Wheel training

[placebo]

So I just got Berkley tonight! He's amazing. The nicest of the petstore hedgies. I'm sure he's a little older, since he's bigger than the rest, and judging by the condition of his living space, I don't think he's really done much in his life. His cage was smaller than a 10 gallon (he now lives in something closer to a 50 gallon, alone), and he shared it with another younger hegie. He had a hiding box, and bowl of food and a bowl of water. He never came out, and I'm thinking that all he did was sleep and eat, of course, when he needed to. He's a little chunky, and it gives way that he probably has never excersized in his life! How would I introduce him to a wheel? Whenever I take him out and put him back in his cage, he immediately hides in his igloo and seems as though he sleeps at every chance he gets....In a few days I'll let him run around outside...but I would like to teach him how to run a wheel...any suggestions?
Kate.

[Nancy]

Babies sleep, alot. He is probably up at night when you are asleep. You can get him up to spend time with him and help him bond.

Usually hedgies take to the wheel immediately and if not within a few days. Make sure the wheel you get is a large solid surface wheel. Bucket wheels are the best. No mesh or open bars as they can severely injure themselves. :)

[razzle]

Congratulations on Berkley!!! :D Did the pet store know approximately how old he is? I bet he's going to really like all the space you are giving him!

Give him time to get used to the wheel. My Razzle didn't use his wheel for a good month and I was really worried that he'd never "get it". I would put him on it and he would just run away and hide. Well, guess what? Eventually he figured it out on his own and now he's an avid runner. He only runs at night, however, when no one is watching!! But he leaves his "evidence" behind for me to clean in the morning. :laugh:

Like Teasels Mom said, make sure you get the right kind of wheel. I have the large "comfort wheel" - solid plastic wheel - and it works pretty well. Keep it in his cage and eventually he'll figure it out.

[Tragedy]

Since this is a wheel topic, I have a question.

Quillian's wheel finally came in the wheel. He runs a couple hundred miles in it every night. In the morning, it looks like he had diarhea or something in it, but all the other poop in the cage is hard. I think it just looked like that because of him running through it. I was grossed out the morning after he got it. I had to take it outside and hose it down with the water hose. I swear he poops a TON. Is that normal? I have to hose down his wheel atLEAST every other day.

Also, a piece of poop will harden in the wheel and he will run in it and the poop will make a rattling noise! It's so annoying, but I am getting pretty used to it and am starting to sleep through it.

[Nancy]

:laugh: :laugh: Yes everything you say is completely normal. The wheels can get disgusting. :Pukey: Often it looks like diarhea because they have run in it and often peed in it also.

Your guy is a baby is he not? If so the mess may lessen as he gets older. I have two who never poop in their wheels. The other 12 do to varying degrees. Some hardly at all and some poop city. :laugh:

[paris26]

Annabelle took to her wheel within a few days of moving in with me. I put a few pieces of food on the edge to encourage her to check it out.

Tragedy~
I would wash that wheel daily. I actually have a total of 4 wheels ( I had 2 hogs at one point) and I would always have a clean wheel handy. It will be healthier for your hog and keep his cage fresher

[Tragedy]

:laugh: :laugh: Yes everything you say is completely normal. The wheels can get disgusting. :Pukey: Often it looks like diarhea because they have run in it and often peed in it also.

Your guy is a baby is he not? If so the mess may lessen as he gets older. I have two who never poop in their wheels. The other 12 do to varying degrees. Some hardly at all and some poop city. :laugh:

I guess I'm just a hedgie mom that worries alot!

[Nancy]

I guess I'm just a hedgie mom that worries alot!

Hey, I know that one. I worry if they poop too much. Worry if they don't poop enough. If someone has a clean wheel some morning and they are a poop machine, then I worry why they weren't wheeling.
And, don't even get me started on temperatures. :laugh:

[ejw829]

Harris completely ignored his wheel for quite a while. It was a good 2 or 3 weeks before he got the hang of it. Now he's just about non-stop, all night :laugh:

Congrats on bringing home Berkley! Best wishes!

[placebo]

Harris completely ignored his wheel for quite a while. It was a good 2 or 3 weeks before he got the hang of it. Now he's just about non-stop, all night :laugh:

Congrats on bringing home Berkley! Best wishes!

Thank you!