acorniv
12-10-2012, 01:02 AM
My life is very hectic right now, which makes rebabbing even more of a challenge. I thought it was in the best interest of Mokus (we finally gave him a name - pronounced mo-koosh - and Hungarian for squirrel) to find a rehabber who can manage his release. Shawnsmommy19 kindly offered to take him, but suggested she do so asap so that she'd have a chance to bond with him. He was then 12 weeks old, and still very friendly, unless he has food, so this seemed like a good time.
A week ago, my son and I made the trip to her house, set up his cage and saw them intereact. Of course Mokus was stressed, which made him very tired, but they seemed to do wonderfully. Shawnsmommy19 handled him exactly as I do - picked him up and held him snugly with her hand over his head to calm him, and he responded to her just as he did to me.
However, I have learned that after we left, and presumably after he got a good rest, things changed, He bites her whenever she puts her hand in his cage, so she has to wait until after he's asleep to put food in his cage. I have no reason to think she is doing anything to provoke this - in fact, I was impressed by her ability to step in and replace me as smoothly as she did. Even the most experienced rehabber won't necessarily use the same body language, but she did.
I know you'll all have greeat suggestions, so here is what I suggested - let us know if you have other ideas:
1) increase his squirrel block. I once had the sweetest rooster attack my sister when she pet sit him, because she followed my instructions to limit his food - and then he had a growth spurt on her watch, so I know that will make even the gentlest animal attack.
2)put a tray of dirt in the bottom of his cage so he has a place to hide his goodies ( I offered to come do this as I think it will be impossible for her to do so on her own)
3)Play classical music or opera. I've rehapped a number of species, and every one of them has demonstrated a preference for this genre. They seem to hear it as happy bird chirping, which lets them know there is no danger, and puts them at ease. I know Mokus is calmed by it, because when we took him over there, he ws agitated when we got in the car, put we put classical music on and he laid down on his nest for the remainder of the trip ( sooo cute!)
4) try to find ways to keep him occupied, so that he's not spending his day thinking up reasons to be disatisfied with his lot. That's a tall order, if he won't let her near him, but I thought maybe you folks would have some ideas.
I didn't suggest rescue remedy ( of which I am the biggest fan) because she can't get near him, but if she could, I would.
She knows not to try to handle him when he's got food, but if he's overly hungry when she feeds him that could be causing the problem, and I worry that I didn't give clear enough insturctions about when I feed and how much.
The fact that he initially treated her exactly as he does everyone in my family makes me think there's hope for resolving this.
Feedback?
Thanks!
A week ago, my son and I made the trip to her house, set up his cage and saw them intereact. Of course Mokus was stressed, which made him very tired, but they seemed to do wonderfully. Shawnsmommy19 handled him exactly as I do - picked him up and held him snugly with her hand over his head to calm him, and he responded to her just as he did to me.
However, I have learned that after we left, and presumably after he got a good rest, things changed, He bites her whenever she puts her hand in his cage, so she has to wait until after he's asleep to put food in his cage. I have no reason to think she is doing anything to provoke this - in fact, I was impressed by her ability to step in and replace me as smoothly as she did. Even the most experienced rehabber won't necessarily use the same body language, but she did.
I know you'll all have greeat suggestions, so here is what I suggested - let us know if you have other ideas:
1) increase his squirrel block. I once had the sweetest rooster attack my sister when she pet sit him, because she followed my instructions to limit his food - and then he had a growth spurt on her watch, so I know that will make even the gentlest animal attack.
2)put a tray of dirt in the bottom of his cage so he has a place to hide his goodies ( I offered to come do this as I think it will be impossible for her to do so on her own)
3)Play classical music or opera. I've rehapped a number of species, and every one of them has demonstrated a preference for this genre. They seem to hear it as happy bird chirping, which lets them know there is no danger, and puts them at ease. I know Mokus is calmed by it, because when we took him over there, he ws agitated when we got in the car, put we put classical music on and he laid down on his nest for the remainder of the trip ( sooo cute!)
4) try to find ways to keep him occupied, so that he's not spending his day thinking up reasons to be disatisfied with his lot. That's a tall order, if he won't let her near him, but I thought maybe you folks would have some ideas.
I didn't suggest rescue remedy ( of which I am the biggest fan) because she can't get near him, but if she could, I would.
She knows not to try to handle him when he's got food, but if he's overly hungry when she feeds him that could be causing the problem, and I worry that I didn't give clear enough insturctions about when I feed and how much.
The fact that he initially treated her exactly as he does everyone in my family makes me think there's hope for resolving this.
Feedback?
Thanks!