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Post by newdegus on Aug 26, 2015 18:13:17 GMT
Hi, I just got my first two degus from someone who couldn't care for them. When I picked them up, she said she couldn't remember the last time she had cleaned the cage and believe me, its been a LONG time! They are very scared, they obviously have not been handled and I want to move them to a new cage. How do I accomplish this? I can't get anywhere near them, but I don't want to leave them in the cedar chips and other filth. I don't want to freak them out more or become scared of me because I've moved them before they were used to me. What do I do? Please help me help these little guys!
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Post by Maravilla on Aug 26, 2015 18:37:53 GMT
Are they still in their cage? Then this must be very small when you were able to transport it.
Do you have a tube (or something similar) where they could go in and then are moved to the new cage? Or can you put the cage in front of yours and let them change when they feel like moving?
Right now moving them to their new home is very important so I would not worry too much about scaring them even more. Sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do or they don't want us to do. So if there is no other (softer) way you have to try to get them directly. Do you have leather gloves? If not, try a towel to catch them but keep the way as short as you can so it would be great to place the old cage next to the open door of the new one.
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Post by ilikedegus on Aug 26, 2015 20:37:49 GMT
Hey Newdegus
Welcome to the forum and well done for giving these guys a new home!
Just one thing (Maravilla's advice is very good):
** Don't grab them by the tail! **
Maybe you know this already, but their tail skin is "designed" to come off if a predator grabs it. (Mind you, damaged tails usually heal quite well and the degu is happy enough).
Also, try not to grab from above - like a predatory bird would do. They are programmed to find it extra scary.
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Post by newdegus on Aug 26, 2015 20:52:44 GMT
Thank you both for advice!! I'll give it a try tonight and let you know how it goes!
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Post by yasmin on Aug 27, 2015 1:17:00 GMT
Welcome to the forum newdegus. Those are two very lucky goos.  I too use a large tube to catch mine in when they don't want to be held. Hope you've been able to move them. Looking forward to finding out how you/they're doing. |
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 27, 2015 1:37:29 GMT
Welcome to the forum, Newdegus! I commend you on your compassion for these two degus. Do let us know how things go and please feel free to ask any questions you may have.
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cookiemeister
Foraging Degu
2 beautiful girls, Cookie and Crumble, and a tubby cat, Shadow; that's what I call a happy house :)
Posts: 105 
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Post by cookiemeister on Aug 27, 2015 8:26:33 GMT
Well done for taking these two in!! As for moving them, as well as what the others have said, I often use a small cardboard box. They love small spaces like that, I think it makes them feel safer; probably imitates the burrows they have in the wild. Also, bribery works wonders...! Putting things like a little bit of (plain) rolled/porridge oats in the box will encourage them to go in. Hope all goes well for you, do tell us how it goes! Have they got names at all? Looking forward to seeing them P.S. hope the admins don't mind a youngish member giving advice!  |
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Post by ilikedegus on Aug 27, 2015 10:17:31 GMT
Cookiemeister this is good advice, who's going to mind?
Degus are our priority, not people's egos :-)
(I'm not an admin/mod but I know they feel the same).
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Post by bouncy on Aug 27, 2015 15:06:58 GMT
If they have some toys or other items in their old cage, perhaps bringing one or two of those items into their new home will Help? The familiar scent might make them feel more comfortable in their new home sooner. Having said that, it sounds like they'll be chuffed to have a clean cage!
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 27, 2015 16:06:23 GMT
MAKE SURE that you put in a bit of their old yucky dirty substrate!!! Very important that they have a bit of that sprinkled around. Degus use scent for their information on each other, primarily the scent of urine. They need to have some that there to help them to settle into their new place, to continue to be happily bonded with each other (losing those scents can wipe their memory it seems and then they can begin to fight as though they don't know each other), and to feel safe. If their cage hasn't been cleaned in ages, that means they have been thoroughly drenched in those odors, and if they suddenly are gone . . . it will be a shock to them and they will have even greater trouble. This is something to keep in mind for when you are regularly cleaning their cage as well.
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Post by moletteuk on Aug 27, 2015 19:19:36 GMT
How did it go?
Tubes are the standard way to move degus, even really tame ones.
And just to reassure you a little for the future, degus are really smart, so they will soon realise they are in a better place with a new, kinder human, so with patience and the right treats you will be able to win their trust. Make sure they have plenty of good food, and plenty of hiding places and they should soon settle.
PS Cookiemeister of course you are very welcome to chip in, everyone is always welcome to comment, the more answers and comment the better!
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Post by newdegus on Aug 29, 2015 0:05:49 GMT
Thank you all for the advice and the welcome! When I brought home my guys, Gus and Jr., they were in a filthy fish tank, a large one, but it was cracked and smelled to high Heaven. I wasn't aware of the condition when I bought them so I din't have a a better cage for them. That means I've moved them in to a smaller fish tank (20 gallons), but its clean. The move was interesting to say the least. Catching 2 very shy, very fast, very high jumping degus by myself is something I will not soon forget! I was glad I thought ahead and blocked the space beneath the door just in case they got loose because Jr. did. Gus I managed to scoop up and get in the new cage, then I had to get Jr. out from under the bed. My husband finally came to my rescue! They have been in this new cage for 2 days and they seem ok. I can sit outside the cage and they will come look at me. I'll put my hand on the glass they won't run away. I even managed to put food in their bowl and Gus didn't run away. So there is hope! THis weekend or next week my husband is going to build a new and improved, degu approved cage for them, so if they can hang on just for a bit longer...
I have another question, Warbling Degu, what does "chuffer" mean? I'm not making fun, I just never heard that before. It's not a term I've heard in Wisconsin before.
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 29, 2015 5:23:23 GMT
"Chuffed" is like excited, or thrilled, or really happy. |
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Post by ilikedegus on Aug 29, 2015 8:37:09 GMT
"Chuffed" is like excited, or thrilled, or really happy. do Canadians use "chuffed" then? newdegus, when you're trying out your English accent, say "I'm jolly chuffed" and you'll sound like an upper-middle class English person in the 1940s telling us you're "very pleased" ;-) |
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 29, 2015 17:59:56 GMT
Well . . . now you've asked, I'm not sure if I know it from family, from watching shows in BBC, or from you all, LOL! I just asked my husband if he knew what the word means and he asked if it was similar to chafed. So, no, he doesn't know the word. It's funny, I know the word well enough that I feel totally at ease and familiar with it.
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Post by ilikedegus on Aug 29, 2015 19:37:18 GMT
deguconvert - "jolly good show, old girl" (very 1940s again). ...I won't admit how much U.S. English we use at home, due to spending so much time online...not sure I know much Canadian English.
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Post by moletteuk on Aug 29, 2015 19:57:12 GMT
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 30, 2015 5:27:38 GMT
Ilikedegus . . . ummm . . . I use US english on my computer because if I use Canadian english, I all of a sudden find french grammar and punctuation appearing in my sentences. DRIVES ME BATTY. But, l think Canadian english sounds more American than British, and yet we do have words that are definitely more in common with our cousins over the pond than with our neighbors. Again, it depends on the area you are living in . . . but our differences are fewer, as are our accents and phrases, unless you go to Newfoundland. THEY have great phrases and ways of saying things!! Very unique and very colourful. And you have to ask what it means. LOL! It is my understanding that in England, accents can change from one neighborhood to the next in some areas. T'would be so cool to go and see and hear! Just way beyond my financial reach.
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Post by newdegus on Aug 31, 2015 21:47:04 GMT
Thanks for the grammar lesson! Now I have a new phrase to use in school!
The base of the cage is going to 3 feet by 20 inches(about 1 meter by 3/4 of a meter?). I was planning on making it at least 3 feet high with plenty of shelves and toys. Do you think that will be big enough?
I'll send pictures when its completed!
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Post by screaminturtle on Sept 1, 2015 9:37:34 GMT
Hi newdegus, welcome :-) glad its all working out, you're in good hands in this forum :-)
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