Chin Marking Territory

[phillypiggy]

I am trying to introduce 2 chins - they are currently in seperate cages, but share a dust bath (at seperate times). The new one (Tubbs) keeps urinating in the dust bath. It seems like a form of marking his territory since they are both males, but any ideas if it will stop? Or might it be a good idea to have 2 seperate dust baths until they get to know each other better?

 

[Sandi]

I am trying to introduce 2 chins - they are currently in seperate cages, but share a dust bath (at seperate times). The new one (Tubbs) keeps urinating in the dust bath. It seems like a form of marking his territory since they are both males, but any ideas if it will stop? Or might it be a good idea to have 2 seperate dust baths until they get to know each other better?

None of my chins have ever urinated in the dust bath just a few poos, how long are you keeping the dust bath in? I have heard that if left in their cage for awhile that they may end up peeing in there. It's probably a good idea to get different dust baths or just empty and wash and dry the current one that you have for now.

 

[Chinniechantel]

I would use separate dust baths at all times. I have had plenty of chins mark territory with food, etc. so I am sure they could be doing it with the dust, especially since they love the dust so much, I can see them getting territorial.

 

[alli713]

My girls occasionally pee in their dust bath. Mostly Chibi does it, but the others will too if I leave it in their cage too long. Although all my chins share the same 2 dust houses, so they're accustomed to it smelling like other chins.

If your chin keeps doing it, I would get another dust house as that would be wasting a bunch of dust that would have still been good for more uses. What you could do instead is swap them out between each other's cages to get used to the smell of each other.

 

[AZChins]

The separate dust houses may work. I've noticed that if I take a used dust house and put it in another cage that some chins like to urinate in it. Then again, I have baby chins that seem to want to pee in everything.

If you figure out a way of stopping them from doing it, let me know. It would save a lot of dust from being wasted.

 

[phillypiggy]

Thanks so much! I will try using seperate dust baths and see what happens. Currently the dust bath is outside both their cages and I am putting them in it when I clean their cages. If this is not good practice, let me know.