Best way to pick up Degus

[ntg]

Hi I've had my goos for a couple of months now and gained their trust to the point where they'll sit on my knee, use my hand as a platform and even jump on my shoulder in one case. I've only ever had to scoop them up in mishaps where they've seen a break in the defenses and made a run for it.

What I was wondering though was the best way of actively picking them up and holding them as I've read various ways of different websites?

Attachments:

[Kins]

The only real way to pick them up is to kind of scoop them from underneath. (I'm sure you know you must never pick them up by their tail )

From my fairly limited experience not many goos really like being picked up. I don't really ever pick mine up I just hold my hands out and let them wander on if they fancy it

Some people use a tube to entice their goos into and pick them up in the tube...

[rh1ann0n]

I don't generally pick my degu up just to hold her because she doesn't like it, but if I let her out and need to get her back in her cage I just put my hands down vertically with my fingers slightly curled and she steps on. With her back feet on my fingers and her front paws on the base of my hand.. Sorry It's a bit tricky to explain but she's basically standing up and holding onto my hand.

[cherrysparkey]

Hi there!

If you really want them to sit on your hand you could try enticing them with treats, either by putting them on your hand or move them in front of their face and up your hand. Just make sure you don't lift your hands too high, if they get spooked they might just run without realising how high they are.

We've managed to train our goos to sit on our shoulder when we say a command by doing something similar (you have to say a word or make a noise and associate it with what you want them to do, quite a few times). Now even if we don't say it and they want food they'll sit on our shoulder hoping for a treat lol.

You could also put a pile of treats in one hand (something small like oats work well so they don't keep running off) then when they start eating, slowly put your other hand under their bum, and if they like food enough they should lift their back legs onto your hand and make themselves comfy

[bijett]

One of my girls is happy to be picked up. I just cup my hands around her and she puts her paws on each sides and lets herself be lift up very gently before hopping on to my shoulder. The other won't have any of it.

[Lrak]

My 2 girls will come over to see if i have any food then nibble me for abit then after being in there for a while they will jump all over my hands and arms, they use me as a toy i think. They arnt to happy about being picked up as such but then ive not had them long

[pixierodentrescue]

I recognise that little face! Hi Sarah/Liam! *waves*
Scooped hands definitely best method I've found, and in the awkward occasions where we have to catch them to move to another cage or something we use a really small clear plastic carrier I use for gerbils with treats in so they run in there then lift them out of the cage

[Lrak]

if i have to move them about for any reason then i get ot the sand bath and they jump in it so i can move them about

[ntg]

Aug 25, 2012 19:07:19 GMT pixierodentrescue said:

I recognise that little face! Hi Sarah/Liam! *waves*

Hi Ebony!

Thanks guys, I don't really want to pick them up unless I have to (the number of times they've managed to sneak out is remarkable). I usually use the spare only wheel since they destroyed the wooden one as they're always eager to get in it!

[Lrak]

first time one of mine got out it went under the cage, now when they manage to slip out they try to climb ontop of the cage and i always worry about them hurting themselfs.

[chelle9181]

Our goos hate being picked up or held... its kinda sad.. I just really want snuggle time.... but one hates people he doesnt want to be held, picked up, petted, nothing..... so I have to try to trick them into a tube or bucket to transfere them around. Or my husband with his speedy hands carefully snatches them up (Gentley) around their body. But only if they are getting away from the play zone and into the dangerous world of other animals.

[ntg]

We nearly had a heart attack when.one of ours escaped into the computer (it has an open grill to stop it from overheating). We thought for sure it was going to be bye bye Pip until we managed to tip him out. We always found they were easily picked up using the wheel or sandbath. No recent incidents though!

[Deleted]

Wow, into the computer. That's a new one!

[ntg]

I hope it never happens again, thought he was a goner for sure

[moletteuk]

Glad you got Pip out safely

Chelle, have you tried sitting on the floor with your degus? Even degus that don't like being picked up or petted at all are often happy to explore a human at their own level, and given time may enjoy settling down for a rest or nap on your legs, lap or shoulder, which is a great way to bond

[Lrak]

My girls started climbing on me after spending the odd 10mins here and there in front of the cage with the door open. This worked great for me till the other day when one of them decided that they wanted to use me as a toilet, all over my shoulder ;D

[jenowuk]

We have the degu cage at the side of the sofa, and have attached a ledge outside their door, so they can jump from the cage over to us. This gives them an area they can explore and climb (including us!), and gets them used to us and being touched. I think they now see us as part of their 'group', as they will happily curl up on our laps, or at our side. Very cute, except for the toilet habit. We've never been able to toilet train, so we just accept this as part of goo life, and keep a dustpan and brush nearby to collect up their 'contributions'!

If they do get on the floor (and between a combination of nosiness, and pushing each other around, sooner or later they do!), we put down a couple of tubes. They are absolutely fascinated with tubes, which they have to climb through. I assume this is because they live in burrows in the wild? Anyway, it always works - as soon as they see a tube, they jump into it, and you can then pick it up.

[rich555]

Hi
I have two that like being scooped up and two that will tolerate it but arent keen.
All of them are happy to deed off my hand and step on it and also sit on my leg

[jennyjoy]

Hi,
My little Magoo (R.I.P.) didn't mind being picked up. When it was time for him to be moved from his cage to his playpen or vice versa, he would just hop up onto my hand and I'd transport him. Of course, this take some time for him to do this as I had to earn his trust! It was really cute. As for Ron & Harry (I've had them for almost 5 months), the tube works the best in transporting them. Although occassionally, Ron will jump onto my hand. I do spend time with them in their playpen and they do like to climb all over me or sit quietly on my knee!