Do single chins get bored?

[Momo]

Even with enough shelves and tubes and toys in my solo chin's cage, I wonder if he gets bored from not having another buddy in there with him. His old owner couldn't get him to live with her 10-12 other chinchillas without fights, so getting him a roommate is out of the question. He does get playtime for at least 45 mins either every other day or every day, and he does seem genuinely excited and energetic. When he's in his cage, I can hear him hopping around all night (usually when I'm out of his area..), but during the evening, he's usually pretty quiet and it makes me wonder if he's bored..

Does anyone else have a lone chinchilla? How do you keep him/her entertained, or do they kind of entertain themselves with what they have in their cage?

 

[readingchinlover]

do single chins get bored?

I also have just one male chin and at times I wonder if he`s lonely to.My guy does have play area access all the time so he`s in and out 24/7. I really am kind of scared to bring in another and face the chance they wont get along.I try to spend time everyday with him even though Im going to bed and he`s getting up alot of the time. Think hard before you get another cause you might have to buy another cage unless you have the room.

 

[ticklechin]

Mine are all singles and I am their entertainment committee, with all the outside play time, travel and chew stuff they don't get bored.

 

[hkkjstwcl]

Mine are all singles and I am their entertainment committee, with all the outside play time, travel and chew stuff they don't get bored.

Lolololo
I have one- loner. He is a super alpha male and has to be alone. He doesn't look bored. But a couple of other chins that live in a group looked bored and sad when they were caged alone.
Ç

 

[addictedtochins]

It does depend on the chin. Louey had a cagemate for years but he started fighting so I put Louey in a separate cage. Louey became depressed so I divided up the FN 142 so the other chins had the whole top half and jumped down to a shelf midway on the lower half. That way they could sniff, and kack to their hearts content and everybody was happy, but wire mesh divider was keeping them apart and made it safe. Yes toes could have been bit, but that never happened

 

[Jenn]

I have one female, Tinkerbell, and although she is genuinely excited for company, I wouldn't call her bored or lonely. She just seems to do fine by herself, and there are times that I go and sit with her in her pen and she will not come out of her maze - an area she likes to spend a lot of time in. She has a lot of toys and a couple of stuffed animals to keep her "company" and I think she is satisfied.

 

[critterrx]

All three of mine are caged alone. Chico and Beck have a shared playtime (most of the time, at least), but they both did great as singles for their first three years. Gizmo doesn't get along with either of the other boys and he's perfectly happy to have Mom all to himself during his playtime.

 

[Marie5656]

Trixie is a single. We keep her cage in the living room with us..so she is always around activity when she is up. She seems pretty content. We both give her attention, and will talk with her. I can usually tell if she is feeling a bit bored, and keep some small tubes, and chew sticks on hand to put in with her when she seems to be looking for something to occupy her time. I can also tell when all she wants is OUT...and I will take her out for a nice play.

 

[Sandi]

Mine are all singles and I am their entertainment committee, with all the outside play time, travel and chew stuff they don't get bored.

Ditto, only there are 4 of us that have entertainment duties

 

[Huffnpoof]

I agree that out of cage time and toys and the best ways to combat bordem. Both of my chins are singles. I noticed that they also love to watch what's going on around them, so I've situated one cage in the living room and the other cage is on a loft where she can see the front door. Maybe you can move your cage to an area of the house that has more traffic? Both of my girls also seem to enjoy TV. When I have it on in a room they are in, they'll often park themselves on the cage ledge that is closest to the TV and stare at it. Not sure if they enjoy the bright colors, movement, or what. Another thing both of them seem to like is when someone plays a musical instrument. Mysty (poof) gets all exctied and will jump around her cage. Autumn likes to sit and listen. Hope some of this helps.

 

[cindyv3737]

Shelly is an only child. I am her own personal jungle-gym. As long as you have enough chews/toys for your chin he will be fine. Poor Shelly is probably sick of seeing me. I spend as much time with her as I can. Sometimes it's good to be an only child. That is how you get a very spoiled chinnie.

 

[Brittany_Lynn]

Mork does this thing where he'll stare at the wall for hours to make sure it doesn't go anywhere. I'm watching you, he thinks, I know you'll move as soon as I turn my back!
I know that's what he thinks. lol
IDK if that's boredom, or just...Mork. He's a little strange. I can't put the TV or anything on for him because he's deaf, so unlike the other chins I have, he just has his own cage and everything to entertain himself with. Ah well.

 

[kimbt622]

Mork does this thing where he'll stare at the wall for hours to make sure it doesn't go anywhere. I'm watching you, he thinks, I know you'll move as soon as I turn my back!
I know that's what he thinks. lol
IDK if that's boredom, or just...Mork. He's a little strange. I can't put the TV or anything on for him because he's deaf, so unlike the other chins I have, he just has his own cage and everything to entertain himself with. Ah well.

bahahah this made me laugh. i can just imagine him thinking, "this wall is gonna jump up and attack me if i turn my back!" :laughitup:

 

[Brittany_Lynn]

bahahah this made me laugh. i can just imagine him thinking, "this wall is gonna jump up and attack me if i turn my back!" :laughitup:

That's what he seems like, too. Oh, and if I give him a treat, he'll hunch over it and eat it all fast with his back to the wall as if to say "NO. You cannot have any of my shredded wheat! Stop trying to take it from me with your flat vertical wall-hands." He's such a weirdo lol. He really does just stare at the wall for like...minutes on end. hahahaha.

 

[Emma]

We've got one single male at the moment, and I feel so sorry for him when I see him alone in his huge cage. Our other two pairs look so happy when they're together. We've always got all our pets in at least pairs as I don't like the thought of them being alone. I know some chins have to be kept separated, but I can't wait for him to have a friend! :kiss:

 

[Anna]

I don't know. I have two chins housed separately and both of them are fairly bonded with me. I don't think they get bored if they have lots of toys and stuff to do in their cage

 

[kaliboo]

For a while after my first chin arrived home, I worried she was lonely in her cage... so I brought home another chin and she really was not a fan!
They live separately now but come out at the same time to run and play. They interact while they're out but I have to watch them just in case. No fights or injuries have occurred, though there has been some dominance mounting (though they're both females?).

Maybe like people, some chinnies just prefer to live alone.