redheaddegu
Burrowing Degu
red hair is a warning sign
Posts: 180
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hello
Jan 8, 2013 18:37:28 GMT
Post by redheaddegu on Jan 8, 2013 18:37:28 GMT
Hi,
I have just adopted a male degu. He was rejected by his litter mates, ending up malnourished and covered in bites and scratches. Unfortunately he was then unhappy when an attempt was made to introduce him to a group of younger males. So he's gonna be on his own except for me. I know that company is important for degus so I am trying to get him used to me by talking to him and shameless bribery (oats are working well - thank you whoever suggested that as a treat!). I'm also hanging food and have a wheel which he loves and several chews in his cage to keep him occupied. However if anyone has any great ideas for toys etc, I'd be grateful.
Thanks
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hello
Jan 8, 2013 18:49:11 GMT
Post by animalmadchloe on Jan 8, 2013 18:49:11 GMT
Loo rolls sealed at both ends stuffed with degu food, seeds, oats, hay and toilet roll you can either hang it or just chuck it in
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Post by dyzired on Jan 8, 2013 21:42:25 GMT
You really should consider trying introductions again. Even though he's had bad luck meeting other degus, I'm sure you can get it to work. We have a great introductions section on here.. And some awesome members who would be more than happy to walk you through it all. Even if you could entertain him every single day, there are still things you can't provide.. Such as cuddling in a goo pile. Believe me.. He'll be sooo much happier to have company! There are also great threads on here though about homemade toys you can provide him with until you can get him friends. Good luck though! Feel free to ask any other questions you may have along the way! EDIT Sorry! And congrats on the new goo btw he's lucky to have been rescued by you!
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hello
Jan 9, 2013 4:18:34 GMT
Post by dusty on Jan 9, 2013 4:18:34 GMT
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hello
Jan 9, 2013 5:07:36 GMT
Post by deguconvert on Jan 9, 2013 5:07:36 GMT
Hello Redheaddegu, and welcome to the forum. I too would encourage you to not rule out trying intros altogether, but I do recommend that you wait on that for a bit. He has quite clearly endured some rather traumatic events in his short life, and these have left him emotionally scarred and frightened. To try and introduce him to new degus again right now, or even within a few weeks, may be more than he can face. Instead, I think that getting to know him, winning his trust, and building a bond with him really needs to be your focus at this point. You need to help him heal. To learn that there are humans he can trust and love, and to begin to actually enjoy his life. Once he gets to that point, bringing in companionship may be a whole lot more successful than it has been in the past. I would recommend considering the potential of having him neutered and introducing him to one or two young females. This is a grouping that should have much greater success than male to male.
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hello
Jan 9, 2013 9:52:10 GMT
Post by Lrak on Jan 9, 2013 9:52:10 GMT
Well lookslike you have been given loads of great advice so all that isleft is a hello and welcome to the forum
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redheaddegu
Burrowing Degu
red hair is a warning sign
Posts: 180
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hello
Jan 9, 2013 17:14:23 GMT
Post by redheaddegu on Jan 9, 2013 17:14:23 GMT
Thanks everyone for the advice, particularly the idea of getting him neutered and getting females in. Cute though baby degus are, I'm not really up for breeding programs. However I think I'll wait a few months and let him settle. He's already fairly tame, comes when called and appears to listen to me (better than most of my boyfriends lol) but needs some time to really trust me I think. I'm also going to have to build an extension to the cage before friends, as although I think he has sufficient space (L3 ft x W2ft x H2ft, with upper level ledges) I wouldn't want more in there. However the good news is that I've found a fantastic pet shop, with loads of good treats and toys, and assistants who check packets to ensure there is no sugar before putting things through the till! I'll keep people updated on our progress.
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Post by dyzired on Jan 10, 2013 2:22:30 GMT
Just curious, do you have the thickets cage (is that the name?)?
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hello
Jan 10, 2013 7:01:49 GMT
Post by ntg on Jan 10, 2013 7:01:49 GMT
In case you don't know the name, Dyz means the standard cage pets at home sells "for degus".
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redheaddegu
Burrowing Degu
red hair is a warning sign
Posts: 180
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hello
Jan 10, 2013 20:02:31 GMT
Post by redheaddegu on Jan 10, 2013 20:02:31 GMT
No I don't have the Thickets cage, I really wasn't keen, felt it was too small. I don't know what sort of cage I have! I've really done this all wrong..... saw degu, heard sob story, being a sucker decided to take him! No suitable cages in PaH so going back next day, didn't really like cage so looked on internet, found second hand cage near where I live (Gimli was near my parents place where I was on holiday), agreed to buy cage when I got home, picked up degu, drove home, collected cage, cleaned cage, put in degu. Gimli seems to like it, and with the shelves he does have space. It's basically metal with a solid floor, and has a built in stand. The current shelves are a metal one which comes with it, wire covered in carboard to protect the feet, and a plastic shelf. Wooden shelves will be arriving monday and a far better upper level will be installed then, but once my exam is done, I'm going to build a lower level to give more space. I think this is probably an example of how not to gain a pet!
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Post by dyzired on Jan 10, 2013 20:23:44 GMT
Believe me, some of us on here have started off even worse than that, especially me! I went about doing it alllllll wrong in the beginning. Sounds like you're doing all you can to make your goo happy
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hello
Jan 10, 2013 22:20:24 GMT
Post by saddlers on Jan 10, 2013 22:20:24 GMT
I agree with Dyz, and at least you are trying to improve your degus standard of living as you go, and asking questions ;D I have just been through the neutering process (not me personally of course ) and can hopefully at least shed some light on the process for you. I am constantly changing/improving my set up as I go along, nothing wrong with that approach
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hello
Jan 11, 2013 1:18:46 GMT
Post by ntg on Jan 11, 2013 1:18:46 GMT
Realised I never even said hi... Sorry! Welcome to the forum! It might not have been ideal how you got Gimli but I'm sure you'll do right by him! You sound like you're doing well so far do you know how old he is?
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redheaddegu
Burrowing Degu
red hair is a warning sign
Posts: 180
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hello
Jan 11, 2013 22:07:00 GMT
Post by redheaddegu on Jan 11, 2013 22:07:00 GMT
Thank you for your support. It is very much appreciated!!!!!! I know it is showing my age, but I just about remember the days before internet...... Still can't quite work out how we survived! Night before picking up Gimli I sat on the computer, read about care, decided I needed bigger cage than on offer in PaH, found bigger cage...... Great!!!
As to age, I'm told Gimli is just under a year. I'm hoping that means he will be able to adapt to new surroundings, and possibly grow in confidence to be able to be introduced to more friends later. Main worry at the moment is that he simply doesn't seem interested in all the stuff I'm trying to entertain him. He really is concentrating on the same stuff he had previously. I sewed a hammock last night, as I got the impression they are supposed to love them, but I don't think he knows what to do with it! I'm just hoping that being young, he'll learn.
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hello
Jan 12, 2013 14:49:03 GMT
Post by ntg on Jan 12, 2013 14:49:03 GMT
Ours aren't really interested in toys as such, they just prefer to chew things and use tunnels (try Wilkinsons for chew tubes, they're half the price than in p@h). Try doing odd things like stuffing the cardboard tube from a toilet roll with hay and some treats then sealing up the ends. You can even hang them from the ceiling as more of a challenge. I've always found they are much more interested if it involves food!
Other things you can do is scatter dandelion, seeds etc round the cage for him to forage for. Does he use a wheel?
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redheaddegu
Burrowing Degu
red hair is a warning sign
Posts: 180
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hello
Jan 13, 2013 0:15:15 GMT
Post by redheaddegu on Jan 13, 2013 0:15:15 GMT
Big news, Gimli is in his hammock!!!!! A scattering of hemp seeds seems to have helped.
Gimli uses his wheel an awful lot. That and the daisy chew is about all he is interested in. That is all that was in the cage when I first saw him. I've tried the stuffed toilet roll, he pushed it with his nose a couple of times! In the end I removed most of the sealant. This evening he was trying to burrow in to get at the treats! No chewing at cardboard. I also got a chew tube. It currently is an obstacle, all the treats I put in it to tempt him in are still there. I put dried apple in the nutty nibbler to make it more tempting, he just couldn't work it out. Hay is in a ball suspended from the cage roof, I'm worrying he isn't getting enough, but feel that having him work for his food is probably a good thing. I have lowered it to make it more easy. I know he needs time, but I feel very strongly that pets are a responsibility not a right and I really want to ensure I'm doing the best by this little chap. He's not had an ideal start, the current situation is pretty poor.
Will try scattering seeds, thus far they have been used as treats (he climbs into my hand to eat).
Thank you for all the help and advice
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hello
Jan 13, 2013 1:52:47 GMT
Post by ntg on Jan 13, 2013 1:52:47 GMT
Lol bribery is usually my technique when I first put things in as well. Sometimes they just really aren't interested but I guess my lot are.easy to occupy as they like nothing more than to chew things!
If we take the wheel out we found the best way of keeping them occupied was putting a mound of chamomile hay (you can get it at p@h, ours go mental for it, and it's a better quality than thr chopped Timothy hay), scatter foliage round and then chuck in some twigs for them to chew on. Have you looked at the safe wood list?
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hello
Jan 13, 2013 20:37:21 GMT
Post by moletteuk on Jan 13, 2013 20:37:21 GMT
Welcome Redhead Sounds like you are doing well getting to grips with everything I just thought I'd say that the hay is important, so try offering it to him in a heap somewhere or in a bowl if he's not sure about the ball, make it really easy access for him. You could try pungent treats like tiny pieces of nut if you want to try to get his interest or attention on new things. Sometimes they just take a while to accept new things, sometimes they will ignore something for a month and then suddenly decide it's the best thing ever.
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hello
Jan 14, 2013 11:22:05 GMT
Post by Lrak on Jan 14, 2013 11:22:05 GMT
I normally put aload of hay in the cage then my girls will pile it all up into a nest then lay in the nest and eat the hay while they are going to sleep, its really cute ;D
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redheaddegu
Burrowing Degu
red hair is a warning sign
Posts: 180
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hello
Jan 15, 2013 18:09:58 GMT
Post by redheaddegu on Jan 15, 2013 18:09:58 GMT
Thank you so much everyone for all your advice. Have spent the last couple of days doing cage improvements, jigsaw and drill have been out to make shelves with ledges! Think the environment is much better and more interesting. Gimli certainly seems to approve, and he is now sleeping in the hammock and running around happily. We're still not eating much hay, but there is a choice between meadow hay, camomile hay, alfalfa nuggets or the alfalfa and willow ring. Surely something must suit! Have also piled up some hay in the corner where Gimli started sleeping when not in his hammock, so maybe he'll do what Lrak suggests and eat it as a bed time snack.
Have started making investigations into getting Gimli neutered, but think it will have to wait until after my exam. Although the cage is has much more floor space now, I think I would like to build a basement to provide another total floor area before putting more degus in. Apparently there is a vet about 30 mins away that specialises in exotic animals, so fingers crossed. For the moment though it will be the two of us, and Gimli seems happy chattering away at me whenever I go near his cage. If I go near without treats, oh boy do I know about it!
Will keep checking the boards and asking questions, thank you again everyone for your help, and this great supply of info. Has given me loads of ideas as how to improve my care of Gimli and I feel far more confident than I did last week.
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