Shy Degus!

[xcsx]

Today I got my first trio of Degus. They are called Thunder, Lightning and Storm . They are for a breeding assignment in my NVQ. They are gorgeous although they look a bit young to me to start breeding just yet. I was told they were between 12-18 months old but I'm not sure. The male, Thunder, had been kept seperate from the females but they were all so placid in their carriers I decided to carefully put them all in a large cage together with a gloved hand at the ready to split up any fights! Luckily there were no problems, I guess they are young enough to accept it, plus I expect males and females mix better than two same sex degus.

I watched them quietly for about an hour. They sat frozen where they had been placed to begin with and one of the females just made a quiet squeak constanty, like a squeak with every breath she took for aaaages. They started moving around and exploring happily until i had a phonecall and they all froze again while I was talking! I went away for about 10 minutes and came back and they were all sleeping on top of eachother in the corner. I was very pleased they were getting on

I went in a bit later and two had left one girl in the corner and she wasn't moving at all. I poked her a few times (gently!) through the bars and got no reaction. I was convinced she was dead but when I properly picked her up she started moving again.

I guess the answer is probably because they are young and in a new environment but does anyone know if this is normal or unusual behaviour? There are 3 females at my place of work. They refuse to be picked up but are active and take food from your hand and are curious etc. But mine just seem scared all the time! I suppose I shouldn't expect too much on their first day

Also the squeaking of the female? She seems to be always making small scared noises! Any advice sharing of similar experinces etc would be helpful

Thanks!

[kerry]

what are you going to do with them when you have bred them?

[buzz]

Don't panic. There are probably in shock as their are in a new environement with new sounds and smells which is absolutely normal. If one of my boys has a fright he'll squeak and squeak and squeak for hours, its just to warn everyone that dangers about (even if there's nothing dangerous about).

What size are they? a fully grown degu is about 6" but it varies.

[Lala]

You're breeding them for an assignment did you say? What NVQ is it for? Are you going to keep your goos and babies after your assignment?

The squeaking and shyness is normal, like with any animal when you bring them into a new environment, give them time to adjust to their new surroundings by leaving them for a couple of days then start gently talking to them through the cage so they get used to your voice then begin handling them [treats are good for rewards etc].
The squeaking will stop. Punk and Rocket still squeak and they've been with me little over a month but I think they're just quite vocal!

[xcsx]

Hi thanks for replies! It's for an NVQ level 3 in Animal Care. Once one or both females have given birth the male will be neutered and I'm hoping to introduce them slowly to the 3 female Degus we have at work (I am curently in an apprentiship position at an agricultural college). I am in the process of finding suitable homes for any babies, and if for some reason homes cannot be found the sexes will be split and will be given loving homes with me and/or in a seperate cage at work.

I had a little check on them this morning. They were all happily sleeping in the same hidey house (they have 2 in their cage just in case) and I could still hear what sounds like the same female doing her quiet squeaks. I think she is just the vocal one!

Last night I tried handling them. They let me pick them up and didn't nibble or bite, but I'm sure that could come with confidence! I plan on talking to them every day etc but should I leave them for a few days to settle? Or shoud I start handling regularly now so they get used to it? Also at what age approximatey are they fully grown?

Thanks again!

[Lala]

I left my guys for a couple of days just gave them a quick tickle through the bars and say close to the cage so they could get used to my smell too.
Then I opened the door and let them come to me [most things are on THEIR terms in case you haven't found that out yet] and I gave them a treat everytime they let me stroke them etc.

Do you know females can have up to 10 pups in a litter? So you could essentially have 20 puppies! The females are also at their most fertile 24 hours after birth so daddy needs to be removed as soon as they give birth or it's another set of puppies to carry along with nursing the previous one!

I'm not sure at what age they're fully grown... Jack & Coke are fully grown now and I was told they were 3 months old in November but they had to have been older than that because Punk & Rocket are "a month younger" and they're really small still.

[deguconvert]

Hi there! Welcome to the forum!

I have copied a part from a different thread about getting to know your degus. Since these are new to you and you don't know their history with human contact, it might be an idea to read this short little bit through so that you are prepared just in case they become reserved with you. If they have been without human contact and hand training, the full training introduction falls onto you.

To train your degu to trust you, DO NOT chase them around the cage to catch them. (That is EXACTLY what I did) You will be a predator in their eyes. Leave them alone to adjust to the new space, smells, sounds, sights, for at least two days. Then just talk to them through the bars of the cage for a day or two. Then rest your hand in the open cage door, maybe with a little bit of a treat in your palm . . . sunflower seed or pumpkin seed (raw). Let them come to you, check you out. They may give a tiny nibble . . . try not to jump too high . . . and let them check you out some more. Try to resist the temptation to reach out and touch them. They will run away and you will be a predator again. Just let them get used to you. Do this for short periods of time, several times a day, for a few days. Depending on how skittish they are, try tiny little rubs after a couple days, just moving the tips of your fingers. They may even be ready to sit on your hand, or run up your shoulder. Do these kinds of things again and again with them, and over time they will trust you so much they are eager to get out and be with you. Depending on the degus, this might take less than two weeks, or it could take 3-4 months (like mine). The effort is well worth it though.

That about says it. The full thread, should you wish to see it, is under General, Meeting Place, Hi From Hawaii. You will find it there.

I hope you enjoy your goos and find them to be a lot of fun and special little companions to love. They are really sweet creatures, and we adore ours!

[xcsx]

Thanks! I have been trying the methods mentioned. I left them alone Thursday and Friday, then friday evening I put my hand in the cage with a few pumpkin seeds on my hand but they didn't move and eventually my arm got tired, then just now I tried again and no movement from them again! I have been talking etc but I think I may leave them alone again for a couple more days as they are very shy! Poor things!

[deguconvert]

The idea may not be to leave them alone a few more days, so much as to increase the times you try encouraging them to come. Don't sit too long each time. If you put in your hand with a treat three or four times a day, five to ten minutes at a time, they will begin to understand that you are non-threatening. You may also try offering them food through the bars of the cage. Look in the treats thread under Food and Feeding, there are great ideas in there and you are bound to find something that your goos will be unable to resist. Once they learn that, HEY! that hand is giving me tastey yummy stuff, they will be driven to greater courage by their stomaches!

Most important, don't get discouraged. If they are very, very shy that probably means either they have had next to no human contact, or the contact they have had was unpleasant. I have one, out of my three, goo that was extremely shy and scared, to the point of frequent biting just because. I worked with him for nearly three months, and now he is friendly. Even in the last two weeks there have been significant changes for him, and we have owned him for 5 months now. Suddenly he is very excited to see me and comes to the cage door happily, AND he loves to climb onto my husband for a visit. Until five days ago, he ran the other way! For him, the road to friendly interaction was long, and the other two were staggered . . . one quick . . . and one moderate. In keeping with their different personalities.

So! Hang on, tighten your belt, and pump up your patient determination with them. It really will be worth it!!

[Lala]

Deguconvert's right, patience is a virtue with degus! Don't get discouraged they'll learn to love and trust you soon enough ^.^