>When is it okay to start to hand train the babies? Im nervous of handling
>them cause I dont want to cause any problems but I also dont want to have
>the problems when they are older trying to hand train them. Thank you in
>advance
>Heather
>note-They are a week old now
I start around 10 days to touch the babies, earlier if the
parents are really laid back, trusting of me, and otherwise
not nervous. At about 14 days, I try hand holding, with them
held low and close over a pillow. I keep the sessions short,
and hold the parents too so everyone smells the same.
Make very sure you don't have the smell of any other
gerbil on you before you start messing with any pups
or their parents. If you change a pup's smell with
another unknown gerbil, the parents will probably
attack it.
At around 20 days when the eyes open, the pups will try
springing off your hand and boy they are quick. This is
where sitting on the floor with the cage close by and a
pillow in your lap is best. After a few days they settle down
again.
Deb
Rebel's Rodent Ranch
