Where is everyone...what are your Degus up to?

[ra]

Hey fellow Degus lovers.......where are you?

This is a very informative forum. I am ever so grateful to Sunshinemeg for putting it all together.

However I think we need a little more member participation!

I'm so disappointed when I check in in the morning and there haven't been any updates or new posts.

As for my now nine furry little friends:

Poor Mocha (formerly Virgil) is such a harried mom! Those eight little buggers never leave her a minute's peace. She tries to hide on top of the cardboard box, but now that they are venturing about they see her and won't even let her be when she's laying up there!

I started putting a little bowl of water (used a Sake cup - small enough a little Degu could get out if it fell in)on the ground level should a baby want to try some water. Mocha thought that was great and drank it all! When I tried to retrieve the cup, she grabbed a hold of it and wouldn't let go for a minute. It was the funniest thing. This morning I graduated them up to a custard cup. One of the babies stuck its' nose in the water, then backed up and shook its' head and proceeded to clean its' whiskers like "good grief what was that?"

It's so much fun watching them run around. They are busy little critters. Their favorite toy seems to be the cardboard tube. As many as five of the eight will stuff themselves in there squeeking and chirping the whole time. I took some pictures with the digital camera but missed quite a few. By the time I press the shutter button the subject of my photo is off and running, leaving me with a picture of an empy tube!

Will have to post some pictures this evening from home.


Updates any one?

[Bosley]

Carboard tubes are definitely a favorite toy! Mama LOVES when a new toilet paper tube shows up - she works it over big time. My husband can get these great big heavey tubes from work, and they love hiding out in them.

Mabel had a baby - just one!?!?!?!?!?? That seems odd...but it is so adorable. We don't know yet if it's a Maxwell or a Maxine, so we just call it Baby Maxi for now. Timothy is a bit bummed, having to be in a seperate cage this week, but should be able to go back this weekend - it should be safe, Mabel should be out of heat. Now that spring has sprung, we should be able to get them outside once in a while in the playpen. We're looking forward to getting a garden going so we can start growing some of their food.

[ra]

Bosleyb] Imagine my surprise when "Virgil" now Mocha had 9 babies!

The eight surving babies are thriving.

What vegetables do you grow in your garden for them?

[jemmy]

Hi,
We haven't checked this site out for awhile, but we're back! Our two boys, Sid and Diago seem to be okay...Sid just got over a respiratory infection and is finally gaining some weight back. Diago looked like he was coming down with it, but he's pulled out of it on his own.
Jemmy

[ra]

Jemmy Glad your boys are getting over their upper respiratory infections. Did your vet say where or how they got the infection ?

[Bosley]

ra: actually, this will be the first season we ever planted anything with degus in mind, so i'm not really sure yet what all we will plant - i need to go back and read some of the lists of items that they typically like. i do know we'll do some carrots...mama especially likes those as a treat. and letttuce.

[northernstar40]

HELLO EVERY ONE,

Wow it has been a while. I myself am just getting over being very sick :-[and then had to deal with a very sick 16 year old. who ended up having surgery. going in again in 2 weeks for another. poor thing. It has been awfull.. Frit and frat are both doing well. The chattering is starting to bother me. i dont know what is wrong. It is not there normall chatter. Frit is doing well after the cat got his tail. They are getting freindler every day. now I can call them to the cage for kisses (with out being bit) yahhoo!! ;D

[jemmy]

ra: the vet didn't say where the infection came from - I'm guessing a draft.

Does anyone know why these guys would groom each other so hard that they go bald in spots? (back of the neck and under the chin) Also, when Sid eats, his one cheek get very large, and doesn't seem to ever go down - could this be something I should be getting checked by the vet? I guess I'm a little more cautious after the respiratory thing...
Jemmy

[Sunshinemeg]

Hi everyone.

Sorry I havent been on here in a while, I am a month and a half away from finishing university, and as a result I am rather busy!

My degus are all doing well, although on the weekend we were a little worried with Gromit. He is 4, so a fairly old boy now, but spent all day huddled in the back of the bed box. I got him out for a cuddle, and he just snuggled up in my arms and went to sleep. I really though he was sick, but felt it best to give them more bedding and leave him be.
sunday morning he was full of beans and running in the wheel! Think he just wanted some attention!
The babies Dillan and Dougal are growing fast! Only a few months old, totally obsessed with their wheel. Marmalade however doesnt like it, and sits at the end of it scratching it when they run in it. So much so that we are now onto wheel number two!

SUNSHINEMEG ;D

[ra]

The eight babies discovered what the exercise wheel is for. Sometimes two at a time run in it!

They are so darned cute. They look like the "Mongol Hord" descending upon the desert when they all roll out of the nest box together.

I can definitely sex them now, thank goodness!!! The smallest is a little girl. I have given her the biggest name - Tanzania Peaberry. She is the bravest and boldest of the pack! The boys appear to be a little bigger than the bigger girls but I certainly won't go by that.

Mocha is very, very smart. She didn't like where I had put the paper tube Sunday night. My husband called me yesterday here at work a little alarmed because she was carrying it around and throwing it around. What she devised is so clever. She put the tube in one of the back corners behind the nest box with the end up against the wall so no one can get in that end. She backs into the tube so she can rest without the little monsters getting her! She can keep one eye open and does squeal at them if they try to get into the tube with her. She used to be able to hop up on the nest box and flatten her self out beneath the next deck without them finding her. Now they can chin themselves up to the top of the box and won't let her rest there.

Mocha's favorite (don't know you'd actually want to grow them in your garden though) greens are dandelion leaves.

[ra]

Well as of Tuesday, the babies are now 4wks old. They appear to be weaned - are very independent of their mother. So later this evening or tomorrow my sister and I are going to separate the boys from the girls. I've put all the babies in the "Boys Cage" when cleaning the hi-rise so they are familiar with that cage too. My sister has found a good home for two of my babies and will be taking them back with her this weekend. I'm sending the first cage I bought with them. It's the baby cage with the wires closer together. Will give their new owners time to decide what kind of permanent cage they want.

I told my husband and my dad last night it's going to be hard deciding which two to keep. Of course the first criteria is they MUST be girls!.

Another friend is bringing her grandchildren over to see them this weekend. They may take three. That would leave me with three plus Mocha. I would like to find a home for the fourth Degus and if need be the fifth if I need a pair for someone. That would leave Mocha one baby girl as a cage companion.

I think she won't mind a few of them going but I worry if one will be enough company for her after having had eight. Any thoughts?

[Anna]

You know I've noticed that this forum doesn't have very many members and they don't really talk much. Your totally right this forum is very helpful. I think every one needs to be a little more greatful and pass on the world. I will be passing on this forum to my friends. I've been looking for another degu and it seems as if nobody around here knows what they are. I call pet shops and their like 'what is that?' As for my furry little friend, Mr.Degu, hes running in his little wheel.

Have a nice day,
-Anna

[Sunshinemeg]

Ra, I think in all reality, considering the shock that Mocha had with giving birth, she wil be very happy to have just one daughter to keep her company. That would mean you could send the other two off as a pair to a new home, and the owners wouldnt have to worry about having degus on their own like you did! Can I also ask that you give any owners the address to the website and forum, that way you can be safe knowing that they will get good information from all of us!

SUNSHINEMEG ;D

[Sunshinemeg]

Anna said:

You know I've noticed that this forum doesn't have very many members and they don't really talk much. Your totally right this forum is very helpful. I think every one needs to be a little more greatful and pass on the world. I will be passing on this forum to my friends. I've been looking for another degu and it seems as if nobody around here knows what they are. I call pet shops and their like 'what is that?' As for my furry little friend, Mr.Degu, hes running in his little wheel.

Have a nice day,
-Anna

Hi Anna, welcome to the board! Would you believe I am meant to be the person in charge, so I am guilty of not talking on here much! But I have an excuse, 1 month left of my degree! so its all kind of hectic!

Great that you are passing on the address of this website and forum, i had little cards made up in microsoft publisher that have the website address and the forum address, and keep them in my bag. Then if I get chatting to someone, I dont have to find a bit of paper to scribble on! The more people that come here to share their knowledge, the better the site will become!!

SUNSHINEMEG ;D

[ra]

Sunshinemeg said:

Ra, I think in all reality, considering the shock that Mocha had with giving birth, she wil be very happy to have just one daughter to keep her company. That would mean you could send the other two off as a pair to a new home, and the owners wouldnt have to worry about having degus on their own like you did! Can I also ask that you give any owners the address to the website and forum, that way you can be safe knowing that they will get good information from all of us!

SUNSHINEMEG ;D

I did decide to keep just one daughter - the little one Tanzania Peaberry. My sister took the other two females to MD for a friend of hers who has thoroughly researched Degus and will provide them with a good home. That leaves just the five baby brothers. What a crew. I tried to round the boys up into a small carrying cage so I could clean the "boys' room". I had one Degu in three out then two in and one running on the desk with one in the big cage. It was like musical chairs for a while. Finally got them all rounded up, cleaned and back in their home. They really don't fight except over food and then it's a lot of scrambling and squealing til everyone gets a bite of something to eat. They stick together and get along well the rest of the time.


I think I have an internet friend who will take two of the boys. I'm hoping another friend decides to take the last three for her three grandchildren.

Mocha and Tanzania Peaberry get along very well. They both hopped into the glass vase I am now using as a dust bath container and rolled around together! They have finally stopped looking for the other two girls. Tanzania is independent but seems very happy for Mocha's companionship.

I am providing all new owners with the web address and board site. Want to keep them all well informed.

Thank you.

[ra]

As you may have read on one of my other posts, the 5 male babies went to the pet store on the 12th. The pet shop is doing all they can to educate themselves about the Degus so I felt a lot better about the entire deal.

Mocha has not been herself. I have posted this elsewhere too. I was getting worried. Couldn't tell if her attitude change was due to the stress of an early pregnancy, having to handle a large group of puppies herself etc or if she was depressed since all but one of her babies are gone. Last Wednesday I went to the pet shop and bought her more things to chew and play with. Found some more suitable treats for Degus. ("Happy Elephant" treats from Germany. The girls seem to like them alot.)

I bought the materials needed to build a 1/4" thick glass bottom with 5" walls for the Degus Condo. Worked like a charm! Does, however block the bottom cage door from opening. Sometimes this is adventageous and othertimes a bit of a pain. Mocha can't escape out onto the counter top now. The door I use to feed them is about 12" from the counter top. Both she and Tanzania will come out and sit on or near my hand on that platform and eat their treats. Eventually I will build them a ramp so they can get down to the table top when I want them to and hopefully I will be able to get Mocha to run up the ramp to return to the cage. That's my next project.

I went away for three days. Dad said they seemed to be looking for me. When I didn't appear they just went and took a nap. Now that I am home they do seem more cheerful and Mocha more relaxed. You can read about Miss Tanzania Peaberry's "great adventure" on the Little Lost Degu thread.

That's about it for now.

[Heddy]

Hey RA,
so all the sorrows of what to do for getting Vergil a fellow are solved! ;D
Congratulations on the babies! I definitely have missed out on some events, when I couldnt make it here.

[ra]

Heddy, Yes kind of the hard way going about getting Virgil now known as Mocha a cage companion. Actually it was a wild but exciting happening. I fell in love with her babies. Was hard to part with them. Mocha and Tanzania Peaberry seem to be very happy now. In fact, today was a milestone for us. Tanzania came out of the cage onto my shoulder for me. Twice!Mocha thought about it and attempted to but just couldn't. She is finally getting over the stress of having 9 puppies and having to raise them herself. She is finally running on the wheel again and being friendly towards me.

[Aimeelou]

Hi ra
Nice to hear that Mocha is getting back to her old a self.Hows the situation with her feet now?
Ive jinxed things by saying that Taquila was ok after her parenting episode, ive noticed small bald patches on the end of her tail, but it dosent seem to be getting more apparent, so i think shes stopped now.
aimee

[Sunshinemeg]

Gromit has had a bald foot for a year or so now, but it hasnt increased in area, nor has it grown back, i dont think its stress related, but im curious as to what it is!

SUNSHINEMEG ;D