Next Step

[helen88uk]

I'v had my girls just over a week now, i carry their pouch on me during the day and they lick and cuddle up around my fingers when my hand is in there. When I go near the cage they run upto me, when i put my arm inside they climb all over me and i've been groomed by both of them. But they both managed to escape the other night and since they'v had a taste of freedom they seem to spend a lot of time trying to attempt another escape.

I want to let them out, i feel terrible keeping them in when all they seem to want to do on a night is get out. The only problem is they wont come to me when theyr outside of the cage. Inside I seem to be their best friend but once theyr out its another story! Theyv taken to darting under my sofa when I try to catch them which makes it almost impossible to get them out.

Am i best investing in a tent? Will that get them used to coming to me when they are outside their cage? Im worried that I stress them out too much trying to catch them when theyr out to do it regularly. I dont want all my bonding work to start going backwards.
Do they only come to you when they are fully bonded? Maybe a few more weeks of just pouch stroking and playing with them inside the cage? I feel awful, peeka is the worst for trying to get out, boo doesn't seem bothered. She only wants to be out if peeka is.
I feel like im defo heading in the right direction for bonding, guess iv stil got a long way to go x

[helen88uk]

anyone? lol

[lou]

sorry Helen missed this, I would get a tent and go for tent time with you in the tent. Alot of people pin/hang their pouch from the tent so they can go back in it if they want, seeing as they have taken to your bonding pouch so well you might want to make that their safe spot.

Also its less space so you are not chasing them round a whole room trying to catch them up, feed them after tent time too you may find they go back to their cage easier for dinner once they have learnt thats the routine you like to follow. Also bribe them witha piece of their fav treat tp get back in the pouch rather than chasing them, again no stress and they get the joy of using you as a tree and having a stretch of their legs.

They have had a good week selttling in and it apprears they are quite happy in a pouch on you which is always a good sign with bonding 

[depurple1]

I don't have a tent, but I do have a safe glider room.  I tend to make sure I have plenty of time to let them explore and run around, then they are happier to go back into the cage when they need to.

I find bribery works best - they love papaya treats and yogurt drops (from Marie).  They also only get their main dinner after playtime (they have a snack earlier so they're not too hungry) - the bowl goes into the cage and the gliders follow it!

Mine aren't "bonded" - I don't carry them round in a pouch at all.  But when they're loose, they tend to stick around me most of the time rather than go elsewhere in the room.

[helen88uk]

Mine are very nocturnal/lazy atm. They are only waking up after 4am most nights, but then they are awake til around 1pm ... i put their food out at about 7/8ish, they dont even take notice of it when i put it in so it doesn't work as a bribe. The room is completely glider proof except that they can get under the sofa.

I have the papaya and yogurt drops from Marie, they love them and theyl jump to me inside their cage to get them but just outside, even if they decide to come close enough to take one they will quickly grab it and run away with it ... little buggers. Food doesn't seem to work as a bribe atm.

Gona invest in a tent I think and see how we go from there x

[hday]

mine were never bonded as in pouch but again would take stuff off me when I had hand in cage.

what seemed to eventually work was yogurt on me

they would jump aboard to lick it off and if I went slowly enough could carry them back to the cage.


BUT only worked when had a room with minimal stuff in it... or yes hide and seek becomes more fun

i would also sit in the room for an hour or too so they got treats everytime they came on me!


Is worth making sure that there isnt food in the room they are getting either as that maybe why they arent bothered by food in cage.

Other thing I did was feed them after they had played ie play for bit go to another room adn carry the food through and put it in the cage so ehtye saw it go in

other wise I think your guys are like... ah well foods already there we can get it whenever!

maybe upend  or remove the sofa for a few days so they cant vanish under it....

and look at why they are running ounder it/feeling need to hide is it they want security?
so are they prefering that to cage?
or is it as you move quick they are freaked.

I find if I go from trousers to skirt they freak... seems I move differently in different clothes and they dont then recognise me until I speak or they smell me.