gina
Newborn Degu
Posts: 5
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Post by gina on May 10, 2005 19:30:39 GMT
Hi, I have just rescued a mum and four pups from a boy who thought he could feed them to his pet snake, when I collected them they were being kept in a shoe box with no food or water. I have been breeding chinchillas for years, but I havn't got any experience with degus. I've learnt quite a lot from this site, and a couple of other sites. My main problem is that the boy hadn't got a clue how old the pups are, I don't want to separate them too soon, but I don't want to leave them in and risk pregnancies. Is there any way I could figure it out, or do they have an average weight at certain ages, even if I just had a rough idea, it would be better than not knowing at all. thanks, Gina
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Post by shigatsu on May 10, 2005 20:19:20 GMT
Hi, I wouldn't go by this exactly as I've read so much conflicting information, but it would at least give some idea. I have a book that reads: Weight Body Length Age Male Female Male Female ----------------------------------------------------------------------- birth .56oz 1/2oz 2.6" 2" 3 weeks 2.1oz 2oz 4" 3.5" 4 weeks 2.5oz 2.3oz 4.1" 4" 5 weeks 3.2oz 2.8oz 4.3" 4.1" 6 weeks 4oz 3.5oz 4.9" 4.5" 7 weeks 4.3oz 4oz 5.5" 5.1" 8 weeks 4.7oz 4.3oz 6.5" 6.1" 9 weeks 5oz 4.5oz 7.3" 6.9" 10 weeks 5.4oz 4.8oz 8.2" 7.8" adult 7-14oz 6-10.5oz 11.8" 9.8" another part of the book reads that at adulthood males can be 8-14oz, 10-12", and females 10-12". I hope this is helpful! and also that all goes well! ^_^
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Post by ra on May 10, 2005 20:33:25 GMT
Hi Gina,
My Degu puppies are five weeks old today. They are about the size of full grown field mice and very active. They were weaned at about 4wks so last Thurs evening I separated the boys and girls. I have the two cages side by side so they can see each other and talk to one another. I think yours would be ok in separate cages if it appears they are no longer nursing. The girls of course will be fine - you can leave them with their mother.
There is a good bit of crying for a couple of days but as long as there are a couple of boys to cage together they will be ok.
I bought some milk pellets from Brisky pet products to help with the transition. I only give them each maybe four or five pellets am and pm because they are high in protein. I make sure they have lots of Timothy hay and Degu food pellets and of course fresh water. They like some newly snipped grass too.
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gina
Newborn Degu
Posts: 5
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Post by gina on May 10, 2005 21:43:18 GMT
Thankyou so much for your help, I've weighed the pups, and the girls both weigh 2 1/4 oz and the boys weigh 1 3/4 oz, so im guessing that they are about 3-4 weeks old, but i'm not sure how long they were without food, I don't think it could have been for long, and they seem really happy now they have a good size cage, and loads of toys. I bought them some small wooden balls from the pet shop, and the pups were running round with them ( I think I'll see if I can sign them up with Chelsea for next season Lol) Thanks again for your help, Gina
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