Introduction... Abort mission?

[Smidgeyy]

I've been working on introducing my chins. Chilly is a light ebony and the first chin I got, while Momo is the new chin. He is currently still in his quarantine cage until I can either get another CN or get them to get along.

I have placed Momo in a fabric carrier and tested out their reactions that way. Neither chins seemed upset about each others presence, they just seemed curious. Momo has less interest in Chilly, as he almost ignored him. Chilly was the curious one.

Now I bought a hamster cage in order to attempt the cage within a cage method... and I video taped the results. I did try it the other day with them reversed and the reaction was pretty much the same.

Not sure if you can hear the sound or not(I can on my phone but not my computer) but Chilly was kecking(I think that's the right term for that) and gnawing at the bars. He was never a bar chewer so I know that was part of his reaction. This was only when the cage was outside the cage... I put it in and took it out when I saw how he was acting, then recorded how he reacted with the cage outside. It was completely different from how he was with the other carrier.

In the video, you can't see Momo too much but he wasn't paying too much attention to him.

So my question is... Continue trying or will this not work? I've never done this before so I don't know when I should stop attempting it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzgWoI1inqI

 

[TaylorMadeChinchillas]

Im always a big fan of introducing them on neutral play area with dust bath in the middle. Doesn't always work but it gives you a better idea of how they are doing.

 

[Smidgeyy]

I just don't want to risk them fighting or me getting bit while trying to break them up if I have to... I can only allow play time in the room with their cages(as that's the only air conditioned room in the house), so it's not very neutral. :/

 

[tunes]

That's not actually cage within a cage, unless I'm missing what you were describing. For cage within a cage the hamster cage would be in the Ferret Nation, not next to it. If you think the one chin is more aggressive, whack his whiskers off. Cut them down short, like maybe a half an inch. You can also put a dot of kitchen vanilla on his nose and tail and on the other chin's nose and tail.

I would also put the chin who is more aggressive in the intro cage first and let the other one toodle around. From the video, it looks like your guy is pretty possessive of his cage, so an intro may never work if that is the only place you can do it.

 

[Smidgeyy]

I did have the cage inside the cage but I was worried about toes getting bit so I took it out until I got some opinions. I tried putting Chilly in the small cage first and he acted the same. It was easier for me to video his reaction with the cage outside as well.

What does cutting whiskers do? Does that hurt them? Same with the vanilla?

I have the bathroom but temperatures are high and I have no way to cool it off. Chilly has been in there in the past but not for months.

 

[Smidgeyy]

I'm seriously thinking about getting another cage and be done with it. Would getting a third chin in the future be a better idea? Momo seemed less interested and more relaxed, so I'm thinking he's the one who would have a better chance at having a friend.

I don't know. I just won't want to risk any injuries in the process. :/

 

[TaylorMadeChinchillas]

I wouldn't give up just yet. Some chins bond quick while others can take a while. My latest pair took a couple months to get along, while my first pair was almost instant. Patience is the key.

 

[Smidgeyy]

Do you think it would still be beneficial to get another cage? If they work out, I could combine them then, and I'll ultimately get another one if they don't work out anyway.

I just hate cleaning out the other one. I find fleece to be so much easier to deal with Lol. The quarantine cage is too tiny anyway, I hate leaving him in that.

 

[TaylorMadeChinchillas]

Personally I never do the cage within a cage system. I start them off with hearing distance first but no line of sight. After a couple days with no behavior change, I move them within sight distance ( still feet away). If it is still going well, they I will move their cages within about an inch or two from each other. If this continues well, I will have them switch cages for at least 3 days. After all this has gone on I then let them have playtime together outside the cage with a dust bath. After several good playtime I will move the more dominant chin into the others cage for observation. If playtime continues well and supervised cage time, then they become cage mates.

 

[tunes]

I have used the cage within a cage system for 12 years. I have never had a single issue with it. There is more danger of them getting into a fight during playtime than there is during the intro that I use. It also doesn't take two weeks for them to get used to each other. The most I have had to do it was a couple days.

Trimming the whiskers neutralizes dominance issues, at least for a little while. It's often lasts long enough for them to get used to each other.

BTW - If you have more than one chin, you should always have a spare cage, no matter what. Even if they get along for years they can turn on each other at the drop of a hat and do serious damage.

 

[Smidgeyy]

I do have two cages now, I just want to get another CN in the event that they don't get along, and if they did I could always put them together.

They've been in the same room for a while, within sight. They shared a room during quarantine(opposite sides and I was careful to keep everything clean). I could not air condition any other room and it was getting too hot to put him elsewhere. They've heard each other, seen each other, it was only when I tried the cage within a cage where things got bad... But I'm worried that playtime together could go wrong. :/

I'll try trimming whiskers. I know Momo's are super long. Chilly's aren't too bad.

Chilly is definitely the more dominant of the two... Momo seems more laid back.

 

[Stackie]

I just put a trio together (as leery as I am of trios, these three are very laid back) by sticking them in a carrier together long enough for me to clean and rearrange a cage. They've been living happily together for several days now cuddling, sharing fleece tubes and toys. Sometimes people think way too much into intros. In my experience you'll know whether or not they'll work out pretty quickly. I'm not a fan of the playtime method.


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[Smidgeyy]

Stackie, do you think I should continue attempting an intro or no?

I can always get another chin later and try to pair it with Momo, but Chilly doesn't seem to be liking any of this anymore.

 

[tunes]

You can try to throw them in a carrier and take them for a ride. Most chins don't enjoy being in the car and they will settle down pretty quickly in the car. I know many people who handle intros this way and it works for them. I would still trim the whiskers though.

Here's the thing - if you REALLY think the one chin is super aggressive, then stop trying to introduce them. It isn't worth your calm, non-aggressive chin getting beat down. You're obviously leery of the whole thing, so don't put you or your chin through it. Nothing wrong with having two single chins in two separate cages and there is no worry about them hurting each other.

 

[Stackie]

If you have a bad feeling about it, then I wouldn't continue with the intro.

 

[Smidgeyy]

Alright. I might just buy another CN and keep them separate. I just don't want anything to happen to them and since the new chin is to laid back, I'd hate to put him through that.

The car ride would have happened after the cage within a cage worked out, but with how my first one was acting, I just don't know if I want to chance it. I've never dealt with a chin fight and I don't think I want to Lol.

He was fine being caged with his brother, so I'm just shocked at how he started to behave. He's been a bit sassy but that was odd for him.

I may get a third one anyway eventually after I move, so I could always try again(or I could try again with them in the future).

Thanks