?

[michelleideeaz1]

How old was your chin before it felt comfortable around you?

 

[ticklechin]

Its not really age IMO, its the time in the chins situation. Some chins settle in in a couple of weeks, some take months and some its years, its just how chins are wired.

 

[mgonya]

Agree with Dawn. My girl is two and still runs and hides when I open her door. My male leaps in my arms. Just the difference in their personalities.

 

[michelleideeaz1]

I think my Jasper is doing really well so far. He's been here for 10 days and already he'll climb onto my hands, up onto my shoulder (although he doesn't stay there long) and last night, I let him out for 5 minutes and he was running up and down my legs and across my face. He'll let me pet him as long as he isn't tired and cranky. He still won't let me pick him up though.

 

[obcsed]

Picking them up is tricky because most chins hate being held or restrained. Give him some time. When he is out running around, try scooping him up once in awhile. Give him a quick kiss and put him right back down. Once he knows you aren't trying to trap him, he will be easier to pick up.

 

[fuji9991]

She was probably about 3-4 years old before she stopped running away at most every movement. She is not shy at all anymore and I can pet her once gentelly but she will not willingly allow herself to be picked up and if I maintain any firm contact for more than a few seconds before she protests. She lets me scratch under her arms and belly though and makes a super cute face. She is comfortable around me now after 12 years but still i can not just willy nilly handle her, if I want to pick her up I have to tricker into my lap and then basically cradle her and stand up and she is none too pleased but tollerates it.

Some chinchillas on youtube people seem to handle as if the chinchilla is completely doscile. I have never seen my chinchilla comfortable in that way. Being a prey animal I would imagine it would be like a fire breathing dragon adopted us. Not sure if I would ever feel completely comfortable around a fire breathing dragon. :bump1:

 

[Nova]

Mabel let me pick her up on the first day she was brought home. I placed my hand in the cage to pet her, just because the feeling was new, and she climbed onto my hand. I was surprised as I guessed she would run away. I pulled her in and put my arm around her. I sat on the couch and she fell asleep on my lap.
After that she didn't really want me to hold her, or try to, but rather have my hand in the cage for 20 minutes while she sniffed and nibbled my hand until she pronounced it was okay to sit on.:neener: Now she will hold still and let me pick her up. She won't snuggle in my arms or anything, but she will hold still in my arms (peeking over of course) if I walk. If I am not walking she tries to jump.
Mabel only really likes it in my hair around my shoulders, so she spends most of her time there.
Mabel took about 3 months to open up a little, and she is now a year old and not completely opened up. :thumbsup:

 

[ChinChild]

Every chin is different. Gizmo was incredibly skittish for the first month or two, not allowing us to touch him and he'd scamper at the slightest movement or sound. After we upgraded him into a FN 142 & put our new chin Mojo on the upper level, he has relaxed quite a bit; he'll greet us whenever we get near the cage, crawl all over us, and even tolerates being held at times.

Mojo, however, has been outgoing since day 1. He was perfectly content being held (at 12 weeks old), and I have yet to see him scamper in fear from anything. He ALWAYS wants out of his cage, and since he's on the second level if I open the door he automatically leaps onto my shoulder. He'll just sit there and chill while I go about my business cleaning, and when I go to put him back he runs across my shoulders & hides behind my neck. He couldn't be happier than to be out with us. Chins have unique personalities, just like us it would seem

 

[michelleideeaz1]

Yes...I figured from reading all they boards that they all come around in their own time, and there's no set time frame. I was just curious is all.