Chinchillas and crowds

[Flutterby]

A big hello to everyone out there,
I work for a small zoo/ amusement park in New Zealand and I'm looking at bringing in some new species for the 'farm' area. Presently we have a large population of various breeds of rabbit and a few guinea pigs, all kept in open pens inside a large barn. I understand chinchillas are a relatively shy animal so before even properly begininng to research obtaining any, I'm trying to find out how they would cope in a public situation. I know they are relatively shy, but I've worked with and trained numerous shy animals before (from rats to rhinos!). However, I wouldn't ever put an animal in a situation where it lives a stressful life. It/ they would be housed in an enclosed hutch/ cage with areas to hide from the prying eyes of the public, but I would like to be able to get it out occaisionally for people to have a closer look. There can be up to 20 - 30 people in the barn (approximately 12m x 8m) at one time with kids carrying on and parents yelling at kids etc etc, but predominantly its quiet. So, I'd really appreciate your thoughts but please, and NO offence is intended but can you please keep your responses educated and free of anthropomorphised opinions.
Thankyou very much!

 

[vimkgt]

I think your first concern would be to see if they can physically survive in your environment. The main issue is that chins should be kept below 22 degrees C and in relatively low humidity, at all times. I'm not sure if this conflicts with the needs of any of your other animals housed in the same building.

Also, if they are housed near other breeds of animals like rabbits, there could be airborne diseases than can be transferred even from healthy animals onto a chinchilla. Other animals can carry bacteria that is harmless to them but dangerous to chins.

If that's all taken care of, I don't think being around a ton of people would be any issue for most chins, especially if you get them at a younger age. I'd make sure that people can't physically touch the chinchillas, and in my experience, males generally are easier to deal with and much less likely to spray pee on random people coming near their cage.

 

[ChinnyMom]

what would be ideal is an enclosed, air conditioned environment for them. one with a rather sophisticated air system that regulates temperature, humidity, and the exchange of fresh air into the enclosure on a continual basis. only then would i say yes to having chins in a barn with lots of unknown people coming and going, and other species that carry pathogens that could harm the chins. make the entrance to the chin enclosure on the outside of the barn, or away from the area the other animals are kept, to avoid exposure, and never handle the rabbits and then handle the chins. having a staff member that only does the chinchillas, or does the chinchillas and other species that are not a risk to the chins, would be good.

one other big factor is that chins are highly susceptible to the human cold virus. with so many people coming and going, including kids (who always seem to have at least one runny nose when they are in a herd, hahaha!), it is much better to have the chins enclosed in their own climate controlled area, where no nasties can get at them. you could have an employee go into the enclosure and hold the chins up near the glass to show visitors, and have them wear a lapel microphone that is transmitted to speakers out in the 'main barn area' to talk to visitors about the chins, but i would not have visitors touching or handling them at all (this also takes away the risk of a chin getting loose and getting stepped on or escaping).

 

[ticklechin]

I have done many education to the public days with the local rescue with my chins, Pet Pride parade in San Francisco is the largest I have done a few times with 1000s of people. This was outdoors and the chins do OK for about the first hour, after that they get pi$$sed and nippy and even chins who never bite do. All people need to use hand sanitizer before and after handling the chins for liability and the chins used are extremely tame-even then they will suprise you and get wiley so IMO it would not be a good idea for a full time job for a chin, based on what I have seen and done.

 

[Flutterby]

Thankyou all for the thorough comprehensive information, I really appreciate it. Taking that all on board and from further research I've done I think I'll hold off on Chins at the moment, I've got bigger issues to deal with!! But I think it'd be a unique and enjoyable project for the future. Cheers everyone!

 

[Newt]

Where abouts are you flutterby? I'm in Auckland, and the humidity and heat here means my chin (used to have three, but sadly now down to one) has to be in an air conditioned space at all times during summer.

I saw a couple of chinnies at the pet expo in Auckland a few years ago, and they were in a tent in mid summer (no air con) and had no hidey places to escape the crowds. It was awful, the chins were lying on their sides from the heat, and were clearly stressed from all the kids poking at them. I guess with them being nocturnal, even being out during the day was weird, even without considering all the added noise. I went straight to the SPCA tent and laid a complaint...and boy were they quick to act!

I'm glad you've decided to hold off on the chins for now. They're such flighty wee creatures as it is...I know my chins would never even come out of their hidey huts when we had visitors at home!