Weight Advice Please!

[Bexi87]

I've had the girls for 3 weeks now and I weigh them every week.

I've noticed this week that Flo doesn't seem to be putting as much weight on as the other two. I think she is a couple of weeks older than Pip and Daisy, so maybe this is it, but I'm still in the new pet owner stage of worrying! She tends to bury treats rather than eat them, even if I only have one in my hand she will still bury it whilst the other two eat theirs.

Here are their weights so far;

Flo
02 August: 148g
09 August: 163g
17 August: 170g
24 August: 177g

Pip
02 August: 112g
09 August: 128g
17 August: 141g
24 August: 156g

Daisy
02 August: 110g
09 August: 124g
17 August: 142g
24 August: 156g

They have constant access to hard food (Science Selective) and two types of hay (timothy and meadow). They get fresh dandelion or baby spinach every couple of days (slowly expanding their fresh options but these are their two favourites so far) and a mixture of Cumin/Fennel seeds a couple of times a week. They also get half a mini-shredded wheat each morning as I'm sorting their cage out before I leave for work (it's the only thing that keeps them quiet for 5 minutes!).

On payday I'm going to get the Degu seed mix from Rat Rations, plus a few other bits so I can make them a seed and non-feed forage to increase their selection of food but I don't think I'm underfeeding them.

I get home from work about 7pm each evening and try to give them at least an hour free time each night, plus more over the weekend when I'm home.

I'm not massively worried as she is gaining weight, but I just wanted to get some advice/opinions. Am I worrying about nothing?

[yasmin]

I don't think you need to worry. They are gaining weight, not losing it. And, like people, there will be big goos and littler goos.
Some goos will bury their food for later especially if they're already full up. (Losing weight, drooling, dropping food out of their mouths are indications that something may be amiss.)

Kudos to you for tracking their weight and being so conscientious about their diet, working in more natural foods like seeds and greens, and giving them time out every day.

[Maravilla]

How old are the 3 now? (sorry, I am not familiar with your degus' history).
I would say that it is normal that weight gain slows down when the degus become older so I would not worry either. In about 2 or 3 weeks you will go through the same with the other two, I suppose.
That degus bury their treats is not unusual. My monsters do the same, bigger treats are buried in some place not far away, but the small pieces they eat right now. Just try it out.
As yasmin already said, as far as there is still a gain in weight, don't worry about it. It is time to worry when you notice a weight loss or (at least now when they are still so young and small) a stagnation.

[moletteuk]

I think they are all showing substantial weight gain for 3 weeks, they are obviously doing really well, the little ones have increased by nearly 50%!

I think there is an element of personal character too in whether and what they bury and what they eat right away, but you might find they develep group habits as they all become adult.

[Bexi87]

Thanks everyone.

I think Pip and Daisy are about 16 weeks now, and Flo is a few weeks older, so they are still pretty young!

I'm not really worried because they are putting weight on and you are right, it could just be her rate of gain.

I'll keep an eye on it over the next few weeks, it will be interesting to see if P&D slow down too now they have reached the weight Flo was when I got them

[bouncy]

I'm just impressed you can get them to sit still long enough to weigh them! Mine wouldn't even contemplate it!

[Bexi87]

I have a plastic mixing bowl that I set up on the scales, put them in it with my hand hovering over them and hope they stay still long enough for the scales to get a reading!

[uglibug]

We tend to go with the random weighing technique: pop the scales down, wait for someone to stand on them, get a reading then identify the goo, lol.

[screaminturtle]

Uglibug that is such a good idea don't know why i haven't thought of it!

[uglibug]

It seems to work quite well, the only down side being that you sometimes end up weighing the same goo half a dozen times, lol, and you have to identify the one who just got weighed quickly before they merge with the others and you loose track of which one it was.

[bouncy]

I'm still stunned they sit on the scales long enough to get a reading! I'd zero them with a nut on, but they'd probably grab and run!

[Bexi87]

I tried your method last night uglibug, my girls were not impressed!

I had to go back to sticking them in a bowl to get a reading!

[moletteuk]

I use a similar method to Uglibug, my problem is usually trying to get them on one at a time because they know they get treats on the scales. I lure them on, put tiny seeds like sesame on the far side so they are stood fairly central and are fairly still to eat them, at the same time I'm luring the other two away. Yes, it's like herding cats...small, fast, awkward cats.

[metters]

To weigh my boys I drop a pinch of dry porridge oats on to the scales and it keeps them busy for long enough! As it doesnt take long to eat each flake they stay by the pile until it is all gone and dont try and run off to bury such small pieces

[Bexi87]

So I've been keeping an eye on the girls and their weight - things have slowed right down and in Pip's case dropped slightly.

They all have orange teeth (finally) and I've not noticed that they aren't eating as much.

Edit: they all look incredibly healthy, are very active and still really curious.

I've been away for the last week so could it be that their routine was changed? My dad came round every day to feed them, and give them attention.

I'd expect them to put weight on at this time of year - should I be worried?

[deguconvert]

I'd only worry if the weight continues to drop. More likely they were missing you and possibly not eating as well while you were away.

[Bexi87]

Thanks DC, I'll continue keeping an eye on them

[moletteuk]

Good news about the teeth, and that they are all looking really healthy

I think Pip losing weight is highly likely to just be a blip to do with you being away. I think it's normal that their growth has slowed down, they are about 6 months now, so the majority of their growing is done, they will just gradually fill out over the next four months or so. Have they developed the pear shape yet? I can remember looking at my girls one day and suddenly realising they had developed the pear shape and looked like adults.

I didn't notice the autumn weight gain until their second winter, their growth in the first year disguises it, or it just doesn't apply when they are growing.

[Bexi87]

Flo is getting the pear shape, she's older than the other 2 so she's always been the biggest. Pip and Daisy still look like babies, all fluffy and small

[Bexi87]

I'm still weighing my girls regularly, mainly because Pip looks so much smaller than the other two. It's clear looking at them that she is much smaller, Daisy is alpha now so I'm not worried about her weight and Flo seems to be in the middle.

Today's weight:

Daisy: 259g
Flo: 200g
Pip: 216g

I'm always watching them eat to make sure there aren't any underlying problems (I had a mild panic about teeth around Christmas) and they all look healthy