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Post by Liz on Jan 11, 2005 2:47:20 GMT
I need help! My degu bites me when ever I try to pick him up. It is so frusterating! Someone help me please!
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Heddy
Foraging Degu
Posts: 63
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Post by Heddy on Jan 11, 2005 17:31:55 GMT
Hello Liz,
how long are you haveing your degu already? If you got it just recently, it might be fear. If he started it after a while, something could hurt him, when you pick him up.
One easy way to get around it: do not pick him up. Offer him a gib glas or a little box to climb in. We attrackted their interest by putting some sunflower seeds into a big cookie jar. They started climbing in very soon even if there was nothing to eat in there. This is aswell a good way to catch an escaped degu, because they tend to trust the jar more than your hands...
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Post by kellynax on Feb 4, 2005 14:43:37 GMT
Thats interesting - I shall try that as part of my degu's training. So they like a few sunflowers seeds do they.. hmm
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Heddy
Foraging Degu
Posts: 63
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Post by Heddy on Feb 11, 2005 9:12:34 GMT
Little warning I should place in case somebody doesn't know: sunflower seeds are very fatty and not a good diet for degus, therefore only feed them as treats from time to time.
Our degus are going nuts when they see us with the bag of sunflower seeds. ;D
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Post by ra on Mar 17, 2005 13:37:55 GMT
Viril would nip at me and draw blood the first week I had him when I offered my hand to jump up. I started to scratch him under the chin and around his face when he went to nipping. If he bit too hard, I'd close the cage door and leave for awhile. He hasn't bitten me in the past two weeks and in fact has learned to "jump up" into my hand for a treat!
Since he is a lone Degus I hand feed him before leaving for work in the morning and again around 7:30 - 8pm. I have noticed he likes a good run after he eats then settles down around 9pm. So I will let him be for an hour or so after he eats then go back and offer him my cupped hands to sleep in for a bit. He likes to rub and snuggle a bit too. I'll put one hand in the cage sideways so he can rub on my palm then gently scratch him. He will stand so I can scratch his belly - even lift his little arms to say scratch here!
ps This is our third week together and I haven't attempted to pick him up yet. I allow him to step up or down off the roof of his house into my hands to hold him. Much less threatening to him.
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Post by Sunshinemeg on Mar 22, 2005 11:55:05 GMT
Degus bite if scared, and also if they sense they can acheive something from biting. if they can tell you are scared they may hurt you, they might well try it. Have patience and be kind and gentle, and they should come round to you!
SUNSHINEMEG ;D
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