holding chins

[lehaz163]

I got my chinchilla about 4 days ago and everyday i sit down and talk to her and pet her for at least an hour, broken up into 5-10 minutes several times during the day. anyway, does it always take them a really long time to warm up to you and let you hold them, or is she always going to freak out when i try to hold her? i've just left the cage door open and sat there and she'll come out sometimes, but she hates it when i pick her up.

thank you!

 

[tunes]

Sounds like a typical chin. Chins like to come to you on their terms, not yours. They aren't cuddly pets. They prefer to be watched and use you as their personal play toy instead.

Don't let that bother you though. If you need to hold her to move her or remove her from the cage, just pick her up and do it.

 

[Stackie]

Chins generally do not like being held or the sensation of being picked up, mostly due to the fact that they are prey animals. There are not many chins that will sit calmly while you hold them. They would rather be doing things on their own terms and exploring freely.

A safe way to pick a chin up is grasp them by the base of their tail and use your other hand to scoop them up. Support their body with one hand and keep hold of the tail with the other.

Your chin is still not used to her surroundings either, so she may be scared or nervous. Take it slow with her and give her time to get accustomed to her new home.

 

[KayKay97]

How does she react while you pet her? Loving,Is she pusing away? Is she running Away? Chinchillas aren't really supposed to be held or petted animals but some enjoy it. If shes one who enjoys it then pet her more often and attempt to hold her while your sitting down (so you don't drop her) then hold her close and gently pet her while holding her. See how she reacts, if shes calm then try standing up and holding her, if shes still calm then try walking around while holding her. This will take time. But there isnt a time specified, for hedgies its about 3 days but because some chinchillas are more social then others, some will be easier to be temperment with you. Its all up to you and how they react. Im going to babysit and maybe get to keep my own chin on monday (tommrow) luckly, mine is already used to humans. If this doesn't help try buying a book or doing some research! I hope this helps.

-Kaylee

 

[Brittney]

Well They usually don't like to be held. I have one, Bryson, who could care less about being held. He is very much a people chin. Loves anyone and just sits there and takes the petting and cuddles. He's such a sweetie. My other one, Ande, doesn't really like being held. He will tolerate it for maybe 2 min then he gets wiggly and wants down. He poops when being held too... lovely.... Both of my boys come to the door when opened, but only Bryson will let you pick him up and bring him out. Ande runs everywhere and the only way to really grab him to bring him out is either catch him while he's in his tube, and take the tube out to take him to his playtime room, or to catch him by the base of his tail, which I don't really like. They are just different.

 

[Laurie]

As the others have said, yep she sounds like a pretty normal chin. They aren't like guinea pigs who love to be pet and will sit forever in your lap content to just be there. They don't reallyy care for being held or carried or pet, but sometimes you get one who loves scritches under their chin or on their chest. I only have 1 chin out of my 8 who likes scritches! And out of my 8 I only have who likes to be held. I'm content with that. Two of my boys--Mick and Wesley and my girl Bronwyn absolutely love to give kisses through the bars so this does happen frequently.
It really does take quite awhile for chins to trust and warm up to their human owners. It may take you a full year to become fully bonded to your chin. And you may not ever really be able to hold and pet your chin without her freaking out.
My first chin, Bobo, is still VERY sassy to me after 4 years! She kacks at me through the bars and sometimes will even spray me--but it's just her sassy way and I'm used to it now!

 

[ChinchillaSteve]

My new chin (2months)
Can be held, i'll try to keep it that way.

It depends on the chin

 

[Heku]

My chin is the same, but when you do hold her (after she spazes) she calms down. Usually if I hold her right to my chest she will totaly calm. She enjoys scritches as well, even more so under her little armpits haha! :dance3:

 

[Terbear24]

If its only been 4 days I would give her some more time she is probably still alittle nervous. But give her time and she may come around! But for the most part chins arent huge cuddlers but i do have a few that like to be picked up and pet!

 

[readingchinlover]

Holding chins

I`ve had my boy about 4mos now and he is very independent even though he`s only 7mos. I have totally discovered the best and easiest way for him to come out of his cage and into his play area when he chooses. Its solved the problem of his running around getting into things he shouldn`t like chewing on furniture legs and floorboards etc. I`ve taken 2 playpens hooked them together and this gives him alot of room where I can also get in with him while he plays and runs around. I have put a big piece of fleece inside and he has all his toys and houses that he gets into. Also I forgot to mention this playpen hooks to his cage giving him the ability to go back and forth. My tootie does not urinate while he`s out only poops so everyday I just shake the fleece and vacum the poops and he stays clean. Also I have tried to pick him up once and he didn`t like it, kind of tried to bite so now I`m kind of scared to try again, I know I should but really don`t want to get bit. He loves to be scratched and petted when he wants it but I know he loves me on his own terms and maybe thats the best way for now.

 

[tbianco]

I am fostering a chin and he dosnen't like to be held either what I do is I wait for him to be in my reach then I gently grab the very base if his tail and slip my hand under him he is very sweet and starting to warm up I do this daily and he is starting to let me hold him. Maybe you could try it.