Brian123
Well-known member
My first 2 chins, 1 year old females, arrived yesterday and they have been a joy. They were cautious as they arrived at home, but instantly curious and explored their new cage (FN 182) for most the day, quickly learning the ChinSpin, and doing cute things while people were present. No barking, kacking, only a few cute sounds here and there as they explored.
(Link to Pictures)
Despite how calm and relaxed they are, I know they can hide stress. So I have to be careful how much I interact with them, despite how well appear. It's only been 24 hours, so there's no way they feel fully secure in the their new cage. One mistake with bonding could be a huge setback if they can't even feel secure to hide in their new cage.
First Couple Weeks:
From what I've read, the first couple weeks can be considered the most crucial time with your new chinchilla/s. So everything should be taken slow/careful as a precaution to ensure a great future. You can't rush this. For the first part of the week, I'll simply hang out by the cage, talk to them, etc. Then as time goes on, I'll offer my hand, sometimes with a treat, and continue until they trust me enough to come up and check it out, possibly jump on. Not sure if I should offer dust baths inside one level of the cage until it can be placed outside the cage when they are ready for play time. I know normally you wouldn't want to dust bath at all in the cage.
During this bonding time, can there be a problem with too many cooks in the kitchen, sort of speak?
My girlfriend is going to be around for a few weeks, plus I have a roommate/old friend that's home 24/7. My girlfriend doesn't have much to say as she knows I've done my homework, but my roommate is being a back seat driver with a know-it-all attitude, not that he doesn't have pet experience. Sadly though, he comes off demeaning with how he views my lack of pet experience and assumes the worst. Seems like he can do no wrong with his pets (Geckos and a Tegu), or not big deal if he does, but I'm made to feel like a cardinal sin was committed. Today, I have to be clear with him, these are my pets to care for, my mistakes to learn from, slowly discovering their likes and dislikes, and finally, I've done my research, open to advice, but usually confirming with multiple opinions.
Strangely, he thought they should be let out of the cage for play time within 12 hours, with all of us in there, since they seemed calm compared to what he's seen and heard of chinchillas. I felt it was a bad idea, even with his suggestion to open the cage and let the chins decide to come out or not. My experience so far tells me it's not time, too early with any chin, so much can go wrong this early. I played it safe, it was my decision, but he felt like arguing the point why I should. He probably won't like the idea if I say it may be this weekend or longer before such a thing. Am I wrong?
So a question comes to mind:
With so many different people interacting and trying do what they want, should I limit their exposure to other people during their first two weeks as I attempt to bond and care for them?
My roommate and girlfriend are home 24/7, plus stay up late. I work 8-5 and go to sleep on time. Would it be selfish to say they can see the chins a few times a day until weekends? So no hanging out all day with the chins while I'm away at work. It's exciting for all of us, but it's also a crucial time to build their trust with me. I fear the chins will get use to them far quicker, possibly favor them, then give me the stink eye for being the one human that disturbs their cage for cleaning/food and only shows up for limited social time.
Does that sound about right? Limited access while I'm away, so they are exposed more to me on week days as I clean their cage, replenish food, and spend time near them and talk, followed by more group visits on the weekend?
Thanks for any help or advice.
(Link to Pictures)
Despite how calm and relaxed they are, I know they can hide stress. So I have to be careful how much I interact with them, despite how well appear. It's only been 24 hours, so there's no way they feel fully secure in the their new cage. One mistake with bonding could be a huge setback if they can't even feel secure to hide in their new cage.
First Couple Weeks:
From what I've read, the first couple weeks can be considered the most crucial time with your new chinchilla/s. So everything should be taken slow/careful as a precaution to ensure a great future. You can't rush this. For the first part of the week, I'll simply hang out by the cage, talk to them, etc. Then as time goes on, I'll offer my hand, sometimes with a treat, and continue until they trust me enough to come up and check it out, possibly jump on. Not sure if I should offer dust baths inside one level of the cage until it can be placed outside the cage when they are ready for play time. I know normally you wouldn't want to dust bath at all in the cage.
During this bonding time, can there be a problem with too many cooks in the kitchen, sort of speak?
My girlfriend is going to be around for a few weeks, plus I have a roommate/old friend that's home 24/7. My girlfriend doesn't have much to say as she knows I've done my homework, but my roommate is being a back seat driver with a know-it-all attitude, not that he doesn't have pet experience. Sadly though, he comes off demeaning with how he views my lack of pet experience and assumes the worst. Seems like he can do no wrong with his pets (Geckos and a Tegu), or not big deal if he does, but I'm made to feel like a cardinal sin was committed. Today, I have to be clear with him, these are my pets to care for, my mistakes to learn from, slowly discovering their likes and dislikes, and finally, I've done my research, open to advice, but usually confirming with multiple opinions.
Strangely, he thought they should be let out of the cage for play time within 12 hours, with all of us in there, since they seemed calm compared to what he's seen and heard of chinchillas. I felt it was a bad idea, even with his suggestion to open the cage and let the chins decide to come out or not. My experience so far tells me it's not time, too early with any chin, so much can go wrong this early. I played it safe, it was my decision, but he felt like arguing the point why I should. He probably won't like the idea if I say it may be this weekend or longer before such a thing. Am I wrong?
So a question comes to mind:
With so many different people interacting and trying do what they want, should I limit their exposure to other people during their first two weeks as I attempt to bond and care for them?
My roommate and girlfriend are home 24/7, plus stay up late. I work 8-5 and go to sleep on time. Would it be selfish to say they can see the chins a few times a day until weekends? So no hanging out all day with the chins while I'm away at work. It's exciting for all of us, but it's also a crucial time to build their trust with me. I fear the chins will get use to them far quicker, possibly favor them, then give me the stink eye for being the one human that disturbs their cage for cleaning/food and only shows up for limited social time.
Does that sound about right? Limited access while I'm away, so they are exposed more to me on week days as I clean their cage, replenish food, and spend time near them and talk, followed by more group visits on the weekend?
Thanks for any help or advice.