|
Post by uglibug on Jun 29, 2014 12:46:18 GMT
Well our little family is expanding by 2 more this evening, Brian and stu. The bigger cage seems to have worked wonders on Buddy and Mater, they come to the doors for fusses now, so hopefully when everyone gets re-aquainted and they can all live together we should have 4 happy friendly boys as well as 4 happy friendly girls. Fingers crossed folks. :-)
|
|
|
Post by uglibug on Jun 29, 2014 17:27:25 GMT
The new boys have been in about an hour and, unlike last time, no serious fighting. There has been a bit of boxing from Brian and Stu and some humping from all four but aside from the squeaking everyone seems fine with the current arrangement. Will let them settle for a week or so and then start swapping the sand baths around.
|
|
|
Post by uglibug on Jul 1, 2014 7:47:17 GMT
The new boys have settled well and are learning fast! Brian came to the bars this morning for breakfast.
|
|
|
Post by uglibug on Jul 1, 2014 12:13:37 GMT
Since the new boys have made themselves at home so readily, today we have swapped their sand baths over and pushed the cages together. The older boys have already investigated the bath and had a good roll and hump, lol, the younger ones seem more wary about it.
I was expecting to wait 2 or 3 weeks to get such a good reaction from them all. So far they have had a bit of a squeak and then just ignored each other. No signs of fear or aggression from either pair. This could, fingers crossed, be more straight forward than we had imagined.
|
|
|
Post by uglibug on Jul 4, 2014 6:37:25 GMT
We are going to try our first introductions on sunday. Any suggestions please, should we try Mater and Brian, the 2 submisive goos, first, or should it be our dominant goos, Buddy and Stu? Or would it be easier to try a dominant and a submisive goo together? Any advice welcome.
|
|
|
Post by saddlers on Jul 5, 2014 8:52:04 GMT
If it is your first intro I would be tempted to try the two dominant goos, they need to determine who will be top dog. And once settled the others may be more accepting. Keep a water spray and towel handy to separate them if they lock together, and be prepared
|
|
|
Post by uglibug on Jul 5, 2014 22:04:01 GMT
Thanks. Will try and get Buddy and Stu together in the morning. Got some toys and small food dishes as a distraction, we're using the spare cage for intros. Should we put shavings in the bottom or leave it bare?
|
|
MrsDaniel
Foraging Degu
My animals are my family ????
Posts: 60
|
Post by MrsDaniel on Jul 6, 2014 7:54:28 GMT
Hope all goes ok, fingers crossed
|
|
|
Post by saddlers on Jul 6, 2014 8:59:56 GMT
Thanks. Will try and get Buddy and Stu together in the morning. Got some toys and small food dishes as a distraction, we're using the spare cage for intros. Should we put shavings in the bottom or leave it bare? I don't think it would make a big difference, but I would probably leave it bare so that it is one less thing in the way in case you need to step in. Have that water spray ready!! Good luck
|
|
|
Post by uglibug on Jul 6, 2014 9:47:56 GMT
Well our first set of intros was interesting to say the least. Got Buddy and Stu together first. They were together for almost an hour, sorting out their differences degu style. There was some sniffing, followed by a bit of boxing. There were to near furballs but we managed to distract them before they got to engaged. In the end, Stu won round 1: Buddy was running away squeaking so we took him out and put him home, and then put Stu home. The big surprise was Mater and Brian. Mater, the Bob Marley of goos, just kept beating up poor Brian until he was literally hanging from the top of the cage to get out of the way! Their meet only lasted 10 minutes.
Brian an Stu seem to have gone back to normal virtually straight away, grooming and eating together. Buddy on the other hand is sulking, I think. He went home then climbed into the hay rack and went to sleep, Mater has tried some friendly overtures but he is just not interested atm. Thankfully no one is hurt, just a few tufts of fur missing so will try another set of meetings tomorrow. Fingers crossed.
|
|
MrsDaniel
Foraging Degu
My animals are my family ????
Posts: 60
|
Post by MrsDaniel on Jul 6, 2014 10:22:55 GMT
Aww hope they are not too stressed, old man buddy sounds like he's exhausted :-(, I'm surprised at mater the mellow one, glad no ones hurt :-)
|
|
|
Post by uglibug on Jul 6, 2014 10:27:30 GMT
Everyones settled again and upon close inspection there are nose scratches on Buddy and Stu so will leave off letting them get together for a couple of days until they heal up but all in all still looking good.
|
|
|
Post by uglibug on Jul 9, 2014 10:20:29 GMT
Intros were going ok until this morning. Mater kicked off at Stu and, not really surprisingly, lost. Starting to think we have got Buddy and Mater the wrong way around. Mater is by far the most aggressive of the four, despite being the oldest.
|
|
MrsDaniel
Foraging Degu
My animals are my family ????
Posts: 60
|
Post by MrsDaniel on Jul 9, 2014 17:40:20 GMT
Aww, how are they all? They all doing ok? X
|
|
|
Post by uglibug on Jul 9, 2014 18:16:25 GMT
Other than a few scratches and some missing fur, all in all not too bad. Mater has got a nasty bite courtesy of Stu but was expecting a few injuries with intros, mostly its just scratches. We will get there eventually. :-)
|
|
|
Post by uglibug on Jul 12, 2014 7:21:02 GMT
We have come to the conclusion that dear little Brian is clearly a very vocal little goo. When he was being battered by Mater, fair enough, he is going to squeak but during his intro to Buddy he didn't shut up at all, constant loud high pitched squeaks, even when they were eyeing each other up from opposite corners. Peculiar little guy.
|
|
|
Post by uglibug on Jul 14, 2014 6:22:49 GMT
Well we are learning more and more about our new arrivals every day! Mater sat on my hands for the first time yesterday. Buddy is a bit of a quitter, we gave them all a brazil nut in shell, unopened, and Buddy quit after just 5 minutes. Brian is our scaredy goo, he hates coming out and spend the first few minutes of open door time hiding in the corner and squeaking at me. Stu seems the most normal, or at least the least neurotic of the 4, hes a fast learner and is starting to enjoy tickles like the girls and the older boys do.
Still plodding on with intros, slow going but every meet is a small improvement on the last one so we will get there in the end.
|
|
|
Post by uglibug on Jul 18, 2014 7:29:53 GMT
We have come to the conclusion that Brian and Stu have issues with new things. Our girls have always been curious and excited when something new arrives, they have to go over and investigate, knock it around a bit and then see if its edible. Buddy and Mater are a little more cautious but left alone with something they will go and see what it is before trying to eat it. But Buddy and Stu seem scared of anything they haven't seen before. We have tried giving them new toys as well as experimenting with new foods and treats but they just seem to avoid it until we give up and take it out.
Any ideas in how to make them a bit more adventurous? It would be great to see them eating greens like everyone else, degu nuggets must surely get boring!
|
|
|
Post by uglibug on Jul 18, 2014 18:28:41 GMT
Real progress tonight! Buddy and Stu were in the cage together for 45 minutes and not a fight in sight! Lots of sniffing, squeaking and butt wiggling but it did not degenerate into violence! So pleased!
|
|
MrsDaniel
Foraging Degu
My animals are my family ????
Posts: 60
|
Post by MrsDaniel on Jul 18, 2014 18:35:48 GMT
Wow, you are doing so well :-)
|
|