Chin anatomy?

Jessica Beee · Feb 18, 2012

I just got my chin, literally an hour ago, and I noticed he checks himself near his penis quite a bit. I'm not sure if he has a hair ring, but I'm too scared to traumatize him by checking because like I said, I got him an hour ago. Is this normal in male chinchillas? I was giving him treats then all of a sudden he stopped and started to clean it, and he wouldn't even take the treat I was offering him. I also noticed he was humping this hammock that was in there with him, I have no idea whats going on lol. I took a picture of him to show you, does everything look normal?

Thanks

tunes · Feb 18, 2012

First, define "treats." Chins should have very few treats, as it keeps them from eating the good quality pellets and hay that they need. They should be given very sparingly, every couple days, one or two at a time.

Second, it would be far worse for the chin if he has a hair ring he can't remove than to have you check and possibly remove it for him, trust me. It's not all that hard to check for a hair ring, especially if you have someone who can hold him while you check. He should not be constantly bothering himself in the penis area. If he is, he may need your help.

Jessica Beee · Feb 18, 2012

I was giving him 2 or 3 whole oats. When we was humping the hammock his penis was out and I didn't see anything on it at all. He isn't constantly checking, but i noticed he has done it a lot. Should I check it just to be sure?

tunes · Feb 18, 2012

I would give it a quick check. It really won't traumatize him as much as you think. Hair rings are generally up under the sheath of skin covering the penis and you have to gently pull it out all the way to be sure you got it all.

addictedtochins · Feb 18, 2012

What is the temp there for him? His testicals are out quite a ways, yes I know...they are all different. Put water based lube/ky jelly if the penis does not go back well
Here is the video. I laugh at my boys, they check it every time they wake up, I tell them it's Ok, nobody took it while they slept lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUfmBoighpA

Riven · Feb 18, 2012

I agree with the little chinnie balls hanging down there...

If you just got him, it's possibly a dominance thing. But with that said I'll tell you the same thing I tell everyone who gets a chin from me, you do what you're going to do from the start. If you're going to check him from hair rings, do it from the start. If you're going to handle him, do it from the start, that way there's not a re-stress period of wait... now what are you doing? You don't get a puppy and spend all weekend with it then toss it in the kennel, you do what you are going to do so it gets used to how things are there, I use the same theory with chins. There are so many people who don't handle their chins because they don't want to stress them out, so they never learn to be handled and when something goes bad they have the added stress of being handled.