This is a very good way to proceed.
Heather Kowbel wrote:
> Our "mommy" Molly was like this! (we bought her and the father and
> their 5 one week old babies from the store due to the woman who owned
> the store was HORRIBLE to them) What I did was I waited a week (just
> to let them all calm down from the move and to make sure that we
> didn't spook them into killing the babies) These parents were never
> held in their lives (they are about 8 months now) So trying to tame
> them was just plain scary! At first all I did was take the top of the
> cage off, rub the woodchips on my hand, and then I put it palm down on
> the opposite side of the cage and I just waited! Then as they got more
> used to it I started putting my hand palm up (I personally didn't use
> treats till after they were used to my hand cause I was scared of
> getting nipped while they were grabbing the treats) After a while they
> all got used to my hand being in there (I would sit by the cage with
> my arm in the tank watching TV lol) The one thing I had to watch (and
> I learned this the hard way) Was not to go *anywhere* near the nest!!
> The one time that I did Molly, the lovely mother that she is, decided
> to come over and put her teeth *through* my fingernail and into my
> skin!!!! I just walked away from the cage (I guess I have a good pain
> tolerance lol) cleaned it out......and then went back and put my other
> hand in the cage, though this time it was on the opposite end of the
> cage! It has been about a month and her, Donte (the father) and all of
> the babies are hand trained (The babies more so then the parents) and
> the only time they don't come over to my hand and say Hi is when I
> have done something to upset them (such as now while my boyfriend and
> I are in the process of moving out of a place that doesn't allow
> gerbils... to his fathers place...and in a week to our new house! I
> just didn't give up on trying (Even though I wanted to at times)
> Eventually I will get her to the point that she will love to be picked
> up (its slowly getting there) But I spent hours (not at one time)
> sitting there by their cage every day (I did 15-30 minute stretches...
> small at first and fairly often to longer and less often)Hope this
> helps!Heather & AaronDonte & MollyFoxy & JawsSkittles & Hoppy PS- Does
> anyone feel sad for days after giving/selling one of their baby
> gerbils?
>
> Dear List Just needed to "share" with you all that Thumper
> -- my lovely little new "accidental" mommy gerbil... my
> little white darling that looks so sweet and innocent....
> the little brat bit me AGAIN tonite after I got home from
> the dentist. %$$#@! I don't know what is it with these
> gerbils but I will NOT be selling any of her 3 babies and we
> are putting a stop to anymore (but I'm sure she is pregnanat
> again right now, but I can't do anything about this). Her
> Mom is the one we returned to the pet store after giving her
> chance after chance after chance to "be nice". It really
> hurt my feelings mostly cuz I've been so nice to her and
> trying to gently pet her and let her know that I will not
> hurt her -- she was laying there all tired out from her pups
> and looking so sweet and I figured she didn't have it in her
> to jump up and bite my finger as I was only offering her a
> huge handful of sunflower seeds. She came a little close
> with her little face and I thought it was only to take a
> treat and then bam!!!! She bit me! And I screamed and jerked
> my hand from the cage -- poor Daddy Bambi was scrambling all
> over the place after I scared him from my screaming -- and
> when I drew my hand from her cage, she was still attached by
> her mouth to my finger. Whew! Once again, good thing I
> stocked up on bandaids. What is it with these gerbils do
> that? My husband thinks we should never give up "hope" that
> we can turn a "bad" gerbil into a "good gerbil" with enough
> love but.... I wonder. Anybody have any input in this good
> gerbil/bad gerbil thing? Shelley at TPCPandora & Blade (good
> guys)Gerbie (of the wild) and Jin (good gerbs)Thumper the
> evil and Bambi (a good guy)
>
--
Tana and The Little Rascals
http://members.home.net/tlr-gerbilry
