OK......
Her name is Maggie May and she was 2 weeks old on Sunday.
So I know a guy because I bought finches from him before. And he's posting all these cute piccies of the cavies (or mara, you can call them either one). I'd never seen one. I made some comment like HOW CUUUTE and he says why don't you take one. We talked back and forth -- he lives on the other side of Florida. He said well an employee is delivering a horse near you on Sunday. So I said yes. That was 10 days ago.
Since I hadn't told hubby
I said we would foster her to see how it goes.
Suddenly I'm a rodent mom. She bottle feeds 3-4 times daily and nibbles hay and veggies. I set up a pen in the house (in our neighborhood you can't even park your own RV in your driveway overnight! So no exotic animals for sure, someone would complain). I also gave her a box I'd decorated for the birds -- she's crazy about it and loves to chew the toys in there.
She's really timid, something I hadn't counted on. But I pretty much treat her like an untame bird, just comfort her, let her go at her own pace but try to gently draw her out. When she can eat a little better I can use a treat and clicker train her? Maybe?
She makes little noises like a guinea pig. The dog wants to play with her in the back yard but she's having none of it. I have to keep her on a leash out there because they can run 25 mph
and she can easily get through my fence.
Some people keep them indoors but it's becoming clear to me they're a lot better off on a farm. Plus - I'm so overwhelmed right now. Work, hubby, birds. I never get done with everything. So I probably will let her go back after she weans. But -- this is really fun.