Chinchilla Community Forums

1

North East USA / rehoming chinchillas locally (RI)

« on: July 21, 2009, 09:32:58 PM »

Hi everyone. I know it's been a while since I've posted and a lot has happened. But my two girls (Lulu and Shanti) are both great, for the most part. I think that my new ferret is stressing them out. I have NEVER let them see or interact with each other. I keep my ferret in the kitchen, and my chins in the living room. However, my apartment is really one big room and I know they know about each other.

I've noticed both my chins chewing the fur off their big toes. It makes me so sad to think I've caused them any stress whatsoever!

I would consider re-homing my girls in Rhode Island, but only to an experienced chin owner who could give them a better life than me. I still spend several hours per day alone with them, playing in my living room, and give them the best possible care. I only have another 6 months until I finish grad school and could get a bigger place. The only way I could possibly let them go is to the best possible home in RI (so I can visit and check in).

Any advice, suggestions, support, is so greatly appreciated! I'm so torn and upset about causing any upset to my animals. Please talk to me!

2

General Chat / chins and pigs

« on: February 01, 2009, 02:17:47 PM »

Hi everyone. I have always loved guinea pigs,and last night I fell in love all over again! Does anyone have any info on chins and pigs? My girls are 1.5 and 1 year old and are sweet and gentle creatures. Obviously I would have a separate cage for the piggy but they would be in the same room. Thanks ahead for opinions and facts before I decide on whether to get one or not!

3

Health / Small lump on Lulu

« on: October 23, 2008, 06:27:37 PM »

Hi guys,

All of us (myself and the chinnies) are getting along wonderfuly. Oats really help. However, I was rubbing Lulu's belly right now, and found a small, circular lump protruding from her stomach. It's about 1/4 size a piece of poo, it feels like a swollen nipple. Any ideas? I'm worried.

I will certainly be keeping my eye on it. Please let me know your thoughts and experiences!

Thanks in advance!

4

Q & A / baby chin peeing everywhere

« on: October 11, 2008, 10:36:35 AM »

Hi All! My baby and Lulu are getting along wonderfuly, and have started to bond with me a little bit, too. However, the baby pees all over the place in the cage...in the hay, in their hammock/bed, and in the litter box. I've tried leaving some "used" litter in a fresh pan, but it doesn't work. I've also scrubbed the cage and done that again, to no avail. Anyone know what's going on or suggestions of what to try next?

Thanks!!

Beth

5

General Chat / second chin stress (for me)

« on: September 25, 2008, 06:53:05 PM »

Hi everyone. So, I returned little Diego and bought a female kit (tan, 10 wks old) several weeks ago from a reputable breeder. I kept them apart for two weeks, and bonded with my new Shanti separately. She was letting me pick her up and even groomed me a little bit. So I figured it was time to introduce my two girls. Lulu immediately fell in love with Shanti, grooming her right away, and the two never even barked at each other. Shanti is more interested in exploring, but loves Lulu too. They both cuddle and are together all the time.

I miss the attention Lulu used to pay to me, coming up to me and begging for treats. Now all of her time is spent loving up the baby, and the two of them barely even notice me. Am I doing something wrong? What can I do so they both like me again? Or is this just how it will be from now on?

I let Lulu run around my chin proof room when I'm home, and have a play pen with the baby that I sit in and bond with her for a while, letting her run all over me. Lulu gets a little jealous, but seems fine overall. She usually just chills out under the futon when I'm in the pen with Shanti. When I come out, she just runs over to the play pen to see Shanti and won't come to me when I call her. I'm so upset!

Please, any suggestions or advice you have would be so appreciated. I miss my chin's love and it makes me really sad

thanks

6

Breeding 101 / Pet store chinnies

« on: September 01, 2008, 05:30:40 PM »

Hi everyone! Today I bought a black velvet from a pet store. I've had great luck with pet stores around here in RI, and my female I've had for over a year now is fantastic. Both are very healthy, lively and friendly. I was hoping to mate them at least once before possibly neutering the male.

But not I've read that it's not recommended to breed pet store chins. I'm pretty bummed about it. Does anyone know the risks and percent chances of bad traits being passed on?

Please, any information or advise you have would be so helpful. Thanks a ton, in advance! $:-\$

7

Q & A / rose hips?

« on: August 26, 2008, 04:55:15 PM »

Hi guys!
anyone know how to dry your own rose hips?
thanks!

8

General Chat / screech while scratching?

« on: July 18, 2008, 06:22:57 PM »

Hi all.

Lulu sometimes let's out a short screetch, like you're saying the "c" in the word "Cat", over and over, in rhythm with my scratches. I used to think it meant she liked it, especially on her butt! Now, I'm not so sure. Sometimes she'll move so that I'm not scratching her anymore when she makes that noise. It's pretty loud.

Just wondering if anyone else has had experienced same/similar noises with their chinnie and know what it means.

Thanks!

9

Q & A / really need to bake?

« on: June 13, 2008, 06:28:30 PM »

Hi y'all! I found a nice, big Aspen stick that would be great for Lulu. It's from a place deep in the woods so I know there's no chemicals on it. It's older, too, so it's dried out already, and it was in a dry forest so I know there's no mold.

The question is do I absolutely have to bake it before giving it to Lulu? What's the danger of not baking it?

Thanks so much in advance.

10

Q & A / Stinky chin!

« on: May 20, 2008, 04:16:21 PM »

Hi all! Hope you and your little ones are well!

I've noticed the past week or so that Lulu smells like pee. I don't know how to stop it. I change her cage daily (remove all wet spots and poo), scrub her cage weekly, and give her daily dust baths. Any ideas/suggestions? Please help.

Thank you!

11

Q & A / Hay

« on: April 28, 2008, 02:54:13 PM »

Hi all! I just accidently bought Alfalfa Hay, instead of Timothy Hay. Can I use this every day, as a substitute for Timothy Hay? Or should I get the two and mix them, or what?

Thank you!

Beth

12

General Chat / Late night cries

« on: April 25, 2008, 06:34:15 PM »

Hi everyone! I have a strange question. Sometimes Lulu cries out in the middle of the night. I thought it was when she was startled by a noise. I would call out to her softly from bed and calm her down, and her cries would get softer and then stop. This used to happen about twice a month or so. Now, the past week, she cries every night, and not just once, but repeatedly. Once I calm her down and am just about to drift off to sleep again, she cries. This happens about four or five times before she goes back to sleep for good.

It's very quiet in my apartment, so I don't think it's anything startling her. Is it because it's spring? She's not quite a year old yet. Any ideas?? I feel so badly for her, she sounds terrified. But she never hops out of her hammock.

13

General Chat / Noisy saucer/cage

« on: April 14, 2008, 02:58:54 PM »

Hi everyone! Since Lulu has started enjoying her flying saucer, the cage makes a great deal of racket at night when I'm (not) sleeping. I have one of those wire-cages you get at pet-co. It has white wire/aluminum bars horizontally, with vertical support bars every5 inches or so. I had to squish a couple of bars together to fit the flying saucer on them. So, the cage rocks frontwards and backwards as Lulu runs on the wheel. Does anyone have suggestions on how to stabilize it, and/or reduce the noise? Thank you!!!

14

Q & A / reward system, please help!

« on: April 12, 2008, 07:11:28 PM »

Hi everyone! I hope you and all your little ones are great. Lulu and I are pretty good. However, since I started to feed her an oat every time she made contact with me (trying to gain her trust after the vet fiasco), she never comes to me without expecting food. She won't let me scratch her unless I give her something, and if I don't have an oat in my hands, she runs off as soon as she realizes there's no food involved. I'd really like it if she came to me wanting to be scratched, or to have attention, but instead I just feel she only wants food.

I'm a little frustrated and confused about what I should do.

If anyone has advice, I would really really appreciate it!

Thanks in advance!

15

General Chat / Fav Chin TV shows

« on: March 20, 2008, 04:13:41 PM »

Hi everyone! Lulu and I reached a milestone in our relationship and I just had to tell you all. She placed her little paws on my face and oh-so-delicately groomed my eyelashes and eyebrows! HUGE!

She's also seemed to take a slight interest in watching TV in the evening. Which shows do your chins like best?