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Post by marracraighead on Aug 23, 2011 1:47:58 GMT
i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h341/Marra_Craighead/newdegucage8-20-2011004.jpgokay I am posting my girls background from a different sight sorry if you read it there but I need to give you all the details ok heres the run down: I have 4 females (by my best guess) 2 I purchased 6 months ago Harry and Sally 2 I rescued from another degu owner Eva and Juliet 3 months ago I kept the 2 pairs separated for 3 months but kept the cages really close and had playtime with all 4 When I rescued Eva and Juliet, Eva had been beaten up on some but healed good and was starting to climb the bars which she hadn't done with the other owner. When all seemed good at playtime and fed the 4 treats at the same time they were friendly and seemed to have no huge issues. Many boxing matches but seemed in fun. Now I have them in the pairs in the new cage which has a divider and have started switching sides with them so they know the smells. The cage is total 5ft high, 4 feet wide and 2 feet deep. I am wondering how long I need to keep doing this before it might be safe to intro again (the last playtime went bad and had to serarate into 4 singles but have gone back to 2 pairs)
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 23, 2011 3:01:14 GMT
I would give it a go again soon. Where do you have play time, and do you have them all four out at the same time . . . all together? How often have you had them all together at play time? Have you tried mixing up the pairs at all? Not in the cages, just out at play time, but mixed pairs.
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Post by sancho on Aug 23, 2011 15:56:21 GMT
How do they behave at the divider (mesh?)? Does it look quite friendly or are they just ignoring each other? Are there any aggressions visible or do they tend to seek each others closeness and try to cuddle up?
If there are no aggressions visible, I'd give it a try.
I'm not sure which method would be the best, cause it depends on your situation and your cage etc. I have only experience with the following method (not sure if that is possible in your cage): -close one part of the cage so that you can easily access every corner of the "boxing ring" -remove any hard and solid parts like stones, houses, tubes... -remove the divider while having some gloves handy (just in case) -watch and let them do their boxing (there will be "flying degus" while they're fighting...that's okay as long as no one really gets hurt) -react if necessary (heavy biting, silent fight, locked jaws, fatigued degu gets attacked and can't draw back, serious injuries...) -be patient (at my introduction i started at 4pm and finally felt okay with leaving them unattended at about 5am next morning)
Maybe someone else with more experience can give you more tipps, as my experience is just based on one introduction....
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Post by marracraighead on Aug 24, 2011 1:53:50 GMT
@degucon I did try mixing up pairs 2 got along ok the other 2 did not seems Eva always ends up getting scared or shunned sanchoSeems there is some weird cuddling at the mesh but whenever Eva is around there is the screaming and scared running Playground is on my floor in the living room where the carpet is cleaned once a week (cause of dogs) I move the playground around alot bc it is just a fence and totally movable This is day 3 of the new cage and yesterday I switched sides of cage with pairs and tonight it seems less screaming and running so here is to hoping There has been blood drawn and I fear that is what is causing the seperation no matter what I do so I am a little hesitant to try intros anytime soon
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 24, 2011 4:27:18 GMT
It never hurts to let them continue to get settled more. If you are seeing a reduction in screaming and running around . . . keep doing as you are and watch for them to start cuddling "together" next to the divide between sides.
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Post by marracraighead on Aug 24, 2011 16:20:24 GMT
As of this morning they are screaming and running a little more then last night I will switch sides of the cage later if they settle maybe if I keep this up it will help
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Post by marracraighead on Aug 24, 2011 20:28:21 GMT
As of this afternoon 3 were napping together next to the mesh and 1 sleeping solo in the hammock so now I just need to get Juliet to bond and all will be looking good for a short intro in the playground
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 24, 2011 21:46:45 GMT
I would give them another few days to recognise the pleasure of sleeping next to each other, I think. That will help the behavior and emotional associations to become more deeply imbedded in their minds.
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Post by marracraighead on Aug 25, 2011 1:41:40 GMT
Did the side swap lets see if this does any good it is swap 3 in the new cage all seems better for now
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Post by marracraighead on Aug 26, 2011 22:11:19 GMT
Okay did another side swap and OMG we got WARBLES sorry I got a little excited no huddeling yet but as I see it, it is progress
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 27, 2011 5:58:09 GMT
I see it that way too. HOORAY!!
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