Another question

[cphilippou]

Hey everybody sorry for the questions but i am just trying to be the best new owner possible!! Currently a hop spot corner ledge, lava ledges, and fleece liner covers and toys will be here monday, and as of right now i am just making sure he is good and everything which is working out... i just have a quick question!

I leave a hay ball in there to prevent a ton of mess, and so he can kinda play and take the hay when he wants, also to prevent him peeing in the hay and have him eat it.. i leave the ball in there 24/7... i cleaned the cage at 10pm and woke up at 5am to find the cage COMPLETELY covered in feces... i understand he is a small animal and they tend to poo a lot, but is this normal?! should i not leave the ball of hay in there 24/7??

Thanks! :wink2:

 

[tunes]

It is completely normal for there to be poop anywhere. If there wasn't, then you would have something to worry about. I doubt the hay ball had anything to do with it.

 

[LoveBug]

i'd take out the hay ball. you can use a terra cotta pot to put hay in.
and hay should be given everyday, pretty much all day.
chins poo it's what they do.

 

[dcfluegel]

keep in mind, chins are generally at most active overnight (it is chin party time!) - so, more eating and subsequent pooing will occur then - I have found that I can clean the cage in the morning and in late afternoon/ evening it is still not bad at all... OR I can clean the cage at night and in the morning, it looks like they shot up the place with a poo machine gun...

from what I understand, you want to have hay available 24/7 - though I have heard some concerns expressed about the hay ball style feeders posing a potential hazard... just a heads up

 

[cphilippou]

thanks guys!!! this is what I have... it is attached to the side of the cage, so i dont really see it posing any threats

 

[dcfluegel]

I believe hazard has to do with them potentially getting a foot/ paw stuck between wires and ball turning on them...

 

[ChinnyMom]

those hay ball/wheel things are dangerous, for the reason dcfluegel pointed out. much better to have a container for hay - a coffee mug works well, and you can wire the handle to the cage bars to keep them from tipping it over.

 

[Cuddlebug]

Those hay balls also get chewed up really quickly. They are not worth the hassle or the risk.

 

[AznTiger]

I dont think those are safe. I never used one, but i can see why people would want hay not to be scattered all over the place. but depends on if they chew. my chinnies chew on almost everything. So i leave it out in a pan type thing. Altho it scatters, I realize its what chins do. lol i dont want them to go hungry so free feed. My mom was like their fat! lol

 

[partygirlha]

those are not safe..
1)chins can get tehir feet and legs cought in them and brocken
2) chins chew plastic amd they can't digest it so it can lead to a whole host of problems

We've all put soem stuff in cages that we thought was OK and even good, and later learned it was a dangerous.

Chins need hay 24/7 and no matter what you try tey will make a mess of it. Until you find what works for your chins just toss some in the cage and deal with a bit of mess. Terracotta post work for some - wodden "mangers" work for others.

Chins will poo - it will get all over the place - just wait until they toss poo at you...

 

[partygirlha]

So as I remember eing a "new" chin Mom and I look at he hay all I'm thinking it's great now way it could harm my chins...

...but years later and knowing a lot more, I'm still not sure how my boys Bugs broke a finger 6 weeks back. All I know is that $500 in vet ad x-ray bills I'm happy he's OK and doing really well.

Chins a are CRAZY and they do crazy things and get hurt. If someone here says they know a chin who was crazy and got hurt on/with something... turst that your chin is just as crazy and will try the same thing. they do crazy stuff all the time - it's why we love them so much.