Bonding new babies

[callmechook]

I was thinking about this last night and wondered if the following might work.

I will have the Gliders play tent by the time they come so was thinking of maybe putting their sleeping pouch in there before they wake up then just sitting in it with them so they can get used to me and come explore at their own pace. (Great mental pic) I would be quite happy to sit there for a couple of hours a night until they naturally overcome any reservations and decided to explore me for themselves. I didn't know whether that would work or not, letting them do it themselves rather than approaching them. It's just an idea but I wanted to ask to see what you all think. I'm already nuts so the idea of sitting in a tent in the house with them doesn't really seem that strange  xxxxxxxxxxx

[Marie]

That should be fine, personally I prefer the let them come to you approach.   

[jungleflockmom]

I think that's a great idea. Wouldn't hurt if you had a treat just to entice them a bit.

Also touching and holding them in their pouch while they are asleep is good for them getting used to being touched, stroked, and held. After a while mine began holding their foot up to be rubbed. lol

[Marie]

My Dinx lies on her back, she loves her belly being rubbed. 

[Calla]

I know it's not about Gliders, but same principle, when I got my 1st Wallaby 9 months old and pregnant, she was wild and my fencing had not been finished but kept her in 8x6 shed.
 When I 1st got in, she shot from wall to wall and floor to ceiling in turns, but only once till I was in and she settled...I sat on floor in centre very still for about 5 min...then talked to her... and offered her a buscuit, which she took out of my hand after a while and a few days later she let me stroke her, and each time after I entered, she accepted me and was begging for THAT buiscuit...lol   
I did this several times a day,  3 weeks later, anyone could touch her, she followed me like a dog. I  had often let her out and she sat outside my home waiting for me to come out.
I think I'd rather tame another Wallaby  lol   
So a fav. tit-bit will do the trick with Gliders, but needs lots of love and patience, above all common sense. 

[Marie]

Having done alot of natural horsemanship I discovered for myself the importance of thinking like the animal you're trying to befriend, so if trying to calm a prey animal then think like prey, but be aware that you actually look like a predator with pinned back ears, eyes on the front of the face rather than at the side and when we smile we show our gums - that's a huge threat!  In order for them to trust you they need to know you're not going to hurt them so wear bunny ears and keep your face soft (lol - the bunny ears were a joke BTW!!!) 

[Cerian]

Marie, it's interesting that you should mention the smiling thing - My girls certainly become a little more wary when, strangely, men smile around them. They seem fine with women, but something about the male smile really seems to unsettle them.

[Marie]

Same here! Lol

[jungleflockmom]

Me, too!

[Calla]

Anything is worth a try, but while you there for 2 hours, don't forget to take your knitting in with you  lol...  

My 2 young girls decided to go in the smaller pouch today, so took it out and walked about my jobs with them, have not had them out for a while, a sign they wanted a day out