Degus and the Toilet Roll Explosion

This morning I fed my goos around 9:15am like every morning. I filled their food bowls, gave them some fresh water and hay, and replaced their toilet roll. Yes, you read write. Thankfully they aren't suffering from some kind of degu toilet trouble. They just like to play with it.

I've rigged up a toilet roll dispenser from some jute string and a piece of bamboo which hangs from the underneath of the first level of the play area. Mrs F. loves to pull at it and run around like the Andrex puppy. Hours of entertainment, but I didn't expect to have a completely empty roll after a 2 hour shopping trip!

Normally it takes them at least a week to unravel it but somebody decided they'd wrap the whole roll around the flying saucer!

I can't quite believe it's been a month since I last posted so here's a quick update of what's been happening in the land of degu.

I still haven't managed to replace the wooden spinner of the flying saucer I made with a metal replacement. Market has had nothing, and everything else I've seen is just too pricey. Don't want to spend a fortune and then find I've made a major cock-up and have to throw it.
I've been using Fitch animal bedding after one of my girls started sneezing with Megazorb. I've been using it for about 3 weeks and so far things look good.
Claudielf is slowly getting herself out of the biggest huff ever known to degu history. It's lasted the best part of a week. I don't know why she's been in a strop but it can only be the result of cleaning the dirty bedding out of their grass house, removing the flying saucer every time she chews it, or because the local pet store has run out of the grain & cereal based degu food I'd been mixing with the standard pellets. She loves that stuff!

If it's none of the above then I haven't got a clue what's been yanking her chain!

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The Degus Have Moved In

This morning 3 little degus became the newest members of my family and they're the 3 cutest girls ever! I was up until midnight filling and dressing their cage ready for them to move in and they are loving it. 2 of them still think that there are only 2 floors and not 4, and all 3 have spent most of the day running in their wheel. Just before I settled down to write this they were all in a 'goo pile' on top of their cabin. It's a little dark in the room for a decent photo and I don't want to use the flash so I'll have to wait until there's a little more light to get a photo of them huddled together. They are all still a little flighty and scared of the camera but I managed to get a few decent photos of them. Don't have any names yet as I'm waiting to see what kind of personalities they have. My brother wants to call them Penny, Amy, and Bernadette… The Big Degu Theory! UPDATE — Here's a little video my brother recorded. :)

The Big Degu Cage Build - Part Four

The cage is progressing nicely. The bottom section is almost complete. Still have the vinyl tiles (for extra protection against pee) to put in, one level to cut and attach, and some small platforms which will help form a ramp up to the top section of the cage. I have a deep 30cm mess guard which will form the basis of a makeshift digging pit and landscaped area. There will be one level and you can see the hole for access to floor 2 which will be in the top section. It was supposed to be in the back but it was going to be a nightmare to do because of the build being in 2 parts so it can be taken apart for easier moving. This means that I now have to rethink my first level. It was going to be set back slightly from the front but I may have to bring it closer to eliminate the massive drop and reduce injury should there be a fall. I'm going to have a look at some other DIY cages for some ideas but the main priority tomorrow is to get the main construction of the top section comp...

How to Make a Fresh Herb Degu Eatery

My 3 degu girls absolutely love eating fresh herbs. Mint, basil, and chives are their favourites and chives seems to be the one they like the most. I've been thinking of ways to enrich their environment so while I was eating my birthday breakfast this morning I set about making what I like to call the Fresh Herb Degu Eatery. A portable herb garden that can be put in their play area for them to nibble on. To make the Fresh Herb Degu Eatery you will need: An empty 2 litre ice cream tub and lid. Wire mesh with holes approx. 13mm Wire cutters Thin wire Pliers Craft Knife Thick Needle Scissors Fresh herbs or herb seeds of your choice Soil or compost It takes approximately an hour to make and can be used straight away with fresh herbs. Of course, if you decided to plant seeds you will have to wait until they have grown. Let's get started… Step 1 — Prepare the Lid & Mesh The first thing you need to do is cut a hole in the ice cream tub lid. I used a c...

The Degu Diaries

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