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Post by cherrybombnemo on Sept 26, 2012 9:43:48 GMT
Hey everyone I've just joined this forum and I'm also new to the world of degus,
I've done loads of research I got my two wonderful degus Sunday obviously it's now Wednesday, they seem to have settled in and are slowly getting used to me.
Only this I'm worried about I handling I'm sure there are loads of post about this but I thought I'd be better this way.
The problem is im scared to handle my degus incase they bite or nibble and it hurts
I've done all the steps to get them used to me like talking to them introduced my hand
They do come up to me now and then run away but I seem to flinch around them.
Does anyone have any advice to help ease my fear.
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Post by Lrak on Sept 26, 2012 9:50:22 GMT
Welcome to the forum  If you carry on putting your handsin with them and talking to them then they will get used to you and will start climbing on to you, i dont know about others on herebut i've not really had any proplems with them biting, they will nibble but its normally just soft. I'm sure i read somewhere that they do it just to find out more about you, something about seeing the world through there teeth (unless i'm going mad and seeing things in my head again  ) Now my girls just nibble me when they want to have a laugh  Oh and as always with new members ;D We want pictures |
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Post by cherrybombnemo on Sept 26, 2012 10:08:30 GMT
Thank you (: that's really helpful. They are so adorable I hate feeling scared of them do. Ones trying to sleep onto of the other at the moment.
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Post by Lrak on Sept 26, 2012 10:10:18 GMT
;D Yea mine do that all the time and i'm sure in no time at all you will have them climbing all over you and sitting on your shoulder. What have you called them? Are they male or female? |
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Post by cherrybombnemo on Sept 26, 2012 10:17:28 GMT
Aww how many do you have?
And mine are both male called George named after curious George because his always exploring and bouncer because when I went to buy him he was bouncing in the wheel.
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Post by cherrybombnemo on Sept 26, 2012 10:18:42 GMT
One other this I'm scared about is them getting out the cage when I open the door because it's a big door
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Post by ntg on Sept 26, 2012 10:21:56 GMT
They don't normally bite unless they feel threatened or scared. They will start to nibble you to groom you which might pinch a little if they get too rough ( there are ways to tell them but I can't explain it so I'll let someone with more experience do it for me). Also, wash your hands before putting them in incase they smell of food.
But congrats on your new terrors, they'll steal your heart in no time, if they haven't already!
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Post by cherrybombnemo on Sept 26, 2012 10:26:00 GMT
Thank you.
I always wash my hands befre and after just incase. I do love them already.
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Post by Lrak on Sept 26, 2012 10:30:35 GMT
I've got two girls great little things . Love the names Yea i sometimes forget to wash my hands before and if i've just been in with their food they jump me ;D my girls try to get out when i open the door but i just put my hands in the way and if the manage to get out then i keep the sand bath near by, they love it so will just jump right in hope it helps ease your mind abit. |
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Post by ntg on Sept 26, 2012 10:43:12 GMT
Lol ours take any opportunity to get out of the cage so we just constantly keep the play pen up now. If they have escaped our best chance of getting them is their free-range wheel.
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Post by cherrybombnemo on Sept 26, 2012 10:49:54 GMT
welll you've both helped ease my mind about them. i cant wait to have them running over me =]
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Post by Lrak on Sept 26, 2012 11:46:45 GMT
First time that happened to me i was like "WOOOOOOOOO" but had to hold it in as i didnt want to scare them ;D
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Post by ntg on Sept 26, 2012 12:53:18 GMT
Lol you should have seen them with my best friend, they were all over her from the get go, eating off her hand and sitting there quite happily. Serves me right for.her dogs loving me more xD
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 26, 2012 14:42:22 GMT
Hello, Cherrybombnemo, and welcome to the forum! Congratulations on your new degus, too! If your degus do happen to nibble you, it will be them checking you out AND grooming you. If when degus are grooming each other, the groomER gets a little too energetic with his job and it hurts, the groomIE will emit a loud high pitched squeak, and we recommend that same response to degus owners. A nice loud squeak will tell them, "hey! That hurt! And usually they will go more gentle. Sometimes you have to do it a couple of times, and you'll notice that they are more gentle with each return. However, for very young degus that don't really have their "grooming technique" perfected yet, it may take a few repeat experiences of grooming before they have it learned and you don't need to remind them . . . very often. LOL!
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Post by moletteuk on Sept 26, 2012 14:57:15 GMT
A proper bite is very rare, almost exclusively when somebody has stuck a hand in to separate a fight between degus. They are actually very, very skillfull with their teeth, I let mine groom my face and even eyelashes with no fear, and I've never been a naturally confident pet owner. I think the best thing if you are feeling hesitant and unsure is to offer the back of your hand or a fist or maybe a fist with some food just between your forefinger and thumb, and then you have no sensitive bits exposed and you can build up confidence. Your degus will probably be as cautious as you anyway, they usually do some sniffing and then a little lick, and then the tiniest nibble if they are investigating something.
Make a plan for if they escape, keep the door closed and a cardboard tube handy. Maybe you can make the room safe for them, or partition an area.
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Post by Kins on Sept 27, 2012 8:28:25 GMT
Welcome to the wonderful (if sometimes a little bizzare) world of goos! You've already been given loads of great advice. I'd just say take it at your own pace. If you're a little cautious at first, no worries, it is as much about you getting used to them as it is them getting used to you. I still jump occasionally if one of my boys makes a sudden move/squeak, it's only normal Any other questions don't hesitate to ask! |
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Post by cherrybombnemo on Sept 27, 2012 9:21:45 GMT
i did it:D i managed to let them come up to me and george had a little nibble but it was just like a little scratch |
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Post by Lrak on Sept 27, 2012 9:49:28 GMT
Yay well done now you will be able to do it over and over again |
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Post by cherrybombnemo on Sept 27, 2012 16:11:35 GMT
I'm not afraid to put my hand it now good sign so thank you everyone(:
I'm hoping to build a play pen on Saturday so they can run around with more space.
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Post by lizziexo on Oct 10, 2012 7:10:50 GMT
This forum helped me too! I had the same fear, but am a little behind yourself - Monster loves to come over and sniff, and I'm getting a lot better at not pulling away, he's started putting his paws on my hand now. Love! I've cut a big bit of cardboard that blocks most of their door and is easy to slide in and out without opening the door very far, as our door was a big one too and I tend to take him into the bath for hand-to-degu time, easy to move around with no risk of naughty escapes! |
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