Recent content by Gnoller

A chins body isn't set up to handle too much sugar or fat, it can cause diabetes or make their GI tract go haywire at the very least. If you need to fatten them up, then a diet supplement like javachin said above is the best option. If you've only recently gotten him, just feeding him on hay and...

I got to see my chin jump up onto our clothes horse onto our washing and fall straight back down to the ground, bringing half the washing with her, which gave her a **** of a fright! The dumbest part though? She did it again with the same result... 3 times that night

I'd allow a week either side of 111 days, that would be my rule of thumb for a single standard deviation in gestation period. Any longer than that and I'd see a vet. Kits can breed from as young as 5 months so if she's with her son I would separate the two.

Because chins are only recently domesticated (relatively) they still have strong instincts to resist change and can take a while to come around to new things. He'll come around in his own time. Maybe stop going to the cage when he calls out - either completely ignore him or just look over to...

Not quite answering everything, but my thoughts below! 2. How much food should we feed her a day? I give unlimited hay, a couple tablespoons of pellets and a tiny bit of chaff. If she's growing, I'd err on the side of caution and give her more so that she doesn't go underfed and have her...

I used to use kiln dried pine, then aspen (it was cheaper where I live) and since getting the new cage, I've been using fleece. If your chin turns out to be a chewer, be prepared to go through alot of fleece (my rats used to destroy a fleece after 2x uses, so they're back on recycled paper...

I used to do a weekly wipe with vinegar around my cage when my chin was peeing near the top of her cage and it would drip down but she uses the bottom now and only in one place so I just put extra liners there. I used to have problems with poo being flicked everywhere but I attached a large...

Powder coating is a great way to seal exposed metal - it's essentially baked onto the metal and doesn't come off easily - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powder_coating so you shouldn't need to worry about them eating paint chips! Being wrought iron, it'd be a bit more ductile than typical steel...

When chins popcorn, they're usually excited and/or have an abundance of energy - popcorning could just be a byproduct of the extra energy in their system. In a social context, perhaps this is used to indicate mood to the rest of the herd? However, it could just be that chins in the wild don't...

When I first got my chin she lived in our spare bedroom, but then got moved into our room for a while - then she started barking every night like a nutter! Then she went through a phase of squealing each night. It's worrying to hear it but they get over it eventually. I wouldn't worry too much...

Life long cage mates? You can only see that retrospectively when one passes. As for whether they can co-habitate nicely, it depends on the chin, the introduction method to each other and even then things could go wrong there or down the track... Regarding cages on top of each other, I imagine...

Currently in Christchurch but originally from Wellington. From windy weather to shaky ground :D

Hi All, Just decided to join the forum although I've been lurking a while without anything to say! I have a 2 and a half year old chin who I've had since she was just over a year old Outside of that, I live with 5 cats, 3 rats, a guinea pig, 2 budgies and a cockatiel. With a bit of luck there...

Oh dear... I suppose the only thing I can hope for is that the chins move through quickly and are treated by their new owners properly

I have no issue feeding my chin raisins at most a couple of times a week, although i prefer giving cranberries. It can be a valuable aid in training to have a treat that they are so interested in and helped me build the bond with my chin. As much as everyone compares chinchillas to their wild...