Help!! New Chinchilla MOmmy Here

[ktpagel]

Hi my name is Katie,
I recently just bought a chinchilla at a swap cause i was very interested in them and my friends use to raise them. She is 2 yrs old and come to find out she is 2 months pregnant.
Now what i dont get is- The day i bought her (violet) she would let me hold her and play with her. Now that i put her in her cage she makes a weird kind of like barking noise at me and runs up all the levels of her cage and wont let me even touch her. i did some research and started to read to her and talk to her every night and she doesnt make weird noises at me but when i try to stick my hand in there for her to smell my hand she makes that noise and batters her paws or runs to diff levels:cry3: i dont know what i did to her to make her hate me now is this normal? what else can i do to help her feel comfotable with me? if anyone can give me some advice i would appreciate it greatly! this is my first time raiseing one and she is preg. thats why im so scared for her not likeing me, im trying my hardest to get this right! please help
Thanks
Katie

 

[Shooper]

Sometimes it just takes a while for a new chin to settle in. Patience is a key factor in bonding with your new chin. Take a deep breath and relax, your chin doesn't hate you!! Welcome and Im glad you have joined us! :thumbsup:

 

[MaybeMable]

Best thing you can do is just come at her slowly... You dont want to stress her by chasing her around the cage to hold her. I went through a similar situation when I adopted my girl from a shelter. She was full term and a week later had a kit but when she was home she was antisocial.. always barking and scared of everything. I just let her be after she had the kit ahead slowly warmed up to me and now shebabhappier then ever.. just give her her little space and time to get use to you. I hope this kinda helps

 

[LoveBug]

this forum contains wonderful people that are here to help you. (Welcome by the way). ask any questions and they will be answered, sadly i can't help you out in this spot as in i do not have a chin yet. but from what i have read, Shelly (Shooper), is right chin's need time to adapt to their new settings. just sit by the cage and read to her or even sing to her. or tell her about your day. she will warm up to you, just takes patience and time. and when she does warm up to you, i'm sure she'll be loveable to the extreme

 

[Jenn]

Hi and welcome! As already said, give your chinnie time to adapt to her surroundings. Have her cage in a quiet area of your house, and she will settle in more quickly. Let her get used to your presence. Sit by her cage, talk to her. Over time, she will get used to you and you can try to let her smell you and eventually you'll be able to touch her, maybe even hold her. Time and patience is the key! Good luck with her pregnancy. Make sure you read the breeding section and ask if you have any questions!

 

[mercynursie]

Don/t forget to make sure she is in a baby safe cage asap.That way she'll be settled and comfortable in it before wee ones arrive!

 

[danilinn]

Jonesy was the same way the day she got home--totally sociable. After a couple of days, she did get skittish and someone on here suggested that she'd figured out it was a permanent change and not a little vacation. Sure enough, she's been home 3 weeks this coming Saturday, and she's leveled out a lot. She warmed up to me faster than she did my husband, who insisted on staring at her and not talking (I think she thought he was planning to eat her), but now she expects attention. She also got pretty fearless about being touched, and now uses being petted at her cage door as part of her escape plans.
No worries. Just keep talking, singing, handing out sticks (or whatever pregnant chins get), generally being a fool for her and soothing her. I'm sure she's a bit more skittish because she's pregnant, too--if it's hard on animals our size, think how she must feel!
Of course she doesn't hate you; she's just got a lot going on in her little world.
By the way, it's great of you to take in an expecting chin. I don't think I'd be brave enough to go through all the kit work and worry. The breeders on here will be a great help to you, I'm sure.

 

[ktpagel]

Thank you all so much for your advice without this site i would have a lot of mixed emotions when it came to my chin. Yes i do have a cage safe for kits. i would upload some pictures but for some reason it wont let me? But i have been taking it slow with her just sitting by her cage singing, reading and just talking. I think my husband thinks im nuts..Oh well it makes me happy and i cant wait till she warms up to me, it will all be well worth it! I couldnt imagin how Viloet feels you are so right, i hope she adjust soon i do have her in a spare bed room down the hall from my room where its nice and quiet andi havnt told the kids about her yet. i have a 4 yr old and a 16 month old both boys. i dont know if i should introduce my 4 yr old to her or not right away? i kinda would like her to get use to me first. but thank you everyone for your advice it helps alot!

 

[momenteller]

Hi Katie. Welcome to the forum! It can take a long time to bond with your new friend; patience is key. I think when they are pregnant, you are supposed to handle them as little as possible. I would continue sitting by her cage, talking to her, even putting your hand in her cage so she can get used to your presence. Let her come to you. If you have any chinchilla safe treats-- a pinch of old-fashioned oats, a cheerio, rosehip, half of an unsugared shredded wheat-- you can place them in your hand and see if she'll come take it from you. Give treats only in moderation, no more than one just a few times a week.

Read through the breeding and babies FAQs on here to see what you need to do to get ready for the kit(s). Enjoy your new family member!

 

[ktpagel]

thank you i am being very patient with her and will continue sitting by her. when i do put my hand in there she goes crazy tho i dont try to grab her i just wanted her to smell me so i will try giving her a treat in my hand to see if that helps. thank you i certainly am enjoying her just wish she would enjoy my presence as much as i do hers, someday though

 

[ktpagel]

thanks for your advice i appreciate it alot, ive been reading alot and looking things up on the site and its really helped me out. im being very patient with her hopefully soon she will enjoy my company just as much as i do hers