Author Jamie Huggins
Huggable Pets Farm Chinchillas
How to Make Friends
With Your Chinchilla
When you first bring your new friend home give him some space to get used to the
new environment. Expect your chinchilla to be a little afraid. Remember that he has traveled
in a strange car, entered a new house, and a new cage. Even the tamest chinchilla can be
withdrawn and frightened at first. Here is what I suggest for getting a new chinchilla to
be your friend. This is by no means the only way to make friends with your new chinchilla.
This is what I have found works best for me.
Step #1-Get him to show interest in you.
The first step in making friends with your new chinchilla is to let it know that you are no threat. Open the cage door and place your hand just inside of the cage. If your chinchilla
is afraid it will usually run and hide in the back corner of the cage. If it hides inside a box and will not come out then slowly remove the box so that your chin will have to look at you. Now just sit tight. If you are lucky enough to have a very curious chin then it will slowly start creeping up to you. If after awhile it has no interest in you at all you will have to try the raisin.
Baiting with A Raisin
(Note: A chinchilla should only have one or two raisins a day)
If your chinchilla has never had a raisin then you must first teach it what one is. Try to feed your chinchilla through the bars of the cage. If it won't take it at first then you may
have to place it inside the cage and give your chinchilla some room. Once he learns how great they are he will soon begin taking them from your hand through the bars. Once he has mastered bar feeding it is time to open the door. With any luck your chin will take the raisin from your open palm. This is what you want to achieve. You want your chinchilla to be comfortable with your hands and arms.
Step #2-Building Trust
Once your chinchilla decides that you are interesting he will begin to come forward. If he
startles and runs to the back again, don't move. Your chinchilla will soon learn that you
are not going to chase it. Then the fun begins. He will creep forward and run to the back.
Take a few steps closer and once again take off. Finally he will sniff your hand. He may
even give you a little taste. If he begins to linger in the rear of the cage or becomes
agitated end the "lesson" there and try again later. Once he is comfortable standing or
holding on to your hand you have gained some trust.
Step #3 Petting
Almost all of my chinchillas love to be scratched behind the ears, under the chin, and
just under their front legs on their bellies. The trick is to get them to let you do it.
Once they have become very comfortable with your presence it is time to begin petting.
I place my hand just inside the cage with index finger ready. It is easier to start on
top of the head and work your way behind the ear. (Their whiskers are ticklish) The way
I see it is if they come to me they are fair game, but I respect their space. When they
come to my hand I try to rub their head. The less you move your hand the better. At first
he will take off to the back of the cage. Soon he comes right back and you do it again. If
he gets upset and won't come back to your hand wait a few days before you try to rub him again.
The idea is to gain trust, not loose it. I do have a few chins that are just too ticklish.
The moment you touch them they shake and rub their heads. Those may not ever become pettable,
but they still love to climb on you! Those chins that learn to love petting will close their
eyes, lift their legs, and get so relaxed that they practically fall over!
***All chinchillas are different. Some may follow this example perfectly and others will
be painfully slow. Some may love petting from the start. I wrote this to give some ideas
as to how gaining trust might be done. What works for me may not work for you. When it
comes to you and your animal, you will have to find what is right for you. As with any
animal, patience and love are always the best tools!
|
|
