Escape Artist

[Jennslilhedgies]

I have had numberous hedgies escape their cages... mainly mommas of older hoglets trying to get away... but one of them seems to get out once a month and I can't figure it out... she has no wheel.... and a lid place over the tub so its not shut or covering everything so to not let air in or out... but enough she shouldn't be able to get out. She did it 3 nights in a row last month... which is why we have her in her cage like that... and tonight she was out again.... I might have to get a bigger tub for her... but I was wondering if you guys have any idea how she gets out... she has a water bottle on the outside... a small ceramic food dish and thats it. :dunno: I'm a little confused about how she's getting out.... she definately likes running away from me on the floor though. :neener: What a lil turd!!

[Super_Girl456]

I had an Escape Artist last month and one today. You might just have to watch her. Honey got out by going up the wall. She got a bit of help from her water bottle. Nuka got out today because I forgot to close his cage.
I think your little one might be just climing out.... Either turn out the light and watch or put a cam up. That is all I can think of. The best way I find to hold a hedgie in a cage is to have a top no matter what and just either, cut the middle of the top out and leave it open or put a screen there... Just a thought. I have the tops out with screen so i know they won't get out. Unless I leave the door open...

[PrettyHate]

Try giving your girl a wheel. Chances are she is going stir crazy and needs something to occupy her at night, as well as letting her burn off extra energy.

[hemi_mygirl]

Try giving your girl a wheel. Chances are she is going stir crazy and needs something to occupy her at night, as well as letting her burn off extra energy.

Took the words right out of my mouth. My girl used to try to escape by standing on her house and pulling herself over the edge of her bin. The wheel stopped that and I haven't had a problem since.

[PrettyHate]

Exactly. The ONLY time Bosco ever even tried to climb out of his house was when I was waiting for his new wheel to arrive. Really, when it comes to hedgies, wheels are a must.

[hemi_mygirl]

Exactly. The ONLY time Bosco ever even tried to climb out of his house was when I was waiting for his new wheel to arrive. Really, when it comes to hedgies, wheels are a must.

Yep. The other night, Hemi had her wheel taken away because my dad was fixing it for me (it wobbled and she kept falling on her face). She went insane. She buried litter (clean, thank god) in her liners, tossed other clean litter around, shredding paper towel, and rearranged her cage. My little Martha Stewart... :laugh:

[Jennslilhedgies]

She had a wheel and kept getting out. I took it away because I thought she might be using it to get out.

[hemi_mygirl]

She had a wheel and kept getting out. I took it away because I thought she might be using it to get out.

Well, put it back in to distract her, and make sure there's a lid on her cage. If need be, put something heavy right in the middle of the lid so she can't push it off somehow.

[PrettyHate]

Agreed. Obviously taking the wheel out hasnt prevented her from finding a way to escape- so you might as well put it back in there for her :) Maybe ontop of putting her wheel back you may try giving her some extra free time before you call it a night. She might just be a busy body who cant stay still. Maybe that extra run around time will tire her out some so that she is more content to stay in her home.

[Steph]

If the wheel doesn't fix it and she's getting out of her bin to go to a neighboring bin and visit another hedgie then try putting another female in with her. Sometimes they just really crave a roomie. Definitely wheels usually solve the problem for me and if I get a new hedgie in before their wheel they'll escape for sure but I do have a couple who just crave a cage mate and will go next door to snuggle.