I think she was barking.

[cindyv3737]

Shelly's cage is in my living room most of the time. I bought her three weeks ago and she has always been very quiet. She seems to be happy. I let her out of her cage for 1 - 2 hours a day and she has a ton of room to run around. However, last night I brought her cage into my bedroom and opened the window because it is much cooler there than the rest of my apartment. (It was warm and stuffy in Los Angeles last night). Around 11pm when I turned off my reading light she started making a sound that is similar to a dog's squeaky toy. When I turned on the light she was quiet but would not come towards me the way she normally does when I approach her cage. I started singing to her and she stayed quiet for the rest of the night. HELP!!! I don't want her to be stressed. What was this sound she was making?? This morning when I woke up she was acting just fine.

 

[tunes]

Yup, she's barking. Lots of chins do it at night. In the wild that would be alerting the herd to danger. In captivity it can be for any number of reasons, fear, anxiety, and sometimes I think they just do it to hear themselves do it.

As long as there's nothing around her bothering her, she's fine. If you think turning the light off was the trigger, maybe get a night light and put it next to her cage so she feels more secure. They can see in the dark, but some chins are just plain weird about habits or things they grow attached to.

 

[cindyv3737]

I will turn on the night light for her tonight. Big Baby!!! I've slept in the living room with her in the past but this was the first time she was in my room. I hope she gets used to it since that is where she will be during the hot summer months.

 

[shubbles]

I think my chin does the same thing when scratch it at certain times, it startles me, but when i go away it stops. Wouldn't you think since chinchillas are nocturnal that they could see in the dark, or maybe they have nightlights in the wild lol.

 

[corley]

When I haven't played with mine in a while and he can hear me in the next room doing stuff he'll do it to get my attention so I come in there and play with him.. Well, he hasn't done it in a while, ever since I bought him a flying saucer that pretty much occupies all his time (dont get me wrong, I still let him out for an hour or more every night, he just runs on it instead of always trying to get out of his cage like he used to before I got it..)

Also, I saw your pictures in my other thread, maybe you should buy her a wheel.. they really love them from what I can tell.. hahah. Plus it'll give her more to do so if you arent always there to play with her she wont get bored.

 

[cindyv3737]

She will be getting a wheel. I ordered one today. Not to mention a new bed and pillow and train. She is one spoiled little girl. Her new favorite thing to do when she is out is to sit on my head. I don't get it but she likes to do it. I've only had her for 3 weeks.

 

[naturegirl240]

http://www.chinchilla-sounds.de/index_en.htm

This is a great site with sounds chinchillas make and info on why they make them. Hope this helps

 

[cindyv3737]

Thank you!! She is usually quiet. So when she started barking it got me out of bed fast.

 

[mishellyshel]

i also leave a little radio on at night for them, really just background noise but they seem to like it!

 

[cindyv3737]

Last night she feel asleep on my lap watching True Blood. OK I was watching it. I like to think that she is staring at the TV too.

 

[AZChins]

She was...chins love TV. The rescues are watching "Scrooge" for the billionth time all mesmerized at the whole thing. It's something about the flashing light and sound that just makes television irresistible to them.

 

[cindyv3737]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She also likes to watch the boys playing with the Playstation. She jumps onto an ottoman or arm chair and just sits there staring (when she is not trying to eat the controller). I'm glad to know it is normal. I thought she was just being silly.

 

[Chibigirl]

My chin did this as well, each time in the middle of the night. People also told me they can have dreams and make the noise in their sleep, that might be why when you turn on the light and go over to her she just stares at you like "what are you doing?" Mine has stopped barking now, also if you opened the window maybe she heard something outside and it upset her.

 

[Bostongirl'sChin75]

Last night she feel asleep on my lap watching True Blood. OK I was watching it. I like to think that she is staring at the TV too.

You're not the only who likes to think that! Herby loves to watch cartoons with me! :dance3: