The Great Coconut Scare

[Woodrow724]

So both Jasper and Woodrow having whole coconuts hanging from the top of their cages. Each night I put small handful of alfalfa hay in them to give them a little treat to munch on through the night. This evening I went out to check my mail and when I came back in, Jasper was hanging from the coconut with his head stuck inside on of the holes!!! Needless to say I had a heart attack, dropped my mail and ran over to get him out. Poor little guy, I don't think he could breathe. So both of their coconuts have been taken down and put on ledges for them to dig in. I just hate to think what would have happened if I was in bed and didn't find him til the morning =(
So, if you have coconuts like that just be careful!!

 

[Twilight Chinchillas]

That is very good info to know. I've used them for awhile now, but then our cages are shorter, and don't hang far off the ground. I'll be sure to mention that to anyone getting one from us!

 

[Tillygizmo]

Ahhhh! Scary.maybe smaller holes and cage placement is key . . Eek.

 

[Woodrow724]

It was right in front of his 3rd floor ledge, above a perch and across the cage from his 2nd floor ledge. The cage is about 2 feet tall and 1 1/2 feet wide. The only way I can think he got stuck was by stretching from the top of his house on the 2nd floor to get inside of it and just stretched too far. I felt so horrible. The holes are pretty big, as soon as I put my hand under his feet he crawled through the coconut like a tunnel (it has 3 holes).
Gah, my heart is still going a mile a minute =/

 

[PebblesAndAbby]

oh no i got so worried as i was reading this! poor little guy.. i was getting frantic too! maybe you shouldnt use them at all with the holes.. he may still be able to get in it!

 

[Essentia]

This is the exact reason I refuse to use them. The hole has always looked like an issue to me. Glad to hear you found him when you did and that he is ok.

 

[Twilight Chinchillas]

The place I get mine from has the holes precut, but there are those with no holes. I just don't know how easy it is to cut them with out cracking it. I might experiment since I only have a handful of those left.
I think with any toy, that some supervision is in order. I know we can't watch them 24/7, but accidents do happen even with toys we feel are safe. I had a female once, that somehow got a chain wrapped around her foot, and she was caught dangling, and my cages are only 24 high. I never used chain since that day.

 

[Annieo]

Yikes! I'm glad it worked out. I haven't used coconuts before but good to know if I do in the future!

 

[GrayChillas]

I gasped reading this.
Poor baby!
I'm glad he's ok though

 

[javachin]

That's crazy. Glad to hear he's ok. Maybe cut another hole above/below to make it look like an 8, or just a bigger hole?

 

[Woodrow724]

I just took it away from Jasper, I think his little baby head was just small enough to get stuck in the hole, I'm too afraid to give it back to him

 

[ChinnyMom]

any way to cut the coconuts in half and bolt them to the cage as a bowl of sorts for hay? you may have to dremel the edges down so they aren't sharp.

 

[Twilight Chinchillas]

Kaity,
You can always send them here to me if you like, and I'll do something with them for you, and send them back.

 

[Woodrow724]

That's a really good idea! I will send em up to you Christine and if you can't do anything with them you can just keep them! Lol, I know you'll be able to use them in your toys!

 

[Annieo]

NICE...Christine!

 

[Woodrow724]

She's so awesome =)