|
Post by joanne4 on Dec 15, 2012 17:15:59 GMT
We are so excited, we collected our four new degus this afternoon, four pretty girls, three are blues and one brown. We understand they are a just a few weeks old and never handled.
We have four kids so each have named a degu, so we have Danni (the brown one), Phoebe, Kim Goo and Pepper Peanut!
The are very very active exploring their new home. We'd fully expected them to go into hiding, but they are very curious!
Phoebe keeps squabbling a little with the others, she appears to nip them especially Danni, (Danni is the most active). Is this normal, or could it become a problem?
Do you have any tips for getting them used to us, especially as they have never really been handled? We'll let them get used to their new home for a few days, but we're really looking forward to making friends with them.
I will get some pics uploaded soon.
|
|
lenny05
Burrowing Degu
relaxing
Posts: 134
|
Post by lenny05 on Dec 15, 2012 17:35:10 GMT
you will find them squabbling a lot but dont worry about it unless the fur starts to fly and good luck and hope you get as much enjoyment out of them as I do
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Dec 15, 2012 19:43:20 GMT
Hello Joanne4, and welcome to the forum!! Congratulations on your four new little girls, they sound very pretty . . . and precocious! But . . . that is a normal trait of degus, LOL! Have you had a look at this thread . . . deguworld.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=beginners&action=display&thread=13040 It has some very helpful starting information on it. Let me encourage you to ask any and all questions you may have about your new degus. Degus have very different characters to them than many other small pets, so you may see things that make you wonder. LOL! Just know, no questions about degus are considered stupid. Degus are just weird!
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Dec 15, 2012 19:51:13 GMT
With them being so young, you could probably start getting to know them quite quickly, just do everything passively - put your hands out with a treat and then wait for them to come and sniff you and don't move. Let them come to you rather than following them with your hands. Nipping is a bit naughty, but nothing to worry about at this stage. Now that they have left their parents, they have nobody telling them what to do and they have to figure out their own heirarchy, so you might see quite a bit of boxing and squabbling for a while. Have fun! Look forward to seeing pics!
|
|
|
Post by joanne4 on Dec 15, 2012 21:16:36 GMT
Thanks everyone. We are loving having them, they are incredibly entertaining. They come and say hello if you talk to them, so I hope they'll take to us quite easily. They are constantly chatting to each other, would live to know what they are saying!
My eldest is very reassured about your comments regarding the nipping, his degu Danni always seems to be involved and he was getting a little worried and upset for her. Good to know its normal!
I'm sure we'll have plenty of questions over the course of time. I have done loads of research, but until you actually have them, you don't really know what to expect.
|
|
|
Post by saddlers on Dec 16, 2012 12:00:51 GMT
We definitely also need to see pictures of the little angels!!
I agree that degu bickering etc can be quite noisy and look quite violent at times (although quite comical at other times) and I could understand why the kids might be feeling a bit worried by it. It is normal and definitely something for the kids to try and get to used to. I can understand it could be quite unnerving, but stick with it, they are fascinating little creatures
|
|
|
Post by Kins on Dec 17, 2012 9:54:27 GMT
Welcome, welcome, to the world of goos. Sounds like you've fallen for them already, little cuties.
|
|
|
Post by joanne4 on Dec 17, 2012 17:19:58 GMT
My pics won't load for some reason so will try again later.
They are adorable, Kim loves to venture on to your hand and have a nibble, she is so sweet and gentle. Danni is very scared, but incredibly curious, she so wants to come and say hello too, but the slightest movement sends her running. I do think her curiosity will overcome her fear though. Phoebe and Pepper Peanut don't want to know, they're not particularly scared as they'll just carry on regardless of your hand in the cage or not.
They have settled very quickly and made themselves at home, telly has suddenly become a lot less interesting too! Now I am keen to get a pen sorted as the lounge has too many tempting wires etc, but I can see Kim wanting to come out to play pretty soon!
|
|
|
Post by joanne4 on Dec 17, 2012 21:29:46 GMT
Help! We've had lots of squabbles this evening. We introduced them to the sand bath, Kim was the first in quickly followed by Danni. This resulted in a fight between the two and Danni now has a bit of a bald patch and a tiny sore on the back of her neck, not sure if its an actual bite or just the result of her fur being pulled out. Do we need to do anything, I don't want to upset her just as she's starting to gain confidence in us, but if it needs cleaning or treating what should we do?
Kim has been picking fights with all the girls this evening. It's my fault for thinking earlier how the squabbling between Phoebe and Danni had stopped, that'll teach me! Could this attitude from Kim be a result if her sudden growth in confidence today? She's gone from being quiet to being there when the cage door is opened, jumping on any hand offered to her and not minding us at all. They are all gaining confidence even the the two who were less interested have said hello this evening. Could all of this be changing the dynamics within the group, hence the squabbles?
|
|
|
Post by dyzired on Dec 17, 2012 22:38:18 GMT
So sorry to hear about the fighting! That's never fun to deal with. It sounds to me like she may be fighting to be top goo but I could be wrong. I'm sure someone else will be here shortly and can help you further. Good luck!
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Dec 17, 2012 23:17:54 GMT
Fighting for top goo will certainly be part of the picture, if not now, sometime in the future. Hopefully it will be mild fighting though. I suspect that the addition of the sand bath was just really exciting and they were conflicted over who had rights to it first and perhaps even for always. I'd leave the sand bath in there for a few days so that they can get used to it, as well as settle out their differences over it. I don't think their fight was serious, although I am sure if must have sounded and looked serious.
Degus tend to actively debate different things, especially when they are younger . . . like 18 months and under . . . as they are all very curious and inclined to declare ownership. They do love to collect their treasures!! You will see boxing, pushing, shoving, and humping among them, but it is pretty normal and not to be feared.
|
|
|
Post by dusty on Dec 17, 2012 23:32:50 GMT
Sounds to me as if Kim is trying to accert herself as top goo. The fighting, pushing, shoving and who gets to the best stuff first are all signs of a dominant goo. She will be the first one out when you open the doors, the first one to take treats, the first one in and out of the dust bath etc... and probably the first one to risk using you as a climbing frame The fighting probably looks and sounds worse than it is although only you can be the judge of that, ours have the occassional boxing match but it only lasts minutes, i think its just them making sure everyone knows there place. Yours hopelfully will all find their place and settle down soon. Try not to worry too much about the fighting, unless they try the fur ball of death, locked together, normally very quietly with fur flying everywhere. I am assuming what they have at the moment is just them finding their place within the group. Hope they settle down for you soon
|
|
|
Post by joanne4 on Dec 18, 2012 12:57:44 GMT
Things are fairly quiet today, so we'll see how they go. From what you have said, the fighting sounds worse than it is, apart from Danni's neck, there are no other injuries. It is scary at the time as you really don't want anyone to get hurt, but I figure splitting up the squabbles won't help either if they need to establish who is boss? Fingers crossed they sort this out quickly, although I am surprised its an issue so early, I didn't expect it until they were older, they have a lot more about them than I ever imagined, which makes them so adorable.
|
|
|
Post by saddlers on Dec 18, 2012 14:12:06 GMT
That is the thing I find so fascinating, the social structure and their own personal traits make them really fascinating pets, but from what I have seen they are certainly not for the faint hearted...I know others have had no issues at all with their goos, and I am certainly becoming more used to their antics, but it does take time ;D
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Dec 18, 2012 15:56:45 GMT
Yeah . . . it can be hard not to envy those that are not really having any issues between their degus, or with them themselves. However, it is their complexities that do make them so interesting and fun to get to know. Like you say though, Saddlers, they are not a pet for the faint of heart. LOL! No siree!!
|
|
|
Post by lessthansign3 on Dec 19, 2012 20:48:03 GMT
I just want to say that I think it's great that the degus are obviously *family* pets So many people get small animals for their children, when they should be getting them for the whole family to care for, just like a dog or a cat. Getting the entire family involved is a great way to teach kids proper respect for animals and to ensure the pets are getting proper care by an adult family member. Of course some parents are concerned about cleanliness too - my mom wouldn't let us touch any of the cleaning duties related to our guinea pigs when I was a kid because she thought we'd get sick She just might be a germaphobe though Best of luck with the goos and hopefully once the social order gets straightened out there won't be any more major scuffles. I imagine there might always be little spats here and there - "contests", as I like to call them - but that's just natural.
|
|
|
Post by joanne4 on Dec 19, 2012 21:42:49 GMT
Squabbles not so bad, more boxing than biting! Kim has no fear of any hands now, as soon as the door opens she's there and will jump onto the nearest hand or arm she can find! She's had a quick run around my shoulders too! The others are slowly warming up, it's so amazing watching them develop and grow. I know we have only had them a few days, but they have become our main focus so much more fascinating than TV! The kids adore them, they sound like the goos when one jumps, sniffs or nibbles their hands, they are so excited about getting to know their new friends. I think it's safe to say I am so in love with these little creatures!
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Dec 20, 2012 11:12:59 GMT
I'm so pleased your whole family is really enjoying the goos, Joanne You don't need to worry about boxing and swearing at each other at all. Our 3 girls started boxing & swearing the second day we had them at 5 to 6 weeks old, it carried on for 3 or 4 months but we haven't had a moments trouble since then, and that includes a diarrhoea incident and leg injury upsetting the heirarchy.
|
|
|
Post by joanne4 on Dec 20, 2012 12:12:56 GMT
I can't load the pics. I've tried but it just keeps telling me the pictures have been moved or deleted when I preview it. I've followed the instructions on here, and am used to posting pics on forums, so can't see why it won't work here. Not fair!!!
|
|
|
Post by dyzired on Dec 20, 2012 14:44:41 GMT
Are you using photobucket? If not, try making an account with them. Then use the "img" code to post on here. That's what I use and i think it works for the most part.
|
|