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Post by maddy4moos on Feb 24, 2012 14:13:54 GMT
Hi, I got myself 2 Degus yesterday from a 'friend' who had no idea what she was doing with them and was basically neglecting them. I was told they were both Female But i am 90% sure they are Male (They have a Gap between their Anus and cone?) and One of them has Cataracts (we are guessing from a poor diet resulting in diabetic symptoms) She was feeding them Guinea pig food (containing apple and sugar), They have never had access to a dirt bath, They didn't have any kind of Wheel or exercise, They only have a wire bottomed cage (sure i read somewhere this can cause bumblefoot?) and only this horrible chew block that had been wee'd on god knows how many times, and the water bottle was green  In the last 32 Hours We have got them: *** A new (Plastic with no holes) Wheel Which they love *** A New Chew Block *** New Water bottle *** Two new Seperate Feeding bowls *** Degu Nugget Food *** Rope Chews *** Toilet Rolls *** Kitchen Roll *** Plenty of Hay *** A sock filled with Hay *** 2 Hammocks *** A sheet on the bottom of the cage so they arn't on the bars all the time *** A Dirt Box And most of all Plenty of attention and love! Has anyone got any other ideas of things that i can do to give these two gentlemen the best life ever? We are going to build them a bigger Cage when we next get paid (they are currently in a chinchilla style cage) Will Add Pictures when I can  |
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Post by nuttz on Feb 24, 2012 14:27:53 GMT
so very glad to have you join us................welcome! so far by what ive read, you are doing a fantastic job, im sure your new goos are feeling like their christmas and birthdays have come at once...lol im slightly busy doing mummy chores at present  but i shall have a think, in the meantime im certain you will receive lots of replies regarding your questions! once again, welcome to the forum, make yourself a nice cuppa and have a little read through some of the threads, im sure you will find many interesting topics! ;D |
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Post by deguconvert on Feb 24, 2012 15:27:04 GMT
Hello, Maddy4moos!! Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new degus!! It definitely sounds like you have two males rather than females. Sounds also like you did your research to know the differences, well done! If you are feeling doubtful about your diagnosis of their gender, you are more than welcome to post pictures of their bits and we can help you confirm it.  ;D You will find TONS of information on this forum, and if you don't mind, I will direct you to some of the things that we like to recommend. One that I will post a link to (as you mention that you plan to build a cage in the near future) is our cage recommendations, using an excellent tool developed by Fred, one of our many wonderful members, called CARA. deguworld.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Cage&action=display&thread=9396 If you have time to just peruse and enjoy, have a look through this, if you haven't already . . . deguworld.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Cage&action=display&thread=6918 . . . and you will see MANY examples of cages that have been built by other members of the forum. Another location I would like to show you deals with the nutritional needs of degus. It is a relatively new(ish) project on the forum, and one that we continue to explore and broaden as we go. Several of our members are greatly involved in putting together a detailed information sheet about nutrition right now, and knowing these members as I do, I expect it will be a most excellent resource for all degus owners. Link . . . deguworld.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=gotonewpost&board=food&thread=8933The following site gives very concise information about degus, in easy to diagest bites, so I want to include it in my post as well. deguworld.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=beginners&action=display&thread=13040Well . . . that's a lot of information to look at, and I fear I may over load you. Take your time though, and please, ask any and all questions that may arise as you read, learn, and live with your degus. Degus are lovely, comical, character rich love, but they are also weird, and they do weird things, LOL! So don't be shy of any questions or concerns you may have. |
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Post by maddy4moos on Feb 24, 2012 20:00:36 GMT
I just want to Make sure they are as Happy as they can be - I want lots of things to keep them occupied and using their brains - They haven't had any of that as far as I'm aware. My latest creation was some pellets in a box of shavings for them to dig in and find - they went down well. and when they came out of the cage I played with them with a Cat toy with bells in it... quite funny watching one of them chase it Any other ideas? |
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Post by deguconvert on Feb 25, 2012 1:37:28 GMT
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Tiiyn
Foraging Degu
Posts: 103
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Post by Tiiyn on Feb 25, 2012 11:46:15 GMT
DC has already linked the thread, but my boys LOVED being given a roll of loo roll. I just tied it to the top of the cage and left them too it. Talk about happy boys. I've also given them a box of tissues a couple of times, which they love, although it doesn't get quite the same enthusiasm as a loo roll lol. (As for what kind of loo roll/tissue, I think general concensus is any simple plain type is good).
If you can get hold of any safe wood, that's also great... mine absolutely LOVE chewing any wood... and I often put a branch of silver birch/willow in (these are just what I have access to, there are lots of other suitable woods) and they LOVE nibbling on these/stripping the bark off, etc.
(edit. And this is mentioned in the thread DC linked too, but, carpet shops often have big cardboard tubes that they are happy to give away. These are great. Perhaps too big for in the cage right now, but if you're able to give them time outside the cage they'll be great for that)
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Post by maddy4moos on Feb 25, 2012 19:03:39 GMT
The toilet roll with tissue on is a good idea but at the moment we have been using tissue as a training treat - Stand on our hand and then get a piece of tissue We did do it with food but find they get bored of that very quickly where as with the tissue they come back for at least an hour When they are bit better trained will give them a roll with tissue still on I have a friend who has an apple tree in his garden - I have asked him to collect me some cuttings of that for my little fellas And trying the egg box tomorrow when we have used up our eggs Been trying to convince my partner to have omelettes all day so that I can have the box but he isn't having any of it! |
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Post by deguconvert on Feb 26, 2012 21:34:43 GMT
ROTFL!!! AWWW . . . but omlettes are just so GOOD!!! Look forward to hearing how the egg box goes over . . . once it's empty.
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Post by maddy4moos on Mar 4, 2012 22:45:35 GMT
Right, After days of trying to use up the eggs i eventually stole a box from my friend! lol. I Have filled my box with hay, Millet, a few oats, and a few pellets and they have so far ignored it! lol. One of them had a nibble on some of the hay sticking out - but because they have such a massive amount of it everywhere else that didn't last long... and they have just moved it around and tried to get it downstars but have no tried to chew into it I have however made a new little 'toy' out of a trouser leg - its just a little tube for them to run through and hide in - and they spent hours playing with it last night! All it is is a trouser leg and a bit of cardboard in the end stitched in to keep it open on both ends - they love it.  |
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Post by deguconvert on Mar 5, 2012 0:13:14 GMT
A brilliant plan!! I love it!!
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but i shall have a think, in the meantime im certain you will receive lots of replies regarding your questions!
;D 