Wodent Wheel

[Ross]

I guess my Rats don't like their Wodent Wheel they rarely went near it since I got it now last night the filled it up with wood shavings. I was trying to work out how they could get it full of sawdust but I emptied it and put it back. Tonight I have just witnessed them flinging wood shavings it in with their back paws and front paws which was quite funny.  

Do you think they dislike it that much they are trying to hide it   Would you remove it?

[Louise]

I'd give them some time Ross.  I've heard other people say it takes a while for some rats to get used to the wheel.  It's funny that they are trying to bury it!  Maybe it smells funny or something, or maybe they are just loafers and trying to hide it on you so they don't have to try to exercise!

[Ali]

I've never tried a wheel with my rats, but my old girls used to try and cover up any new toy, box etc I put in their cage. Once they got used to them being there, they'd uncover them again!

[jp]

Have you tried putting some treats in there...after removing the wood shavings of course?  Chances are if one starts running in it the others will try it too.  I have some rats that don't use it at all, some that use it a bit after breakfast and one in particular that uses it so much her tail is now curled!

[Ross]

Tried putting treats in and only one was brave enough to pop her head in and pull out the yoggies. I think they think it's evil they give it such a swerve when they go to that end of the cage LOL

[Christy]

Mine never took to the wodent wheel until I tried to take it away.  I had removed it from the cage but left it in the play area.  All of a sudden they were all running in it like there was no tomorrow.  So I then hung it from the top of the cage and it gets used regularly.  Rats - go figure!  

[BlueMoonGoddess]

I have the same problem... I got a nice new wodent wheel for my girls (who previously ran in their wire one for what was probably miles every night). They'll sit in it sometimes, but they still won't try running in it.  

[Spiralgirl]

I've heard, that unless you start them using the wheel when they are younger...most ratties won't pay much attention to it, other then an interesting place to sleep.

[Anmllvr731]

Ross,
That cracked me up when you said they "swerve around it" when they get to that side ofthe cage & that they must think it's evil. I just got such a mental image of them doing that. Rats are too funny alright.
I'd keep putting treats in it and give it more time. You never know.
I wish you luck, I'm planning on ordering 2 of them soon myself.

[jp]

Spiralgirl-
When I got the Wodent Wheel one of my girls was well over the age of 2.  She pulled herself into the wheel...keep in mind she was older...ran one way...turned around and ran the other way...then poked her head out and just looked at me...I think she was saying, "I don't get it.  I'm still in the same spot.  This is a stupid dog toy isn't it?"  Caiti didn't like the dogs.  She didn't see what their purpose was!

[amymckee]

All my rats love the Wodent Wheel, but it took them about a week to figure it out. Even my little "marathon runner" took a while to figure it out, but she eventually tought the non-runners how to use it too. Just give them a chance.

[Jen at PRC]

How about dabbing some jam all around the inside so that they have to try and reach it?  They might get the idea of running (or at least walking) around in it that way.

[SonyaFancifulRats]

Does anyone have male rats that use thier wheel?  I have thought of getting one but don't want to waste the $$..

[jp]

Sonya-I have 2 boys.  One is only a few months old and hasn't figured it out yet.  The other is 8 months old and he runs on it a lot.  Of course he also poops in it while he's running...sounds like a rock tumbler!  One of my girls takes the poops out for me...sometimes!

[amymckee]

Yeah, I can vouch for that- my girls poop in their wheel all the time, and it is usually to blame for the cage stinking. I have to clean it every couple days (mine use their wheel constantly), but it goes in the dishwasher really well.

[Ray]

My old wire wheel (now removed) was a very popular place to run in.  The new Wobust Wodent Wheel is a popular place to drag socks into.  My rattie has not run in their once!  He turned it into a little home.  He likes it more then his box.  It's also not disposable like his box.  He turns it into a mess all the time and I have to clean it.  Real pain, but I just don't have the heart to take away my poor little ratties favorite house!  I'm guessing they like it because it's more enclosed then a wire wheel and feels more like a burrow to them.  Some rats probably well never fiqure out that "hey, this thing is for running!"  Maybe my rattie well move back to his shoebox, but he seems to like that wheel for the moment.

[amymckee]

As far as swerving around toys, I have had experience with that. I put a few PVC pipes in my girls cage, and they were mortified of them! Eventually one of them stopped being scared, but she never actually played in them. They avoided the part of the cage that had the pipes and ran away if I placed one of them on top of a pipe. I left yogies inside, and they were still there the next morning! I had to take them out eventually. My boy loves them, however.

[Aileen]

Our girls completely ignored the Wodent Wheel, they were about a year and 18 months old (rescues, so older when we got them) until we got six month old Phoebe.

Phoebe took to it straight away - loved it.  Then we noticed Lilith running, well more of a power walk! one evening.  But still Ros seemed to treat it with disdain - like it was beneath her to go on it.  One night after we'd tucked everyone in for the night and gone upstairs we went back into the sitting room for something and someone was on the wheel - who's head popped out?  Yep, Ros - the closet Wodent Wheel Runner.  She looked mortified that she'd been spotted on it.

I would give it time, must have had ours a couple of months before it was used.  Lilith is very fond of snacking in the wheel cos Phoebe can't get in with her to steal the snack.

Aileen
and Lilith and Phoebe Ratson