So I'm going to be a first time mom in about a month, just waiting on baby Suga to be old enough to leave mommy My question is when I first bring him home should I start handling right away or leave him for a few days to settle in? If I leave him should I still offer treats etc or just not having anything to do with him? How many days should I leave him?

Pretty much just give me the run down on do's and don'ts of the first few days please!

I think there are a couple of different views to answer your question. The most common view, and pretty much mine (although, on many aspects, I don't believe there is only one right way), is to leave them to acclimate. There is much for them to adjust to: Leaving mom, family & home he's only ever known, new smells, and a new giant person. Now, a lot also depends on how he's been raised as a joey in the breeders home, has he been handled regularly? These are factors that have an effect on them individually as well as their general disposition and personality.

Basically, it's advised to let him alone, taking care of his needs, which is mainly feeding & cleaning up after him. This doesn't mean that you shut him in a room otherwise. You can and should spend time sitting in the room with him, sit near or next to the cage. Sing or speak softly to him, or even read to him. This helps him acclimate to your presence as well as your voice. You can offer treats or offer by hand pieces of fruit or vegetable from his dinner. Don't push though, just hold it out to him if he comes near the front of the cage. If he doesn't take it from your hand, maybe slowly open the cage door and set it inside, close the door and let him discover the yummy on his own. Always use slow, controlled movements and gentle voice.

It is also highly recommended to have some fleece pieces that you slept with or had rolled up in your worn laundry. Tuck them into his pouch and around about the cage to acclimate him to your scent.

The scent acclimation is key, since they are highly scent oriented.

Another view is to carry them right off the bat, I can see in a way that logic, but the other way just seems more gentle in my opinion. Besides, not everyone can just carry a glider with them wherever they go all day, every day. If you can, than this may be an option to look into. I'm mot sure what procedure is if there is any, since I never took this approach with any of my gliders. I'm not sure though, if I were able to do this, that I would or not.

I know it's getting exciting for you!

Amanda hi!
Welcome to the sugar madness! Bet you can't eat just one!

Terry has given some good advice. Weighing in on your question...

The first thing I would do, is get them home and do an introduction--to yourself.

Put the pouch they come in (or box, or cooler, or whatever) directly into their cage if you can, and give them time to come out on their own. Once they emerge, speak softly to them and offer a treat through the bars.

If they have been handled a lot by the breeder, they might be quite social. They might readily climb onto you and start nibbling your giblets. But more likely they will want to spend that first night alone in the quiet to freak out privately.

Anytime I wonder whether something I am about to do, is going to be good or bad for my gliders, emotionally, I transpose role with the animal in my mind.

And if it was me, the first thing I would want is just for this box....to....stop...moving...

Help! I'm scared and I am sick and I want my mommy!

Oh God...now I want to bite the first living thing I see--just because I am angry and scared!

I want to poop on people I don't like, and pretend I don't know what I'm doing!

I want to EAT expensive electronics!

Then...I want to have rough sex with anything that moves!

Err...

Don't take the transposing too far.

He's starting out from a place of fear and he has no reason to trust YOU--with your huge, birdlike claws!

The most important thing is let him set the pace. Don't force yourself on him, but if he seems to want to interact with you, then go for it.

Food treats are a quick way to earn quick trust early on.

Aw thank you for the replies and TwoDog your "story" just made my day LOL

So from what I can gather the first day he comes home I'm just going to leave him alone if he wants to hide and if not then I'll just talk with him and feed him yummy things lol the second day I think I'll start carrying him around in his pouch so he can hear me and my heartbeat etc etc and we'll take it from there

Thanks!!

You might give him a couple of days to settle in. Just take cues from your glider and above all, don't rush things. Works on the glider's schedule, and all should go well

Even if he hides, you can still sit near his cage and speak softly to him, or even sing or read, just use gentle voice/tone.