Toys
- Degus love new stuff, just make sure it's safe for them.
Degus do spend a lot of times playing with each other (and you), but they are very active and very curious. Rearranging their cage once in a while will give them the chance to "go explore" all over. Other than that there are lots of other ways to make the cage more entertaining for them. Remember to make sure that any wood you place in the cage should be safe. Check out the safe woods list if in doubt. Wheel The wheel is great for exercise and should be offered. You should consider buying a flying saucer wheel since they are better for their backs. The wheel should be about 30cm (12") since they are relatively big rodents (compared to mice and hamsters). They should also be closed so they don't risk getting their tails or feet stuck. If you buy a wheel made of plastic they might or might not chew it, but it won't be dangerous for them and they will most likely be more interested in running in it. If your degus starts to be more active at night than at day, try turning down the heat in the room a few degrees and block or take out the wheel at night. Branches They love both climbing and chewing, so decorating the cage with "paths" of breaches they can crawl and climb in is a great way to make the cage more interesting. Just make sure the wood is safe for degus. Logs Logs are also great for climbing. sitting and chewing. You can also make a few cracks and stuff them with seeds and other treats. That way they will be more motivated to chew the log to get to the treats. Cardboard You can spend money on expensive toys or you can use what you already got. Toilet rolls, kitchen paper rolls, cardboard boxes etc. can be crawled through, used as little caves, be sat on and gnawed in for an endless amount of time. Just make sure the cardboard doesn't contain smelly ink (like newspaper ink) which can be toxic for them. Marbles When they are out to play you can place a few marbles on the floor and see what they think. They might start chasing them around. |
Jingle Toys
Birds and cats love them, and a few sources say that degus love them too. I will have to look into this myself and I will post my findings. Coconut Shells They shouldn't get the coconut meat, but the shell can be hang in their cage to chew on. You can also try making your own toys with coconut shells. Hay Hanger This is both a great way to keep the hay clean and to occupy your degus for a while. Especially if you mix the hay with something delicious - like alfalfa, dandelion or a few seeds (don't do this to often thou) Kitchen Paper I stuff a few pieces of kitchen paper in the mesh of the cage. They love pulling it out and dragging it to their nest box. Treat Tumbler I haven't tried this myself yet, but I'm definitely going to look into it. I will write about their reaction once I get a hold of one! Hammocks For sleeping, climbing or as a lookout spot, a hammock is an interesting addition to the cage. I made my own with an old shirt and a piece of cardboard, but they are relatively cheap in the sotres as well. Things to keep them occupied
Scattering treats in their cage A bit of their hard feed, some seeds or pretty much anything from the treat list. Scattering a bit of this in their cage will keep them occupied and express their natural behaviour of forraging Whole Straws of Oats If you have the opportunity to get some whole straws of oats (or wheat maybe) from a field just before they get harvested, it makes a great treat to hang in the cage once in a while. They can spend quite a bit of time getting the seeds and might eat the rest of the straw too. Grass Box This is an idea from the site degutopia. You place a bit of dirt in a heavy pot or tray (so that they can't tip it over). Then you sow some grass, dandelion or maybe a bird seed mix. Then you find some mesh and fit it over the pot - be sure not to have any sharp ends they can hurt themselves on and that they can't tear it off. As the plants grow they can gnaw it down, but not too much for the plants to keep growing. Grab Box Like with the grass box you'll need a heavy pot or tray and a mesh to fit over it. In this case, the mesh should be big enough for them to stick their hands through, but not so big that they have stick their head in. Also make sure that it is not too high/deep. Place a few treats on the bottom on the tray and see if they can figure out how to grab them. If you have more ideas, please send me a message :) |