Toys for a chewer

[osprey]

Curly Sue has been getting herself into trouble lately chewing things that she should not be chewing.  I am looking for chewing toy ideas to let her get out some of her destructive energy.  What we have used so far:

– phone book for shredding – they use it occasionally
– blackberry leaves and stems – these are great.  She loves to chew these, thorns and all
– wood trim – since she likes to chew on the moldings around her XPen (her space, I have no problem with this) I put a few pieces of lumber in the pen, wired up to the pen walls so that she’ll have something to pull against.  So far, she has not nibbled these.
– willow baskets – somethimes yes, usually no
– flavored popsicle sticks – big yes, she loves these.  Has anyone made their own?  Where can I buy popsicle sticks or tongue depressors to make my own?
– apple braches – not too interested
– carboard boxes – big hit, she loves to shred these

Anyone have any other ideas about how to deflect a chewer?  Unfortunately, her particular specialty is fabric, and she has already put holes in my clothes, a comforter and the sofa :-{

[Hedi]

My girls love toilet paper/paper towel rolls. They have them in their houses and then we keep them around the house for them to chew. They also love to chew on brown paper bags and paper they steal out of the office trash can.  We also keep stacks of old magazines/catalogs for them to shred.

Now that we keep plenty of stuff for them to chew on around the house i never seem them chew on anything they arent supposed to. Of course the house has stuff everywhere we have to pick up when company comes over but it has saved our furniture and carpets.

[Hedi]

You can buy popsicle sticks at http://www.orientaltrading.com under giant craft sticks. But i dont know anything about flavoring them. You can also find the sticks at http://www.ssww.com .

Hope this helps!

[osprey]

I found out from one of the volunteers at The Haven how to flavor the sticks.  You soak and/or simmer the sticks in apple juice.  The wood soaks up the juice, and retains some of the flavor.

Thanks for the tip about oriental trading.  I have gotten stuff for the kids there, but I did not think that they sold craft supplies too.

[Hedi]

Your welcome! And thanx for the tip on how to flavor the wood. I had bought some little wood pieces a while back thinking i would flavor them with 100% juice but then realized i had no idea what the wood was made of so i put that idea on hold.

[dmh426]

For Sophie I get her seagrass mats and baskets. She loooooves them. Apple branches. cardboard houses that i make out of boxes. anything cardboard

[lilmizzsnickerz]

aww cool i want try the flavored popsical sticks lol

[Hedi]

My own rabbits ignored the flavored popsicle sticks for awhile but eventually started chewing on them.

My shelter buns loved them immediately! I hang them in their cage with raffia so its a hanging toy and the popsicle sticks dont get lost in their cage. That way they can chew on it without losing it.

[Rathari]

Well, one thing my rabbit seems to enjoy chewing sometimes is a product called Lava Bites. They’re these crunchy, triangular little edible things that come in 3 flavors. He still prefers to munch on the rug most times more than the lava bites (>_<) But, just throwing something out there :B

[BinkyBunny]

Welcome Rathari!!

Does your bunny like to chew on phonebooks or cardboard boxes? I’ll have to check out "lava bites" – never heard of them.

[MooBunnay]

Hi! I checked out lava bites – but I couldn’t find out what they were made of, it just said "natural minerals" though one site said they were actually made of lava…but that was just one site and that sounded a little strange…has anyone else used these before? It looks like they are designed primarily for chinchillas, but can be for other small animals too.

[Hedi]

I have seen them in all the big pet stores but never bought them myself. My rabbits are so picky they never seem to approve of the store bought toys and treats.

[Deleted User]

Are pop sticks ok for bunnies to chew/eat? They are quite splintery … thought they may be hazardous for bunnies.

[Hedi]

I use the large popsicle sticks and the normal size. I flavor them and my buns and my shelter buns all love them.

[Author]

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