2 year old recent wood chewing problem - please tell me it's "teething"?

[twoposies]

Hi,

I've got a two year old gelding who has recently started chewing the fences at a friend's house where he is currently living. He has never been a wood chewer before, although he's also not usually on wood fencing, but electric, or no climb. I was wondering if it could have something to do with getting in his incisors and the chances he might stop once his new teeth are in? Has anyone had this happen before? I'm afraid it's the onset of a bored cribber/wood chewer, though he's out 24/7, has a buddy and they rotate between two 3 acre fields(and the buddy doesn't crib or chew wood). Please tell me it has to do with teeth coming in and will go away!:yes:

Oh and I just found Quitt by Farnam in the local grain store, anybody have experience with the product? Good or bad?

Thanks!

[bludejavu]

I don't really think it's related to teeth although I would never say never. It may be boredom or it may be that he has a fiber craving. I've had three horses now that had fiber cravings that Quitt did help although I've heard that it didn't help other horses like it helped mine. One of mine was a boarded six month old colt - it completely stopped him from chewing my new board fence but it took about a month to have complete effect on him. The other two were ages 6 and 18. The 18 year old is an IR horse and has to have a very careful diet - I think he was chewing because he could not have his fill of hay or grass. As for my 6 year old, he was on grass and pasture so I have no idea why he was chewing but he also stopped in about a month after going on Quitt. The interesting thing is that I have never needed to put them on it again since first giving them the Quitt - have no idea why but I'm sure not complaining.

[cloudyandcallie]

I second the Quitt, don't know why it worked but it did work when I moved Cloudy and Callie to a barn where the old wooden fencing had mold or something that made them chew like beavers.
2 days of Quitt and they quit chewing.

[SmartAlex]

Quitt works very well, but doesn't stop them 100%. Maybe more like 80%.

[Heart's Journey]

could be the onset of ulcers or stomach issues. they chew to relieve the pain

[twoposies]

Thanks for the insight guys, glad to hear Quitt is at least effective. He has a low stress life, lots of forage, doesn't get more than 2-3qts of grain a day and is not a worrier so I'm hesitant to suspect ulcers, but don't know all the causes aside from stress & grain. The only other thing I could think of was boredom due to the older field buddy, he used to live with his younger brother. I'll just keep my fingers crossed it's not boredom and a bad habit, and the Quitt works.:)

Thanks!

[Whitfield Farm Hanoverians]

Just the 2-3 quarts of grain a day could cause GI problems in some youngsters. You might try some gastro-guard & see if you see a difference. I had a youngster start that & after only 2-3 days on GG he quit chewing.