How do chins do when split permanently from their buddies?

[AnnShh]

Hey guys,

I am seriously considering finding homes for a couple of my chins. I will be heading off 16.5 hrs away to college and will only be home 2-3x a year (winter, spring, and summer break). My mom is willing to care for the animals while I am gone but due to her job she does not have a ton of time to give them all as much attention as they deserve. I know it won't kill them to not get as much out of cage time but I would make me feel better and I wouldn't feel so badly for leaving all these animals for her to care for (chins, hedgie, hamster, rabbits...).

Anyways, there are three chinchillas in particular who are very special to me and I am not willing to give them up. I have two others who I would like to rehome (and it really probably would be better for them, as they are the ones who need the most attention/socializing).
One is a female who is dominant and currently housed with a neutered male. He is one I would like to keep. The two deal with eachother but are not "cuddlebugs" with eachother... I don't think the female would mind being separated.
The other is a male (related to above female) who is also dominant. I will catch him on occasion snuggling with one or both of the two chins he is housed with, but he is clearly boss and I am thinking that he would be ok by himself as well.

But at the same time, they have both been housed with the other chins for the last few years and I would hate for them to be alone. How many of you have split up chins who have been with others and had them live by themselves?

I'm sure they will be fine, but knowing others have done this without any ill effects would make me feel better!


(And please, don't jump on me for this. This is not something I HAVE to do, but I feel that it would be better to reduce the numbers down a bit so that they all can get as much attention as I would like to have. I am just looking for experiences with separating chins/how they have handled it for right now...)

 

[tunes]

Only way to know for sure is to try it out. Get a couple of spare cages and give it a try while they are still in your home. I would not try and separate them and send them right out on their own. First I would want to know that they are eating and drinking, monitor their ins and outs, etc., to be sure that they thrive if you separate them.

 

[amsue0222]

Only way to know for sure is to try it out. Get a couple of spare cages and give it a try while they are still in your home. I would not try and separate them and send them right out on their own. First I would want to know that they are eating and drinking, monitor their ins and outs, etc., to be sure that they thrive if you separate them.

Yep I agree-- I separated my girls for a night and they cried all night long- I thought that one of them had a hurt leg and wanted to monitor her in a smaller cage-- The other one didn't eat or drink until I put her back with her.

 

[S & C's Chin]

Possibly even put them in separate rooms, so they can't see each other. It would be like they were in different homes. Just a suggestion, though.

 

[AnnShh]

Only way to know for sure is to try it out. Get a couple of spare cages and give it a try while they are still in your home. I would not try and separate them and send them right out on their own. First I would want to know that they are eating and drinking, monitor their ins and outs, etc., to be sure that they thrive if you separate them.

Don't know why I didn't think of that! That's an excellent idea, I will def. give that a try. Probably what I'll do is separate cages in the same room for a few days and if all goes well I'll move them to different rooms.

 

[bell]

wrong place sorry