drea
Newborn Degu
Posts: 3
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Post by drea on Apr 4, 2012 2:18:23 GMT
Hello! My family is the lucky new owners of 3, 1 year old female degus who were give to us by a family who no longer had time to care for them. We've had them for 4 days now. These girls are wonderfully socialized but need some extra TLC.
They were in a all wire cage, with mesh floors, no hiding places, chew toys, or bedding. Two of the three have large bald spots, I am assuming from over-grooming. I am in the process of adding more grasses to their pellet only diet. I have added bedding, tunnels, chew toys, chew sticks and toys to their cage. I removed the metal wheel which I believe that one of them injured her front foot on. Their cage (which came with them) is small at 24 inches long, 24 inches high and 16 inches deep. We are expecting the new, larger cage that we ordered to come in within the next few days..
What concerns me, is that although their eyes are bright, and they are curious, they are not as active as I would have expected them to be. With the exception of running on the wheel, they don't do a lot of running or climbing. They investigate new things as I put them into their cage, but they don't play in the tunnels, with the toilet paper, or show any interest in the coconut shell. Could this be because the have never 'learned' to play? They also don't seem to have a lot of interest in chewing anything that has been added to their cage, yet do chew the plastic shelves and at the cage bars.
Should I be worried or is this likely just and adjustment to their new environment which will sort itself out over time?
Suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks a bundle!
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Post by deguconvert on Apr 4, 2012 4:34:04 GMT
Welcome to the forum, Drea, and congratulations on your new to you degus!! I am certain you will enjoy them more and more as you get to know them, and they get to know you!
Their lack of play will certainly be due in part to adjusting to their new home and all the new things that come with the change. As well, if they have been deprived of things to chew, investigate, play with etc. then they will certainly have lost the usual sense of curiousity as a result of not using it much. Give them time . . . hopefully they will perk up and begin to look at things with greater interest and desire to interact with them. It could take a while, and they may never really become greatly active, but I do expect that you will see an increase. Especially as you and your family interact with them, playing with them, giving them time to run about outside of the cage, and bring new things into their environment. They must be a little shell shocked right now with all the new things. They might be having trouble believing it's really true. Bless you all for taking them in and dramatically improving their lives and welfare!!
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 4, 2012 10:16:52 GMT
Hopefully they will respond once they settle, some degus are more interested in playing than others, but all degus are interested in food. Try experimenting with different foods, take it slow as you introduce new ones, but things like dandelions, flower mixes, seeds, oats could be good in helping them get used to you if you hand feed them, and could help them take an interest in new toys and their new cage when it comes if you scatter them around and hide them.
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Post by Ady on Apr 4, 2012 10:37:11 GMT
Hi Drea, I too think they just need to adjust to new things. They even might be a bit "depressed" from the lack of space and mental stimulation. Bigger cage, some TLC and toys etc. should get them excited again Well done for giving them a better home. X
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luna1
Burrowing Degu
Nozzle, my miracle!
Posts: 143
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Post by luna1 on Apr 4, 2012 12:20:05 GMT
Hi Drea, Well done you! Taking in older Degus is more of a challenge but well worth the effort when you see them improving and being happier, I am sure in the months ahead you will see a real change in behaviour. As well as giving them lots of nice food and treats, don't forget to give them plenty of good quality hay as not only do they need this to keep their teeth worn down, they love to play, dig and nest in it. 2 of my rescue boys had no idea what hay was when I got them and it took several months for them to get used to eating it and a certain amount of bribery on my behalf but they were only ever fed on horse food that contained molasses so I am not surprised. My boys were also quite and not so inquisitive as my others and they still don't really chew or play much but I get a lot of satisfaction out of knowing that they are happy, well loved and get their medical needs met, which, unfortunately, sometimes comes with the territory of older pre owned Degus. Good luck!
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drea
Newborn Degu
Posts: 3
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Post by drea on Apr 4, 2012 20:57:23 GMT
Thanks very much for the information...and the encouragement. I really appreciate it!
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drea
Newborn Degu
Posts: 3
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Post by drea on Apr 24, 2012 1:13:43 GMT
So, the girls have been in their new Ferret Nation cage for almost 3 weeks now. It was a blast to watch them bound around and explore the 4 floors and new toys. They are more active now, but still rarely play or chew. My concern is their teeth. Except for the very occasional nibble they really don't chew on anything. I am trying to introduce grasses/hay into their diet, but they really don't like it much and don't eat a lot of it, even when there are no pellets in their dish.
Any suggestions how I might be able to encourage them to eat more hay, or, at least chew a bit more and wear down their teeth?
We think they are around a year to a year and a half old, and have never really had a lot to chew on. I'd really like avoid having to get their teeth worked on if at all possible. So far, at least, there aren't any apparent problems.
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abirose
Burrowing Degu
Forum Helper
Posts: 276
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Post by abirose on Apr 24, 2012 12:11:52 GMT
Have you tried apple wood sticks? My goo's love them.
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Post by dingdangdegu on Apr 24, 2012 13:48:29 GMT
My degus love apple branches too. Or you could try "gu cubes" They are healthy treats that are hard with wood in too. You can buy them online.
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 24, 2012 14:35:12 GMT
For front tooth wear, you can try different types of wood, branches and twigs, whatever you can get hold of. They might show more interest in wood if it's got the bark on still. All of these woods are safe Birch,Weeping Willow, Kiln dried Pine, Hazel, Alder, Hawthorn, Hazelnut, Apple, Pear, Plum, Oak, Cherry, Aspen. Apple and hazel are usually well liked, if you can get some with leaves or buds on that will attract their interest even more.
For molar teeth wear, you can try all different types of fibrous plants and leaves, hay & grasses. There are lots of different types of hay available, herb mixes, readigrass, dried/fresh grass, hay pellets. You could play around with the location of the hay supply in the cage, and try topping up the supply frequently.
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