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Post by degunewbie on Jun 9, 2021 19:17:05 GMT
Hope you are all enjoying/have enjoyed your days.
I've needed to be in office past couple of days, and I've had to pop in every now and then the past few months. Obviously not compulsory, but I've had to sort some bits out. And then we are all in permanently from 21 June.
I've had a lot of time with my 2 goos, I've always been there. They are even in my bedroom, so even at night.
The times I have left them for the day I do notice when I get back they seem a little... vacant maybe, or at least down. There is a difference. It's just the 2 of them, and I wonder how it's going to pan out once I'm out for 10 hours a day.
Just wondering if anyone else had any concerns about going back to work and leaving the goos alone all day? And also I'm sure a lot of you had your goos when you were also out for work, before the pandemic. And wondering if you noticed the difference and if anyone had any thoughts on the how best to do such a big change (suddenly not being around)?
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Post by deguconvert on Jun 9, 2021 19:22:31 GMT
I really don't know how to answer that . . . my degus have all been gone for 5 years now. I do know that when I had only three, they definitely looked for more time with us humans. When our degu numbers increased, they were much more satisfied with each other and didn't seem to care if we interacted with them a lot, or not. UNLESS WE HAD TREATS . . . that caused a great deal of interest, and I'm SURE it was because of us, not the treats. They just ate those seeds and nuts to make us feel better.
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Post by degunewbie on Jun 9, 2021 19:40:48 GMT
I am sorry to hear your goos arent there anymore . Though at least they lived their best lives with a kind and careful owner like you. That's what I thought. My goos are different in their neediness in me but I thought they both were hunting my attention not just the treats, but because it was me. I havent helped the situation because I come running at any noise. I spend as long as I can in the room with them while I'm working, but when they get too noisy with their chewing and the like i go to the living room to finish up work (normally from about 12). But then I'm checking on them 5 times a day until the end of work in addition to any squeak running in and calming them. I think it's just going to be a big change for them, and am already getting the inkling they arent enjoying it. I was already thinking about getting a male to give them more fulfillment. This kind of solidifies it for me. If they are certainly less reliant on people with more goos, and with less goos they need more people company. But hopefully it works out. I hope everyone else in this situation gets an easy change too
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Post by deguconvert on Jun 9, 2021 22:27:30 GMT
You have two females? You would want to have a neutered male . . . so as not to have pups. Degus breed and multiply very quickly! That is another part of my degu story.
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Post by degunewbie on Jun 9, 2021 23:14:25 GMT
Oh absolutely, good shout! A certain prerequisite. I would not get a male that wasnt neutered as my girls arent neutered themselves (although, the idea of having baby goos does make me melt). I just was thinking his male presence would add a diversity to their group that could make them happier. But especially now. First and foremost are my girls' welfare, and so I just want to make sure they have everything they need and any decision I make will benefit them.
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Post by bouncy on Jun 10, 2021 7:16:29 GMT
My lot went through the exact opposite - I stopped working, and they had to put up with me being around the whole time. They originally bounced up to the bars every time I went into the kitchen, then got used to me, and basically ignored me unless I spoke to them.
The difference is that I now go away for a month or two at a time, two or three times a year. My goo sitter visits them every day, and has admitted to staying there for ages talking to them and feeding them sunflower seeds. She doesn't let them out.
I check in on them via goocam every now and then, and their behaviour hasn't really changed much. If I talk to them via goocam, a couple of them run to the bars, a couple of them scatter, and the last two don't react at all. When I get back, they do all come up to the bars because they all except me to return with more sunflower seeds (already purchased last week!).
I guess what I'm saying is that they adapt really easily. It may take them a couple of weeks for them to work out they don't need to have their PWD meetings in secret any more, and the food dispenser gooman DOES come home again every day, but they do. I have a group of four, and a pair.
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Post by deguconvert on Jun 10, 2021 16:50:59 GMT
It doesn't hurt to put out feelers to see if there is a neutered male that is being rehomed, or is at a rescue center . . . or you may fall in love with a particular male and have to see to his neutering through your vet . . . it can take a while sometimes to find the one you want.
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