Chinchilla Bonding Questions

[katechinstevens]

I recently got a four year old female chinchilla from a rescue, her name is Pika. I have only had her for a few days, so I mainly have been just talking to her and putting my hand against the cage and letting her sniff it. She seems to be really skittish. I once accidentally brushed against her tail when it was sticking out of the cage and she freaked out. This is my first chin, so I don't know any bonding techniques and I would appreciate any tips. What else should I do and how long for. How will I know when she is warmed up to me? At what point should I start letting her out of her cage and trying to handle here. Any other information that you think I should know is appreciated.
Thanks,

Kate and Pika :chin2:

 

[mgonya]

Hi Kate. Welcome to CnH. Keep talking softly to her and let her get use to you. God only knows what she's been through previously. I would offer her a cheerio or a flake of old fashioned oats between your fingers. Hopefully she will want it enough to get closer to you. After a week or two try putting a cheerio in your palm and slowly extend it into the cage. When she willingly steps on your hand I would slowly try to rub her side or back. Every chin is different and responds their own way. I wouldn't try to let her out until she is very comfortable with you and her surroundings. Then only in a chin safe room or hallway where she can't get hurt. Let her hop into her bath and then put her bath into her cage if that's the only way you can get her back in. Read the new owner questions in the forum for good advice. Good luck. Post some pix of her soon.

 

[Godofgods]

if shes a 4yo rescue then theirs no telling what she went through before. It could take a while longer then usual for her to get accustomed to the new environment and new ppl.

You might want to wait a while to let her out; until she is more settled down. She could just view being out as being more in danger at this point. Which would only serve to make her more scared.

Brushing against her tail will probably always make her freak out to some degree. Even my best bonded chins will react if i do that. Kinda like someone just barley touching the hair on the back of your neck. It just instinctively makes you jump.

 

[Burnt Offering]

I got both my chins from someone else. One from my daughter and one from an ad on Craigslist. Both were very skittish at first. What I did was have the cage where I would have to walk by it every time I walked into the house. When I noticed they were out I had a small ziplock bag with cheerios in it at the ready. I would just walk slowly over to the cage and offer up a cheerio. Before long they would be looking for me and get excited whenever I would walk by the cage. Now I don't even need a cheerio, if I see them out I just walk up to the cage and they will sit there good as gold and let me pet them. Now during playtime both will jump up on my lap and let me pet them and yes I have to bribe them with a cheerio, but they aren't scared of me at all and will in fact let me pet them a lot. Both will scatter if I try to pick them up which I try never to do. Patience is the key and don't expect to much to fast. She will come around.