safe play area where your cavy can exercise and be stimulated. One hour a day is adequate, but the more time you spend with your cuddly cavies, the better! Chewing its cage could be a sign that your guinea pig is stressed or nervous. But pinpointing what might be stressing your pet out will take some time and effort on your part.
Excessive noise, the family dog or a dominant hutch-mate are just a few examples of potential stressors. Simple things could be stressing your guinea pig. Observing it in its cage and the run area should give you insight into what these stressors might be. If, for example, the hutch is near a busy road or noisy neighbours, you should consider moving it to a quieter spot. Provide plenty of hide-out spots and tunnels inside the cage so that whenever it feels threatened, your piggy has a place where it can retreat.
This will make it feel more secure and reduce unnecessary stress. Unfortunately, if guinea pigs are housed in too small a space, they will inevitably chew the cage. When shopping for a hutch, always go for the largest one you can afford. The more space your pets have to run and explore, the happier and less stressed they are. If space is a problem, go for a hutch and run combo.
Boredom can lead to various behavioural issues in guinea pigs, including chewing its hutch. Have you checked and checked again to make sure your cavy has plenty of things to do? When last did you get something new for your piggy to explore and discover? From chubes that double up as a tunnel and chew toy to corn rattles , adding new toys to get your piggies is a sure-fire way to get them excited and keep them stimulated. A combination of new toys, spending time with your cavies and a large cage will keep boredom at bay and stop them chewing through their hutch.
Swap the toys every now and then to keep your piggy interested. Too much choice can often be as bad as no choice at all, and your bored guinea pig will be back chewing at the hutch. A guinea pig on its own will not only crave your attention, but it is also more prone to boredom and stress.
Instead, keep two or more guinea pigs together so that they keep each other company. This will stop unwanted behaviour, like the chewing of cages. Without adequate hay and pellets, your guinea pig will turn to the next best thing… its hutch. Their teeth grow continually throughout their life and chewing keeps them at a healthy length.
If guinea pigs are not given enough things to chew on, they will begin chewing on items like their cage bars.
If your guinea pig is chewing on her cage bars, there is no need to be alarmed. It could mean that she simply enjoys the sensation that it provides. As long as she has plenty of other chew toys designed for chewing and gnawing, your guinea pig is probably very content. One fun way to get some interaction in with your guinea pigs in addition to satisfying their need to chew and providing them with nutrition they need is to give them fruits and vegetables.
Because guinea pigs need a good amount of vitamin C, giving your guinea pigs foods like carrots, cucumbers, broccoli and pears will help keep your pets healthy and entertained. Buying your guinea pigs chew toys is absolutely essential. While soft foods are okay to give your guinea pig as a snack, the bulk of their diet should consist of hard foods.
If you want to feed them fresh food, consider harder produce like broccoli, cauliflower, or cucumber. To help with their need to graze constantly, owners should also consider leaving plenty of hay cubes for them to nibble on throughout the day. It is quite possible your guinea pig is stressed out because their cage is simply too small. Many new guinea pig owners purchase small, cheap quality cages not really large enough for an animal this size. As a result, your guinea pig will tend to chew on the metal cage bars in an attempt to break free.
A giant cage also gives them the opportunity to go to the bathroom in one area of the cage while playing in the other. If you have multiple guinea pigs in one enclosure, cage mates tend to get along better when they have more personal space. Check out our guinea pig cage size and guide post for more direction on cages.
If your animal cage contains more than one guinea pig, it is essential to note whether they get along. Rodents who must constantly fight one another to have their basic needs met might have a lot of stress.
Make sure to meet the minimum size requirements, but always feel free to go bigger if you want to. Prudent guinea pig owners should also ensure they both have enough items to entertain themselves. If you attempt all of the things above and still have no success, your guinea pig may benefit from not having a cage mate.
You will have to spend more time with them on the floor or give them an opportunity to interact with their former cage mate daily. A lack of floor time or exercise can often be the culprit when they start chewing on metal cage bars. Exercise wears them out, helps to reduce stress levels, gives them your undivided attention, and so much more.
Particularly if this is the only time they get to interact with others, floor time and playtime is so crucial.
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