Getting them IN the dust?

[laurie2025]

Updated a prior thread. . . today was the first time I tried to give the guys their dust bath. I put the dust bath in the cage and sat back to watch. They wouldn't go in! They walked on it and around it and sniffed it but wouldn't go inside. HUH? :banghead:
Laurie

 

[starleomach]

Give them some time. You watching may have slowed them a bit. Also here I use a large dog bowl so the inside a house thing is new to them. Don't worry they will figure it out. Also they had dust baths every day for a month up until you got them. They were in a cage with two boys I am going to show this weekend and right before a show, you dust show animals daily. They will be okay until they figure it out. They will go inside.

One thing you can do is put the house in with no dust over night. by the morning you will likely find them snuggling in there and no longer afraid to go in

 

[laurie2025]

Thanks Kristy, you're the best!
Laurie

 

[rach_leigh]

Yeah, they will figure it out! I had to put Ashe in her dust bath for a few days, then rub dust on her for a few times and then one day....VIOLA! She jumped in the bath herself! Now she's a pro

 

[Chinniechantel]

They always figure it out! It sometimes takes a few days, even a week, but with persistence even rescues I get that have never bathed do figure it out.

 

[Essentia]

I know it's hard, but put the dust bath in and walk away. I have had several rescues that would not dust in front of me. Once I put it in and walked away they dusted without an issue. Give them some time. I would even leave the dust in there for a bit (not overnight or anything, but like 30 minutes) and let them do it on their own time.

 

[laurie2025]

Dusted!

Ok, I put the dust bath in the cage, and left for half an hour. Wow. When I came back. . . well, it was quite obvious they used the dust! It was QUITE dusty in the cage :clap1: everywhere!! But that's ok, I am just glad that they (or at least one of them) got in there!
Laurie