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1

Guestbook / Re: Hi chins owner !

« on: November 06, 2009, 04:17:50 AM »

Welcome!

2

Q & A / Re: Feeding

« on: November 06, 2009, 04:12:48 AM »

If your budget is extremely tight, you can also purchase PURINA MILLS ADVANCED NUTRITION RABBIT SHO FORMULA.
It is a rabbit food, 50lb for less than 20 dollars at most feed stores. I think they have smaller bags than 50lb. It is one of the few rabbit foods that can work for a chinchilla, the only thing is, if you don't have many chinchillas then going through 50lb before the nutrients "die off" is probably not going to happen, so maybe if you have friends that you can give or share the rest of the rabbit food with.

3

Health / Re: constipated & won't eat!

« on: November 06, 2009, 04:08:43 AM »

I think at this point if nothing has changed then the vet is the only person who can really diagnose him. Keep us updated and good job with the force feeding. Count his poops everyday too.

I know for me, personally when I want to get one of my chins to eat more, I will sprinkle some LIFELINE supplement on his pellets. You can get LIFELINE from Dawnna at
http://chocolatechinchillas.com/_wsn/page6.html

But I suggest not trying anything yet until you hear what the vet tells you. Good luck.

4

Q & A / Wire shelf

« on: October 10, 2009, 04:37:54 AM »

I'm thinking about building my own cage for Po. I want to build him a MANSION. However, I was thinking about the many hundred shelves that I would have to put and how much I might struggle to clean every shelf. Do you think some of those wooden shelves could be replaced with wire shelves, to make things a bit easier to clean? I was thinking maybe 50/50 wire to wood or 75/25 wire to wood, or 25/75 with maybe one or two ceramic shelves throw in to keep them cool during the hot hours. Do you think this owuld be an okay idea? Which ratio do you think is best and do you think I hear so many opinions on wire shelves. People say chinchillas can break their feet on them while others say otherwise.

5

General Chat / Re: They Get Big Fast!

« on: October 06, 2009, 01:38:45 AM »

Sooo cute!

6

Health / Pumice types

« on: October 02, 2009, 09:55:56 PM »

I can't help but notice the pumice at my local feeder store is different than the pumice I get on ebay. The one at the feeder store is gray...it seems harder and less powdery while the one on ebay is white but softer, seems powdery. Are they both okay, or would it be better if we give them both for variation? Pumice is pretty much the same thing as lava stones you buy at Petsmart and Petco right? Just not colored.

7

Health / Only eats the soft hay

« on: September 27, 2009, 05:50:03 PM »

I'm a bit concerned. I know that Timothy Hay is good for chinchillas because of the nutrients AND because of the dental benefits. Po only seems to pick up the soft pieces. He will throw away any of the hard parts of the hay, and shouldn't the hard parts of the hay be the most helpful? I can't pictyure the little tiny leaves being of any use to his teeth. Should I be concerned? Would shredding the hay even more, like putting it in a food processor, work better? I'm also tired of wasting hay. At least half of the hay I get is thrown out because of his picky eating and refusal to eat those hard pieces.

8

General Chat / Re: Second chinchilla

« on: September 26, 2009, 09:43:51 AM »

   There is probably not a problem, but, let's play it safe ... this is just a precaution, but I have done it with every chinchilla I bring home.  Are the poops watery or do they have any thing that might look like raw eggwhite on them?  You can check this out using a magnifying glass and placing your little one on a solid surface, like a tile floor.  As soon as the poop drops (do NOT pick it up) look at it with the magnifying glass to see if there is a clear coating on it or part of it that looks like raw eggwhite.  If there is, he needs to see a vet to be checked out for Giardia.  Cleanup the area with a good disinfectant. 

   I don't understand why someone would feed their chin, especially a kit, hay only.  They can survive on that and often a vet will put a chin on hay, with no pellets, when they are sick.

Not drinking much water is a bit odd ... you might want to add a little Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice (not Drink), to the water OR better yet, you might think about giving him some goat's milk.  It's a little pricey, but is good for them.  You can feed it to him using a glass eye dropper and/or place about 2 ounces at a time in a second water bottle.  Goat's milk comes in a can, usually found in the store where regular canned milk can be found (or in the baby section).  Once opened, pour the excess goat's milk in a glass container with an airtight lid and store it in the refrigerator.  When feeding it to a kit, it only needs to be room temperature (never warm it in the microwave).  You might want to check out the videos in this article to get some pointers on hand feeding a kit:
http://www.luvnchins.com/ChinsIISignsTrouble.html

I know you told me in the psat that you wouldn't let a chinchilla come out and play unless they start coming to you at the cage but do you think I should go ahead and take him out of the cage, start handling this baby while he's still young? He keeps poking his nose outside of the bars like he really wants to come out.

This was more in reference to older chins.  As far as kits this young, I handle them every day.  I would not "chase him around the cage", but gently corner him and scoop him up with one  hand and cover him with the other, or entice him with a treat, or put his dust bath in and while he is in it, close the end up and take him to an area that would be safe to play in.  Usually the easiest room to chin proof is the bathroom.  Lid down and no standing water in the bath or sink.  No cleaning supplies or toilet brushes in the open area.  Lay on your back or tummy or sit upright quietly and let him come to investigate you ... they are very curious creatures.  Talk to him in a low sweet voice, like one you would use with a baby.  Set a schedule and keep it, he will soon learn when play time is and be waiting at the cage door for you.   

I couldn't help notice but my hack saw leaves yellow residue on the pine blocks that I cut up for my chins. The dumb blade is yellow   I will make sure to get a NON colored blade next time, but do you think it is still okay?

You can get some sandpaper and use it to get the yellow paint off of the wood.  I do not know what kind of paint is used on the different saw blades, so I don't know how safe it would be, but I would not chance it ... just use a little sandpaper to sand it off and it should be good.   

   Jo Ann

Thank you Jo Ann! I will try everything you said. His poops look a bit better, not as mushy, so I'm starting to put him on alfalfa/timothy and then I'll slowly add in some pellets into his diet.

I've been picking him up a lot but he seems to be more interested in running around during play time then coming to me.

My big concern right now is with the water! At first I thought he was drinking a lot of water because the bowl was empty then I realized he just knocked it over! Currently, I can't get another sipper glass bottle for him like I have with Po but maybe I can switch the Po's bottle with the bowl? I'm sure Po won't mind if it's just for a little while until I get a second glass bottle, besides, I think this will get them prepared for each other's scents too when I decide to put them together. I will definitely try your advice though with the goat milk and juice.

He also keep biting the cage bars and sticking his nose through. Po does this as well but this baby does it CONSTANTLY. Like he wants to come out and I feel bad not letting him out when he sticks his nose through and bites the bars every 20 minutes. 

I will continue to update. I am so excited about this baby, I want to do EVERYTHING right. I love Po as well of course but I did get him a bit late, about two years in his life so it was a bit harder to "tame" him, though I still try to do it everyday of course and will share my love equally with the both of them.

9

Q & A / Re: How do you hang the chew toys up?

« on: September 26, 2009, 03:06:16 AM »

I keep and find old clips from removeable purse straps, and cut the straps off. There is usually a small loop at the end of the hook part that I can put a washer and a screw through. If it's a mesh roof cage I put a small block of wood on the outside and screw into it.
You can buy these big key rings at the dollar store with a push in pin, I add a block and a ring,another block and another ring........
Heavy gage crafting wire is awesome, just make sure there is no where/way they can get caught up in anything.

Thank you Jo Ann and Debbie!

Debbie, do you think the color on the gauge crafting wire matters? The only crafting gauge wire at "Michaels" has a black color to it, I'm not sure if this would be harmful to the chins though when they chew it.

10

General Chat / Re: Second chinchilla

« on: September 25, 2009, 02:12:26 PM »

  Congratulations on your new kit!!!

The soft stools (poop) could be from stress of a new family or leaving it's old family, from the heat, from the ride, but, it could also be from illness.  I would keep them separated until I know for sure. 

It is best to make sure the temperature for a chinchilla stays between 65 and 72.  The hotter it is, the more likely it is that a chin can have a heat stroke.

I give my little ones Alfalfa hay until they are 3 months old, then switch over to 1/2 Alfalfa hay and 1/2 Timothy hay, mixed.  When they turn 6 months old they usually go to strait Timothy hay.   Alfalfa is then used only when he/she is sick or sickly/under weight.  Of course it is better to give the fresher of the hay, regardless of what kind it is ... it often has to depend on what is readily available for some people in their area.   

   Jo Ann

His droppings seems to have two pointso n the end, like footballs, like they don't look like perfect ovals with rounded ends like Po's droppings. Now that I think aobut it, his stools when I was holding him at the original owner's house was also very soft. They told me all they fed him was alfalfa, I've completely switched him to Timothy hay but since you were talking about alfalfa only until 6 months old, I will start giving them some of that util 6 months old. He also doesn't seem to be drinking a lot of water. I keep thinking he wants to come out and play. I know you told me in the psat that you wouldn't let a chinchilla come out and play unless they start coming to you at the cage but do you think I should go ahead and take him out of the cage, start handling this baby while he's still young? He keeps poking his nose outside of the bars like he really wants to come out.

Jo Ann, something else I couldn't help notice but my hack saw leaves yellow residue on the pine blocks that I cut up for my chins. The dumb blade is yellow  I will make sure to get a NON colored blade next time, but do you think it is still okay?

11

General Chat / Do you boycott pet stores?

« on: September 24, 2009, 11:50:11 PM »

This topic has always been interesting to me. I know many people advise against buying chinchillas at pet stores because the chinchillas there are generally not tamed and you don't know much about the family history. Then there are people who don't want to buy chinchillas there because they don't like the way Petco treats their animals and how everything is ran by a business. For those people, do you still buy things at Petco, like animal toys and food? For example, I personally don't support any organizations or businesses that support fur trade or things I'm against. I imagine that the good business at Petco, the money they receive from people when they are buying lava stones, foods...EVERYTHING is all a *business* and as long as that *business* keeps going, they will continue to sell chinchillas in less than optimal settings. Would you rather pour your money at a feed store or something that cares more about the animals than the business?

12

Board Requests & questions / Jo Ann and Debbie

« on: September 24, 2009, 06:25:54 PM »

I just want to tell you two that you two are just amazing and make a great "dynamic duo" when it comes to chinchilla information. Without you guys I would be SO lost with how to take care of Po. I am sure Po appreciates it as well. I can't thank you enough every time you guys help amateurs like me out with chinchilla care.

13

General Chat / Second chinchilla

« on: September 24, 2009, 06:23:01 PM »

I got a second chinchilla. I was always planning on getting another one for Po but not this early. This deal was just too good to pass up and this was their lasty guy. It was from a nice couple on Craigslist, they were selling babies, a 8 week old beige baby. I brought it home today, it was a rough, hot drive and I think the baby might be under some stress from it. They said he is very tamed and will shoulder ride but I still imagine that he is under a lot of stress. I put him in Po's old cage and I'm going to do a bit of research before I start slowly introducing them to each other but for now I will keep them completely separate. Even though he is supposedly really tamed, I will leave him alone for a day or two, maybe stick my hand in every once in a while so he can get my scent, before actually trying to carry him completey because I'm sure he's just really scared right now. I really want him to ease up to me though and be very comfortable with handling. I love Po a lot but he hates being carried and cuddled around, so hopefully I can teach this new chinchilla to do so. Do you think this is a good idea? Should I also let him have his play time out of the cage so soon?

First thing I noticed is his stool is very soft. I think this might be the stressful ride or maybe he was fed too much alfalfa hay. I will give him Timothy hay though with no pellets until I see that his stools are firmer. If this still doesn't work I will give him some burnt toast.

14

Health / Hay brand

« on: September 19, 2009, 02:37:19 AM »

I know that it's best to feed chincillas certain pellet brands, like the Mazuri, Tradition, Oxbow, etc. but what about hay? Do certain brands have more nutritious hay than others? Today I went to Walmart and saw they were selling KAYTEE TIMOTHY HAY. I know the KAYTEE PELLET isn't too good because they mix some other tsuff in it, but is the Timothy Hay good?

15

Q & A / How do you hang the chew toys up?

« on: September 16, 2009, 08:39:17 PM »

Hi guys, recently I bought Po a lot of chew toys. Drilled a few holes in them, but I'm trying to figure out some good ways to hang them up. I know they sell the bell chain thingies at the Pet Stores, but those are a little more expensive and they ALWAYS coem with other chew toys that I don't need. I already have enough chew toys for Po, I just need something that can hold them up. I tried using just a normal key chain thingy but that started to rust really bad! What are cheaper ways to hang them up that you find most affective?