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Hello
Feb 16, 2018 16:32:18 GMT
Post by deguconvert on Feb 16, 2018 16:32:18 GMT
Hello Beckerd59 and welcome into the interactive part of being a member. It is lovely to meet you and read your post. I love your cages. You've made a great choice with those and with outfitting them!
Our three boys used to sing as well, and some of the sweetest singing seemed to happen when they were asleep. I loved to hear them. Once they were older, maybe 3-4 years, they didn't sing as much anymore. I missed it a lot when they stopped. Hopefully yours won't stop!
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beckerd58
Foraging Degu
Parent to 2 boys and 2 girls degus
Posts: 98
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Post by beckerd58 on Feb 23, 2018 19:30:28 GMT
Hello Beckerd59 and welcome into the interactive part of being a member. It is lovely to meet you and read your post. I love your cages. You've made a great choice with those and with outfitting them! Our three boys used to sing as well, and some of the sweetest singing seemed to happen when they were asleep. I loved to hear them. Once they were older, maybe 3-4 years, they didn't sing as much anymore. I missed it a lot when they stopped. Hopefully yours won't stop! Delilah stopped sing since her new diet has been enforced. Last night I gave her a sunflower seed and she sang again. I am a enabled - she has a addiction to nuts. The other degus are enjoying all the fresh and dehydrated veggies. Delilah is still searching all her old hiding places. This is hard. I wish I had listened everyone's advice on how to feed a degu while they were babies.
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Hello
Feb 23, 2018 20:12:58 GMT
Post by moletteuk on Feb 23, 2018 20:12:58 GMT
Maybe you could look for some new, healthier treats to replace the old ones, or perhaps feed tiny pieces of her favourites while you wean her off them? You could try some other, smaller, preferably higher calcium oil seeds, milk thistle and hemp are a bit smaller than sunflower, sesame are even smaller and generally well liked. The higher calcium ones don't generally qualify as treats in the eyes/ taste of a degu but they still appreciate the variety and grazing action if you scatter them. Likewise if you can find some forage plants that they really like, they should enjoy eating those. Maybe the odd small piece of dandelion root would get you a few notes of song?
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beckerd58
Foraging Degu
Parent to 2 boys and 2 girls degus
Posts: 98
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Post by beckerd58 on Feb 23, 2018 20:42:19 GMT
Maybe you could look for some new, healthier treats to replace the old ones, or perhaps feed tiny pieces of her favourites while you wean her off them? You could try some other, smaller, preferably higher calcium oil seeds, milk thistle and hemp are a bit smaller than sunflower, sesame are even smaller and generally well liked. The higher calcium ones don't generally qualify as treats in the eyes/ taste of a degu but they still appreciate the variety and grazing action if you scatter them. Likewise if you can find some forage plants that they really like, they should enjoy eating those. Maybe the odd small piece of dandelion root would get you a few notes of song? Odd dandelion root. As in also considered a treat and not feed too often. Oh shoot. It's clover and dandelion season so I've been picking the hell out of them and offering them thinking I'm ok. I'm horrible about reading too fast and picking out things that I'm familiar with here in Texas. Back to the drawing board. Delilah sang again today when she found a old hiding place. She moved the pecan closer to her cage but did not try to open it. This is free play time so maybe she will try and take when playtime is over. But she found her voice again.
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Post by zenaida on Feb 27, 2018 0:16:44 GMT
Maybe others can clarify, but I think dandelion root is just fine as a daily treat. I think the "odd dandelion root" comment was more about hoping that she would like it enough to sing for it. I'm also in the USA, you can order dandelion root from some spice suppliers. I've ordered this one in the past: www.herbco.com/o-organic-374-dandelion.aspx I want to shop around next time to see if I can find bigger pieces or a better price.
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Post by ntg on Feb 27, 2018 2:34:51 GMT
Dandelion root can indeed be fed daily! I give my boys a few grams worth every day The leaves are fine too be fed in bulk although it can cause them to pee more so a variety of plants and weeds is better
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Hello
Feb 27, 2018 18:06:09 GMT
Post by moletteuk on Feb 27, 2018 18:06:09 GMT
We don't have figures for nutrition in dandelion roots but they seem safe to feed every day, if in doubt about quantities then cut them up small, I have some 'diagaonal cutters' that are good for cutting up chunky roots. They are still treats though, that's what I meant, I wouldn't recommend you feed them unlimited.
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beckerd58
Foraging Degu
Parent to 2 boys and 2 girls degus
Posts: 98
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Post by beckerd58 on Feb 27, 2018 18:13:02 GMT
They are eating them fresh and dried (dandelion) I'm glad dandelions are ok. Been going to grocery store with your listing of good vegetables and herbs (only to find the tables someone posted of sugar, nutrition, etc of fresh vs dried) After raising and loving my Sweetpea, a Dumbo rat for almost 3 years I'm learning a Degu is not for the faint of heart. Sweetpea had a old dresser that was all hers. She had full access to our master bedroom but she also traveled well and did in fact go with us on a vacation. She would go on quick trips in my purse to see the world or take a walk on my shoulder Being "owed" by degus is different, world's different. I wouldn't change my time and learning from these odd little animals for anything. I wish I had taken their diet a lot more seriously . I love the way they communicate. If our cat goes into their room and they decide they don't want him laying in their sunlight, they sound the alarm, some days they all can be in one room sleeping and no problem. The reward of finally getting them to take food from you fingers is a golden moment. I received my order of hay and sticks from www.farmerdavepetsupply.com/Will receive my healthy treats in a few days from www.fuzzieskingdom.com/Thank you for all your information and help. It's appreciate. I do want to say that any sane person would at some point ask themselves what in the world have they gotten themselves into with these little animals. Then the bonding starts. They are smart, loving and want to know what's going on. They are family.
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beckerd58
Foraging Degu
Parent to 2 boys and 2 girls degus
Posts: 98
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Post by beckerd58 on Feb 27, 2018 18:18:36 GMT
Maybe others can clarify, but I think dandelion root is just fine as a daily treat. I think the "odd dandelion root" comment was more about hoping that she would like it enough to sing for it. I'm also in the USA, you can order dandelion root from some spice suppliers. I've ordered this one in the past: www.herbco.com/o-organic-374-dandelion.aspx I want to shop around next time to see if I can find bigger pieces or a better price. Zenaida - which part of the US? I might need help in clarify and being clarified in days to come. TapTalk has been a learning factor over the last few days. This morning the girls had a sunflower seed to keep them busy as I cleaned old hay and replaced with new. I think I heard them both singing as they munch. It might have been Delilah in stereo. But it was nice.
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beckerd58
Foraging Degu
Parent to 2 boys and 2 girls degus
Posts: 98
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Post by beckerd58 on Feb 27, 2018 18:29:32 GMT
We don't have figures for nutrition in dandelion roots but they seem safe to feed every day, if in doubt about quantities then cut them up small, I have some 'diagaonal cutters' that are good for cutting up chunky roots. They are still treats though, that's what I meant, I wouldn't recommend you feed them unlimited. Thank you - I'm trying to give more hay. I don't trust pellets anymore. Easy but maybe not the best option. I do offer them once a day, but hay, apple sticks, fresh and dried greens and veggies. We are all just trying to work it out and each of my degus have a different opinion.
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Post by zenaida on Feb 28, 2018 2:46:58 GMT
I'm in Massachusetts, so way across the country.
Pellets can be just fine, there's just only one or two very specific ones that are degu formula and the manufacturer actually knows enough about degus to make something decent. Myself and another US based member use "Sunseed Degu Vita". I usually just get it from Amazon. No pellet is perfect, but that's one of the best available in America.
However I know you're also doing some forage. Pellets can be replaced by forage if you do the forage right so that everything has the correct nutrients.
Hay alone will not give them the nutrition they need. As I understand it unlimited hay is about giving them lots of fiber and stuff to chew to wear on their teeth. Any nutrition they get from it is secondary. I also get my hay from Framer Dave. :-)
Also are you doing seeds? That can help with nutritional balance. When we say seeds we don't mean sunflower or pumpkin seeds (which are treats), but stuff like dill, cumin, nigella, anise, celery, etc. In Europe some pet suppliers sell seed mixes, but we don't have that luxury here. For instance I buy mine from a bulk spice company and then mix them together with the ratios I want. I keep it all in a big glass canister and give their daily amount from that.
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Hello
Feb 28, 2018 11:08:59 GMT
Post by moletteuk on Feb 28, 2018 11:08:59 GMT
I think it's normal for figuring out degu diet to be an ongoing process. Keep referring back to our feeding guide and that should help you remember the essentials as you make changes. deguworld.proboards.com/thread/16425/degu-feeding-guideDid you see our america specific thread, it's a bit old but some of it is still relevant: deguworld.proboards.com/thread/16569/links-herb-supplies-american-threads?page=1American safe plant list: octodons.exotenhaus.ch/index.php/HerbsPellets can be a bit of a safety net. It's best to continue feeding at least a certain amount until you get really familiar with everything and they also mean you don't have to supplement vitamin D artificially yourself (it's not available naturally via food, negligible anyway). I think you summed up degus pretty well, basically you get back what you put in, you have to invest your time and effort first, but it's really worth it in the end.
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Hello
Feb 28, 2018 13:24:49 GMT
Post by klbishop on Feb 28, 2018 13:24:49 GMT
Welcome - were a lovely bunch on here ! Enjoy :-)
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