hello from a temporary chin mommy!

[ChinnyMom]

hello all!

i'm babysitting a chin for a week or so, started yesterday. wanted to make sure i had all the info i needed to make Gery's stay as comfortable as possible, and came across this forum in my internet searching.

i've kept all sorts of rodents in the past - gerbils, hamsters, mice...... even fostered some baby jackrabbits once. but all i knew about chinchillas before a couple days ago was that they originate from south america and they take dust baths.

after just one day of having a chin in my house i'm falling in love with the cute lil thing might just have to get one of my own when she goes home. she seems to have bonded with me the first night and loves to have behind her ears rubbed.

her owner has the wrong kind of cage (it has a corner plastic litter box and the cage itself has wire shelves, ramp, and bottom). at least the pull out pan is metal and not plastic. there's not much i can do about the cage situation but i am heading out to petsmart tomorrow to get some loose timothy hay and a fleece hammock for her.

glad to be here, even though i'm just a temporary chin mom (for now at least, lol).

 

[Jazicat]

Bless you for doing something to improve your temporary companion life. I love my chinchillas and think they may pretty awesome pets. I'm continually amazed at how curious and friendly they are. Chin sitting is also a great way to see if they are for you!

 

[addictedtochins]

Hi and welcome to CnH. This is a great place to learn. Do you want to post pics of your visitor? We love chins

 

[Jenn]

Hi and welcome! I think it is absolutely wonderful that you are babysitting Gery and that you are taking the initiative to learn all you can. I am sure you will totally be in love with chinchillas by the end of the week and will be hunting for your own!

 

[Dolyphinm]

The fleece hammocks at pet stores are made for ferrets and tend to not be made out of 100% fleece. The nylon straps usually are used to attach it to the cage are a chewing hazzard. Make sure it's only metal and fleece, no other fabric/materials.

They aren't all that outgoing though just so you know. They usually need a few weeks to adjust to new people. Thank you for helping your little visitor though and
:welcome6:

And also :needpics: of this cute little visitor if you could. We love ooohing and awwwing.

 

[ChinnyMom]

this is last night, when Gery was out for a little romp. and yes, i rodent proofed the room really well.

 

[tunes]

Welcome to CnH.

She is a cutie. Do you know how to sew at all? If you do, it's a whole lot cheaper just to make a hammock or two than it is to buy them at a pet store. They really aren't that complicated to make either and it can be fun to put one together.

 

[ChinnyMom]

i'd have to call upon my sketchy sewing skills from junior high school, lol, so i think i'll just go and buy a hammock. going out this afternoon so i should have a chance to hit up a couple different stores in hopes to find one without nylon on it.

found out last night just how determined a chin can be when they really want to go somewhere/do something. had Gery out to run around and she thought the top of my desk was the most interesting place in the world! lol. didn't want her up there just in case she slipped (fairly tall desk with a slick surface), so for a bit there i looked like a jack in the box, popping up from the floor to pick her up from the chair beside the desk over and over and over and over.......... lol.

quick question, if the humidity in my house is usually around 40% (i have a 'few' fish tanks in the living room/dining room), then how often would a dust bath be good? she's had one already, her first night here.

 

[alli713]

Welcome! )

 

[VolunteerChin22]

If you give her a dust bath twice while she's there that should suffice.

 

[lauralynne]

Hello & Welcome!

 

[caiti]

Hi!! I wish you could chin sit for me when I go away in March, haha!! I'm starting to train my best friend to chin sit but you sound like an awesome sitter!! Good luck with your temporary charge over there.

 

[ChinnyMom]

if there are any members here in Edmonton, Alberta that need a chin sitter i'd be more than happy to do it! but only one or two at a time, i wouldn't want to stretch myself too far.

got a nice fresh bag of timothy hay today, and a twig toy, and a hammock (it does have nylon straps but the hammock is big so i can pull the straps fully through the cage wire and secure them out of reach a ways) if Gery finds a way to chew on them i can return the hammock for a refund.

my mom came over to babysit my kiddo while i went out today and i would've never thought she'd take an interest in my adorable houseguest, (growing up she never cared for my critters much) but we sat in front of Gery's cage figuring out where to put the hammock for over 20 minutes, lol. haven't added it to the cage yet, will wait for play time tonight so i don't have Gery crawling all over me while i'm trying to clip it in.

 

[ChinnyMom]

oh my goodness, i'm a trampoline! lol. Gery so far has spent more time bouncing on me than running around the room tonight at play time. she didn't even want to get off my shoulder for her dust at first, lol. i love this furball! wonder if her owners would let me keep her....... :hmm: because i know i'll have a :broken: when she leaves at the end of the week.

 

[StevieP]

Aw. I can tell you are having such a great time with that chin. I think you would be a great owner.

 

[NewChinMommy]

Welcome. If you weren't three hours away i would get you to chin sit my blossom and scooter

 

[ChinnyMom]

three hours away ain't so bad, lol. and yay! a fellow albertan here )

 

[NewChinMommy]

It will be interesting since i am going to be away this weekend(it's mine and my husband's first year anniversary) and i will be having a friend take care of them and she is quite the newbie with chinchilla's. So hopefully they are alive when i get home. I haven't seen to many albertan's on here yet.

 

[ChinnyMom]

well if you're up to a 3 hour drive i'd be more than happy to take them for the weekend!

 

[TidewaterSTO]

Hey! Saw you at AquariaCentral, haha. Welcome!