Chinchilla Community Forums

1

General Chat / Which type of Fleece

« on: January 10, 2013, 07:48:25 PM »

From what I understand there are different types of fleece?

I am wondering the name of the one(s) safe for Chin use.

Thanks!

2

General Chat / Chinchilla Behavior

« on: December 11, 2012, 05:42:06 PM »

Hey everyone:

My two new chins Casper and Smokey (boys) are nice, but still a little timid, I think. They are 4-5 months old and I have had them for about a month and a half.

When I open the cage door, they start making this little whiney noise (sometimes) and if I reach in (slowly) to pet them they kack and make these throat sounding noises and stand up on their hind legs. But, they both like being scratched under the chin. Most of the time, I can manage to scratch them and they stop.

Whats funny is they make all of these noises at me (seems like they are upset with me) when they are inside of their cage, but if I set them ontop of their cage to run around or if I have them out for playtime, they do not make such noises.

During all occasions they both take treats from me.

Do you think they are making their noises since I am invading their home?
Thanks!

3

General Chat / New Chins

« on: November 18, 2012, 07:34:51 PM »

Hey everyone:

I got my two new chins Yesterday (I have 6 now). As on right now, I have had them for 24 hours.

They are VERY skittish compared to my other 4 when I first got them.

They are making their distress call more than the others and one of them kacks at me when I open the cage door or walk by - He has stopped doing it when I walk by, but still does it some when I am in cage.

Is it alright to open cage door and move my hand towards them slowly to try and give them a treat or should I wait to try this for another few days?

4

General Chat / Boys and Girls

« on: November 15, 2012, 07:34:21 PM »

I have four male chinchillas in one cage and I wanted to get 2 female chinchillas. They would be in their own cage and seperated by a wall in the same room.

Do you think my boys will fight?

5

Health / Mildly Smelly Poo

« on: November 05, 2012, 08:41:05 PM »

Hey everyone:

One of my guys has mildly smelly poo, I forget what this means!

It is not runny or anything like that, and they look like regular chinchilla poo's, and he is eating and drinking fine from what I can tell.

He was in a tussle with one of the new ones I got, they had to be seperated, could stress from this have caused it?

Thanks to whoever answers!

6

Cages / Question Regarding Corner Cage and 15' Chin Spin

« on: October 31, 2012, 01:07:14 PM »

Hello everyone,

Does anyone have experience with this cage?
http://www.petsolutions.com/C/Ferret-Cages/I/Corner-Ferret-Cage.aspx#reviews

Does anyone know how well a 15' chin spin would work in this cage?

7

Q & A / Question Regarding Weird Chin

« on: August 18, 2012, 01:45:23 PM »

Hey everyone:

I have two chins who are perfect angels and come to me and let me scoop them up and anything you could imagine.

I have two others that are not coming along at the same pace (which i know is normal). But I am concerned about one of them, he is just too odd for me lol.

He sits in the same spot for hours with a blank stare on his face. Unless you try to pick him up he does not move, you can touch his head, whiskers, or back and he does not move. At certain points he wont even take a treat when you put it right infront of him. He is also a little skiddish still, but I can scoop him up (with a little bit of fight), and for the most part he is good when I am holding him.

He is active when they go out for playtime, but most of the time he is in his stone wall state (in the cage).

Is this semi-normal behavior?

My other chin who is still coming along a little slow runs to the cage door as soon as I shake the treat bag and will take just about any treat from me and sit there and eat it infront of me. But, if I try to pick him up he couldnt be gone faster. Although, he sort of lets me pet him most of the time. When I do hold him I have to secure him by the tail and then pick his body up with my other hand, he is not scoopable at all, but my other 3 boys are. Another thing, I can always see veins in his ears (they are real red), even when I know for a fact he is not hot at all. He is a brown velvet, and has light colored ears.

Does anyone have any suggestions aside from just waiting longer that could help them along a little bit?

I've had them going on 2 months. They are all 5-6 months old.

Thanks!

8

General Chat / How Many Treats?

« on: August 07, 2012, 02:18:16 PM »

Hey everyone:

How many treats is too many to give chins regarding the variety. Is it alright to give them a different type of treat each day (lets say I have 4 different types of treats). Rose Hips/pettles, oats, apple leaves (just nibbles), and mini wheat, I would treat with one of these each day for 4 different days, then rotate again.

Right now I treat 1/2 mini wheat and about 5 little oats per chin per day. If they are really good then they get some of the rose stuff. I never give them a whole hip or a whole dried rose bud, I give them half or just one or two pettles off of the bud.

I would like to continue to give them a variety and possibly expand their potential rewards.

Thanks!
Thanks!

9

General Chat / My Chin Update

« on: August 03, 2012, 06:22:46 PM »

Hello everyone:

I posted about a month ago regarding my 4, 4-month old chins. I found out one was actually 5 months.

So now I have 3, 5-mongth olds and 1, 6-month old.

They are all doing great, growing well and becoming used to me.

Two of them hardly squirm when I pick them up, basically I can just scoop them up.

Regarding the other two, one it is still a bit of a hassle and the other is better than the hassle one, but not scoopable yet.

At what age are chins fully grown?

Their names are Fluff Jr, Ratatoullie, Stitch, and Milk Dud.

10

General Chat / Caring for Four Month Old Chins

« on: July 11, 2012, 09:32:45 PM »

Hey Everyone:

Is there anything special I should know about taking care of younger ones?

I have read:

No wheel until 6 months.

Only 15 minute playtime.

Anything else I should know? Are these things true?

They all try to "taste" me a lot, and sometimes a little hard. If they taste me a little hard, what do I do, should I blow on them?

Thanks!

11

General Chat / New Boys are Here!

« on: July 09, 2012, 09:28:35 PM »

Hello everyone:

I returned Fluffy and Rambo to my breeder, and ended up coming home with four, four month olds.

Two Standard, one Brown Velvet with red eyes, and one White Velvet.

My breeder was going to replace Fluffy and Rambo only (with 2 others), but when I got there she had four, four month old boys in the same cage, then she hinted at me taking all of them, I asked her what she would have to have to take the two extras. She proceded to ask me how much I spent at the vet, once she found that out, she said just take all four!

I am so happy to have 4 little guys. Fortunately I have the biggest cage Quality Cage Company makes non-special order. All four of them will have more than enough room even when they are full grown!

Thanks!

12

Health / Pinecones?

« on: July 09, 2012, 02:09:52 PM »

I read on another forum that pine cones are safe for chins and they love them?

true?

what must be done to them and what kind?

Thanks!

13

General Chat / Rose hips/pettles

« on: July 08, 2012, 08:39:51 PM »

How often is alright to give rose hips and pettles. I also have rose buds that have the pettles attached to them (dried of course)

Thanks!

14

Memorials / Rambo and Fluffy

« on: July 07, 2012, 12:13:41 PM »

Hello everyone:

I have had my guys for about a month, one of them started to display back teeth issues, the vet said, even without a diagnosis it is bound to be a genetic defect. Being a responsible and reputable breeder, my breeder has opted to replace Fluffy.

Unfortunately, Fluffy and Rambo have been together for a while so I have elected to give Rambo back too. I think this will be better for Fluffy and Rambo.

I will exchange them on monday for two healthy youngsters (6-8 months I think).

Fluffy and Rambo have not died, but I figured it was appropriate to post a "going away" post for them

.

Thanks everyone!

P.S. I will post pictures of my new little guys when I bring them home.

15

Health / Best Hay Cubes

« on: July 05, 2012, 04:15:40 PM »

Hello everyone:

The cubes my breeder gave me are running out, she buys hers in bulk, so I cannot get the ones she gets and it is a hassle to have her send them to me.

What type of hay cubes should I get for my guys.

100% alfalfa, or a mix or what?

Thanks!