Piggies eating cardboard - good or bad?

[MilesWaterson]

My piggies have been munching on cardboard boxes in their cage. I've noticed that they've actually been eating some of the cardboard too. Is this OK? Does it pass through their system as ruffage or could it cause problems? Do your piggies do this?

 

[Treen]

It's fine as long as it's plain brown cardboard. Anything that's coloured or glossy may contain harmful dyes and chemicals, so don't give them those.

It's quite normal for them to chew on any boxes you give them. The first things my pigs do with any new box is sink their teeth in - the thicker the better! Try getting the cardboard tube from the inside of a kitchen towel and stufing it with hay - they disappear quite quickly!

 

[MilesWaterson]

Thanks for the advice Treen. It is plain, uncoloured, non-gloss cardboard. Some days they don't bother with it much and other days they'll really have a go at it. lol

Thanks for the tip about the hay and the tube - I'll try that out.

I just completed a 2x4 C&C cage for my piggies last night - they love it!

 

[Treen]

I just completed a 2x4 C&C cage for my piggies last night - they love it!

I bet they do! Congartulations on a job well done!

 

[loves2travel]

Thanks for the advice Treen. It is plain, uncoloured, non-gloss cardboard. Some days they don't bother with it much and other days they'll really have a go at it. lol

Thanks for the tip about the hay and the tube - I'll try that out.

I just completed a 2x4 C&C cage for my piggies last night - they love it!

carvoard is fine yes, as long as its plain - but you know that now. just wanted to say, kudos to you for taking the extra time to build a c&c!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mncavylover]

CONGRATS!!!! I'm glad that you made the cage. =)

 

[MilesWaterson]

Thanks - it's great to see they have enough space to be together or have some time on their own.

One thing I've noticed though - one of them has taken to having a chew on the edge of the coroplast. I'm not sure if she's eaten any though. Should I be worried? Is there anything I should do to stop this?

 

[CavyCrazyMom]

umm, I'm not sure about if you should be worried or not, so I'll keep that to myself, but I know that it's a common thing for them to chew, but they make little binder clips or something that they sell at office supply stores and you can cover it with that. It's just thin line of harder plastic that they can't really chew I guess. Maybe look into it. I don't have a link, but I bet someone will jump in and give you one! lol

 

[Treen]

Many have an exploratory nibble at first, and leave it at that. If they continue or start chewing it properly, you can cover the edges with the report binder spines as CavyCrazyMom said. They're really cheap and easy to fix on.

 

[MilesWaterson]

Many have an exploratory nibble at first, and leave it at that. If they continue or start chewing it properly, you can cover the edges with the report binder spines as CavyCrazyMom said. They're really cheap and easy to fix on.

Thankfully they stopped chewing it. I think you're right - it was an exploratory chew.