Holding new Chinchilla?

whitechin95 · Sep 2, 2009

I got a new 4 month old chinchilla on Sunday and just had a question...
:bliss:
She has been doing really good with me and will bounce around, take treats from my hand, and will sit on my hand, so I have decided to start holding her... When I try to grab her, she makes a "squeal" and tries to bounce away. Today she did really good... On the fourth try she only squealed once before I picked her up and let me hold her the longest that she has let me so far. :hug2:
Is it okay for her to make this "squeal" while I'am trying to grab her? And more importantly... IF I GRAB HER AND SHE DOESNT LIKE IT, IS IT OKAY AND WILL SHE STILL LOVE ME AFTERWARDS? I'm just nervous!
:heart4:

arf2184 · Sep 2, 2009

Is it a 'squeal' or a 'bark'? A lot of them will kind of bark at you when you try to pick them up, especially if they're not used to it. How are you trying to pick her up? They don't like to be grabbed from above (like a predator would grab them) so it's best to try and scoop them up from underneath and hold the base of the tail to keep them from jumping.

Some just don't like to be picked up. I have one who screams and then continues to scream and tries to bite when ever I pick her up. She does fine in the cage and will let me pet her, but the second I try to take her out, she goes on the war path. I tried working with her for over a year to get her a bit more relaxed about being held, but I've given up. I don't take her out unless I have to and we're both ok with it.

whitechin95 · Sep 2, 2009

Its a squeal... I will try scooping her... Is it okay to continue to pick her up though? Thanks

arf2184 · Sep 2, 2009

With the squeal she's telling you that either you're hurting her (doesn't sound like it) or she doesn't like what you're doing (more likely). If she's ok once you get her out of the cage and settled in your lap, then picking her up should be fine, but do try a different approach and see if she's more comfortable with that. See how she reacts to being scooped up. She may just not like being picked up from above. You said she'll sit on your hand too, so you could also just wait for her to come to you and just hold the base of her tail to keep her from jumping as you take her out of the cage.

whitechin95 · Sep 3, 2009

Thanks! That helped alot! Also.... I let her out for her first playtime yesterday and was just wondering how often can I let her out... Can I let her out for playtime everyday if I want?