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Post by uglibug on May 23, 2015 7:07:43 GMT
Our youngest boy Stu seems to be getting rather bored. He seems to be excessively attention seeking despite being given the same opertunities for "cuddle time" as everyone else so I'm looking for some ideas to keep him amused. The have got a play ball, a barrell, cardboard tubes, play sticks, a seesaw, a grass mat and a little cardboard house as well as their nest box, sand bath and wheel. Sadly Stu isn't much of a chewer (sratng goo, I know) but can anyone think of anything we could get for him?
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Post by animalmadchloe on May 26, 2015 1:14:02 GMT
Have you tried stuffing cardboard tubes with hay and treats and degu food and closing the ends off this can be very entertaining fir degus epically if.It's a harder tube as it takes more work to get the treats, also have you tried adding a chain with slices off wood on? Mine like to spin and bat the wood alot and sometimes chew it  |
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Post by Karma on May 26, 2015 2:15:04 GMT
Some degus like the plastic jingle balls for cats (obviously make sure they aren't chewing them) and if yours isn't a chewer - worth a try. You could even see what he does with little stuffies (I throw cat toys that the cats ignore in my degus and they carry them around for a bit and then take them into the nest box and sleep with them. There was only one that they ever chewed and it was a little pony and they chewed the mane and tail off.
Anything you can put food or treats in would help - might be more inclined to chew to get at something. There are some cool bridges and things in the bird section that might work too.
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Post by jamiee on May 26, 2015 6:38:59 GMT
Some fresh apple tree branches could really help. I just gave mine some fresh off if our tree with the leaves left on, and after leaving it to dry for a bit, they are enjoying the leaves and the stick. Like Karma and animalmadchloe said, any sort of puzzle can keep them happy. Try hanging some sort of puzzle or chewing toy from the roof of the cage to make it extra difficult.
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Post by titchycatnipsandwich on May 26, 2015 6:53:58 GMT
When River was on his own, his favourite thing ever besides chewing everything in sight was humping a little stuffed mouse (Mus) I bought him from IKEA. When I moved him in with the girls, I gingerly removed Mus to find various parts of his stitching had been surgically removed, and he was all... gross and crusty. I think the fact Mus didn't try to run away during sexy times meant River was in love  I bought him a new Mus the other day and put it in with him and the girls, so far this Mus is still intact and clean. I think the point of the story was to say find a sturdy stuffie (River also has a frog I got from Tesco in the babies section, the thing is indestructible and believe me he tried) and see if he loves on that for a bit. |
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Post by animalmadchloe on May 26, 2015 20:30:22 GMT
I also used a stuffed mouse which was used for many degu piles and we also have a jingle ball which earl loves, although I think that's how he broke his tooth because he bats it about quite ferociously lol
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Post by moletteuk on May 27, 2015 11:11:40 GMT
LOL and eeuuwww at Mus!
I can't really help, all mine want to do is chew wood or nest build or eat or sleep. I would probably explore the food option and make puzzle foods or offer new foods. Have you tried fresh twigs with leaves, the new growth at this time of year is usually really appealing to them.
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Post by titchycatnipsandwich on May 27, 2015 20:12:02 GMT
Also, how do you feed them? I've noticed mine are a lot less destructive and bored since everyone moved into their new cages (we got the second cage built, hoorah!) and I started scattering their food on the ground and burying it under the substrate and hay. I put a bit more down, but only put more in every second day, and they spend plenty of time foraging for it. I know they aren't going hungry coz there's always still some left over, but maybe scatter feeding? Also, is he getting on with his cage mates? River was always at his most attention seeking when he could see Nyota and Zoe in a two-degu pile and he wasn't allowed in it. (and all I'm going to say on Mus is that I thought I'd bought baby girls, not teenage boys, and was not expecting to have to deal with the degu equivalent of a well used sock.) |
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Post by uglibug on May 28, 2015 7:11:32 GMT
Stu has now got a flying saucer and a cuddly toy. Neither of them seem to have worked out what the saucer is for but the teddy is getting a bit of attention. Will make up some foody toys over the weekend and see how they get on.
Their nuggets are freely available in dishes but seeds and forage is scattered. The latest selection was dandelion and chicory roots, the older boys and girls snaffled it up, Brian and Stu, not so much, but it is disappearing.
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Post by uglibug on May 28, 2015 18:52:00 GMT
Well sadly teddy had to be rescued by hubby this evening: for some reason Brian went nuts and tried to kill it, full on, FBOD style attack!!!! Ted is now being groomed by Buddy and Mater in the other cage, they dragged him into the nest and snuggled down so at least someone loves him, lol.
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Post by moletteuk on May 28, 2015 20:06:19 GMT
LOL! Poor teddy! All your guys sound like brilliant 'characters'!
I've never seen chicory root before, where did you get it from, how do they like it compared to dandelion? Mine get dandelion and burdock roots and much prefer the dandelion.
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Post by uglibug on May 28, 2015 20:41:48 GMT
We get it in bags from a local pet store, its called Nature First. They do all sorts of dried fruit, veg and forage stuff. Obviously we just stick to the forage, and a little bag of dried carrot for treats. So far we've tried a few different ones, but this seems the most popular, with the chicory being even more popular than the dandelion.
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Post by moletteuk on May 29, 2015 11:02:59 GMT
Oh right, I'll look out for it, I think I saw some nice looking hay by Nature First the other day.
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Post by uglibug on Jul 6, 2015 9:07:03 GMT
Just a quick update. We have made progress with stu! He has finally worked out what the saucer is for and now we can hardly get him off it! Bar pinging is at an all time low too.
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