How to get 2 females to get along?

[reyo]

Hi! I'm new to the forum and actually found it through Yahoo Answer while trying to find answers to my question.

I have a female standard grey (got it in May) and she is about 9 months old now. Last week I got another mosaic (mainly white) female and the previous owner claims she's 4 months old and they got her when she was 2 months old (sounds sketchy, I'm not really buying it). I really want to get them to get along, are there any tricks that I can do to get them to like each other ASAP?

The first chin seems really mean, she would peck her head at the new chin really fast like a woodpecker, and she actually bit the new chin's nose (it was bleeding a bit). Because of that I am too scared to put them close to each other now.

My first chin has been living in a FN cage all by herself until I got the second chin, and now I have separated up and down (first chin bottom and second chin on top). Due to the FN cage to be up/down, I cannot get them to be "beside" each other. But I have a small carrier-cage that I would everyday put the new chin inside, and put the carrier cage beside the bottom of the FN cage for them to be beside each other. Also, I'd swap them up and down to get used to each others' smell. I've done this for a few days and hoped to have at least SOME effect, but...today I put my new chin in the small carrier and put the carrier on the carpet, and let my first chin out. The first chin ran around and found the carrier, and tried to attack my new chin the same way as before. Good thing the carrier cage's gap is quite small and she couldn't get her teeth inside the cage.

So that's 2 fails already...........any special ways that may help? I know it really depends on the chin itself, that is why I want to get to known different kinds of methods and see which one eventually works.

Thanks in advance!

 

[tunes]

I already answered this on the other thread that you posted on, so I'm cutting and pasting to here instead of typing out a new answer.

It's very important to quarantine any new chin that comes into your home, especially if you are uncertain of it's origins. If you didn't do this, it's already too late, but for future reference, it's very iomportant to observe a 30 day quarantine when bringing a new chin home.

If you go to the FAQ section there is a large write up on how to introduce two chins to each other. For right now, since you just got her, I would not introduce her at all. I would just leave the new chin to settle into it's new home for a while, then start worrying about introductions.

We always stress to people here, don't expect your chins to get along, or to get along forever. They may hate each other on site. They may like each other for a month or even a year. Some chins like each other for 5 or 10 years, then they turn on their cagemate and kill them. Always, always be prepared for this. If you have 2 or more chins, then you need to have 2 or more cages on hand in case you need to separate them.

 

[Stackie]

Welcome to CnH.

Well first, you should have quarantined for 30 days to be sure the new chin did not have any underlying illnesses, and to allow her time to acclimate to her new surroundings. This isn't possible at this point since they have already been exposed to each other, but keep it in mind for the future.

Now she is in a completely unfamiliar area, and being subjected to another chin who is being territorial. She is probably understandably stressed and scared.

Your first chin has dominance over her area. Until now, no one else has threatened that dominance or territory. Now she feels the need to protect her area.

I really want to get them to get along, are there any tricks that I can do to get them to like each other ASAP?

To put it bluntly, no. You can not force chins to get along, and you can not rush it either. Some chins like each other from day one, others it can take weeks, months, even years to accept another chin. And, some will never accept a cage mate at all. It's something we always tell people when they are thinking about getting another chin as a possible cage mate: be prepared to have 2 cages and 2 of everything instead of 2 chins that get along together.

From the sounds of your first chins aggression- actively seeking out the new chin to attack her- it isn't going to be an easy introduction. If she continues to display this aggressive behavior, they may not ever get along. I would also give your new chin some time to get comfortable with her surroundings before introing her.

Edit: Posted the same time as tunes, so sorry if there is repetition. )

 

[missjess10475]

Sometimes chins just don't get along. I put a 1 year old female with my 4 month old female and they hated eachother! I waited a couple weeks and they were still nipping and fighting. I seperated them and put a younger baby girl with each, and they are all very happy. It was just those 2, they don't like eachother. Even when I put all 4 of my girls in their playpen for playtime, those 2 still don't like eachother!I guess sometimes it's just not meant to be

 

[reyo]

Thanks for all the advice guys!.

Funny thing is, my roommate got a puppy (yorkie) a while ago, and my first chin would do the same woodpecking thing with her head when the pup is up close to her cage, but never actually bit the pup. Then after a few times, they got used to each others' smell and my chin no longer tries to attack the dog. (That was only after like 3 or 4 times of the pup going up to the cage). When I let my chin out, she acts as if the pup doesn't exist, and the pup is s*** scared when she sees my chin running around so she doesn't chase the chin either.