Behavior help (Male & Female moving in together)

[Terrazas]

Me and my wife are trying to breed my chins Bonnie & Prince. We got Prince about 2 months and a half ago. When the chins first meet each other it seemed like they were getting along until bonnie got hold of some of Prince's fur, we separated them immediately. from then on we would do the same thing twice a week and if there was any fur being bitten out we would put them back in the cages. After two weeks there was only chasing, on the third week they were getting along no more chasing or fur pulling. So last night for Bonnie's 1 year birthday we moved them in together. We pulled everything out of the cage (It's a big ferret nation cage) and cleaned it to get rid of the smell and rearrange everything and add in new stuff, we were hoping this would make it seem like a new environment and they wouldn't act territorial. There first encounter they smelled each other and then I think bonnie scared Prince so he chased after her. I got him before anything else happened and placed him inside a small carrier cage that was then put inside the cage. He sat there calmly for 10 min then I let him out this time Bonnie was the aggressor she would pull some of his hair out so she would go into the small cage, Prince would sit right on top of the carrier cage until she started throwing a fit. She would bite the bar and shake the cage. I kept her in there anywhere form 10-30 min. Until she calmed down. She would would also bark at Prince and stand on her hind legs and try to spray urine at him.

So after the 3rd time she came out of the small carrier she no longer would bite his fur out she would just jump and run around the cage. After 30 min of this Prince wold go to the top cage and stay there while she stayed in the bottom one, he would come down about every 5-10 min, she usually scared him off and he would run back up top. Finally he went down there they smelled each other and then started to nuzzle her? It looked like he was eating her eye but I looked closer and he wasn't biting her and she was letting him do it then he would work his way down to try and mount her, then she would run off. This kept happening for about 30 min. (he never fully mounted her, she kept running away before he could get all the way on)

All of a sudden Bonnie started biting his hair out again and they start fighting, I broke them up separate them, give them a 10 min break then bring them back in and they start the nuzzling thing over again and Prince trying to mount her (she keeps running away again) but then after while bonnie chases him and starts biting his hair out again. Finally I couldn't stay up anymore I separated the cages and went to bed.

So my question is,
Why Is Bonnie able to get along with him for a period of time but then suddenly acts violent?

 

[Cat75]

Sounds like she does not want him in the cage with her. I would recommend to permanently separate them before one ends up with really hurt. Keep in mind not all chins will accept a cagemate.

 

[jags]

Cat is right some just never get along.

 

[ChinnieShop]

I agree with Cat75, not all chins will get along and some like to stay alone. My other question though is are you looking into getting into breeding? If you have not already they have a great section on this forum about breeding both the good and bad that can happen along with pictures. This may help you if you are getting into breeding. If you are just wanting your chins to mate because you would like to have kits, I would suggest against it since there are many risks that can occur and you could end up with a sick chinchilla, or even worse they could pass away. Why not try to adopt if you would like more chinchillas, there are many who would love to find a loving home, ask around many members here run rescues. Hope this helps.

 

[Godins Chinchillas]

I would keep them seperated or you will find yourself with a) a mauled chinchilla or b) a dead one.

Some are just not meant to be paired up. Secondly-when introducing chins you should only do it during the morning hours. That is their normal sleep time and you would be able to keep a better eye on them all day. The minute you go to sleep is when you are going to have major problems.

 

[jags]

Sometimes two dead ones, I have seen it happen.

 

[Terrazas]

I think they are fine with living together though. They will nuzzle each other and are content until Prince tries to mate with her - then she gets testy. Maybe she is just not ready to mate? I don't find them being violent unless he's trying to mate. Before we merged the cages together they would be calling each other and once we let them run around the room together she allowed him to mount her. I read on multiple websites and other forums that some hair pulling and aggression is normal in the beginning. I just don't understand why Bonnie is sometimes okay with him and then all of a sudden gets annoyed with him being in her cage.....which no one really answered; everyone just says they could not be a pair....which isn't much help as to what I was actually asking.....

 

[Terrazas]

Update: They have been nuzzling/kissing each other and when he tries to mount her she isn't bite him anymore. However, sometimes she tries to mount him too... is this her trying to show her dominance? (I know for a FACT she is a female, so it's not like I sexed her wrong...)

 

[Stackie]

I just don't understand why Bonnie is sometimes okay with him and then all of a sudden gets annoyed with him being in her cage.....which no one really answered; everyone just says they could not be a pair....which isn't much help as to what I was actually asking.....

Because they are chins and that's how they are. Wish there was a more detailed answer to give, but there isn't. Chins can be fine together one minute and fighting to the death the next even when they have been together just fine for years. Chinchillas are also territorial, so by placing the male in Bonnie's cage, you are causing her territory to be infringed upon and she is going to protect it.

Both male and female chins will mount others to show dominance.

 

[Terrazas]

Thanks appreciate it

 

[Cat75]

They will nuzzle each other and are content until Prince tries to mate with her - then she gets testy. Maybe she is just not ready to mate?

Males will mount female even when they are not in heat. Even a female that is in heat they generally don't just "sit" there when mating is taking place. Yes there can be some fur pulling but some females are overly aggressive when the male tries to mate which can lead to serious injuries.

 

[Riven]

You said that your question was not answered, but it was. Some chins just don't get along. I've never had issues with pairing most chins, if I have a chin that will spaz out on another for any reason I separate them before I have one, or as Jags said, two dead chins. I had a female who was killed by a cage mate without warning, there were no signs of distress within the colony until one morning one was dead, another almost dead for protecting her friend and another who was the attacker. They are your chins and that's your risk, but I personally wouldn't do it, and I've put together colonies of up to 8 animals for breeding, and worked with colonies for over a decade.

You did not answer the question you were asked, why do you want to bred? Are these breeding quality chins? Did they come from a reputable source? Have they been shown or evaluated?