Chintro update: need advice

[Jovi]

So after about almost 2 weeks break trying to intro Thunder to Rocket we tried again this morning in a neutral bathroom. We put a dust bath out and let them run around together. They played the ignoring game for about 10 min. They both climbed all over me and enjoyed their dust baths separately. Just as i was debating whether to end it on a good note or wait until they truely interacted rocket went in for a sniff of Thunders butt and then decided to taste it! big chunck of fur in rockets mouth. I freaked out... luckily thunder didnt seem hurt, just a bit scared. I ended play time. This is why i ended it last time as well. Rocket, who i assumed would be the dominant one tried to nip at thunder. Their cages are next to each other for a while now. I keep expecting behavior like Rocket trying to mount Thunder for dominance and maybe some chasing but Rocket either ignore or goes in for a nip. In people's experience is this a very bad sign? Should i keep trying? Any suggestions? Why is he nipping?

 

[Jovi]

Also, is it too late to try a different intro method? Like cage in a cage or to borrow the one the breeder uses to intro?

 

[saphire]

I would try that, you probably already know to put the dominante one in the smaller cage and let the other move around him.

 

[ABBY W.]

Yes, you absolutely can try a different method of introduction. Give them a few days though, so they can forget this confrontation. You can also try the smoosh method.

 

[Ashley]

I think it would be OK to try a different method as long as you take things slowly. I would however continue with the playtimes in the neutral area. I wouldn't expect to see extreme changes in interaction in only two weeks. Try to end things positively, and as always, watch closely for signs of aggression. You may very well be stuck with having them separately forever, but in my experience it hasn't been long enough to know for sure. I had a pair with one chin who absolutely refused to accept a third chin into the group. It took several months, but now she couldn't care less. It depends on the chins, and is different in each case, but you never know for sure until you give it time. Good luck with your intros.

 

[Jovi]

Is the nipping with a mouth full of fur considered aggression? Or is that still acceptable behavior for intros?

 

[Ashley]

I would consider that aggression, but it's definitely not unheard of for intros. Just keep an close eye on them, and be ready to break up a fight if things get worse. If the aggression stays unchanged or worsens after time, you may have to reconsider pairing the chins. But like I said, I don't think it's been long enough to know for sure yet.

 

[Jovi]

Anyone experience nipping during intros and have it work out?

 

[alli713]

I've had nipping at fur happen during intros and the two girls are currently still living together nicely. For me, I could tell that what they were doing was working out dominance not aggression. There's a difference. And sometimes in order to be able to tell the difference you just need experience (no help to you, I know..)
But since I could tell they weren't really trying to hurt one another, I did a sort of smoosh method so that they couldn't keep running around the room getting worked up and exhausted. I left them together in a small cage with me supervising the whole time until I saw no more dominance humping, nibbling. Then they went into a completely cleaned out cage (bleached, rinsed, and all new bedding, fleece and ledges) and then they were fine.

 

[Jovi]

My vet ironically has one of Thunder's babies as her own pet chinchilla. She said when she was introducing her own they mostly nipped fur instead of mounting and to keep trying. Took her weeks though. I am just so worried cause i don't want Thunder to get hurt .

 

[Rickman]

Some have had success with putting them in a small carrier together and quickly taking them for a car ride for about an hour! [obviously with the a/c on]
Thoughts are they bond in the new experience, and forget about fighting. [?]

 

[Jovi]

Ok, i borrowed the divided intro cage from my breeder. I just tried it out but for a very short time. Everytime they went nose to nose thru the wire they tried to bite at each other. I was scared when their paw was sticking thru it would get bitten. Any one have any advice on using this method? Do i do anything when they strat trying to bite each other thru the wire? I kept making a noise so they would stop but am i supposed to do that?

 

[cintistatern2005]

I didnt have to try that method, after i put cages side by side for 2 weeks i tried the neutral play area and it didnt work so a few days later i went out and bought a new cage and put them both in it and let em duke it out for a bit. The small guy ran from the dominant guy so they never bit just lots of humping. Eventually after 20 min of this they finally were fine with eachother. I continued to watch them all night long and just left them together from there on out. They are still fine to this day!!

 

[Jovi]

so no one have experience they can share about the into cage ? I will try to post a picture later. The wire in between is 1/2 by 1 inch. The breeder uses it all teh time and says no one has gotten hurt . I am worried about them biting a finger or tip of the nose. She said not to interupt them while they cage bite at each other .. .. i freaked out the first time and was trying to stop them when they would go at it. Any advice?

 

[EveningChin]

I placed a wire devider into the fn so that is split the two doors really well, when trying to intro Petra and Nyx. It worked well and no fingers when missing. Petra would attack pretty viciously. After about two weeks she stopped attacking the devider (that I saw). I then tried play time again and well not thirty seconds into it.. You can see the pictures. I know it looks bad but she really doesn't mind it and she enjoys having that ear stroked.

I did this again with Pia and Nyx. And neither one seemed to care it was there. They only seemed annoyed because it was interfering with cuddly time. Sometimes its meant to be and sometimes its not. Just be careful and ready for anything.

 

[Jovi]

Well nvm..... my husband put them in the cage for 25 min and watched them and now Rockets paw is bleeding. No more intros for me . Thanks for all the advice.