Is my chin sleeping or is it something else?

burkirs · Jul 23, 2009

I just recently got a 13 week old chin. I do have a few questions that I am not sure about. One my chin seems to always just sit and stare i have no clue if she sleeps wit her eyes open or what because sometimes she shuts her eyes. She is eating lots of hay during the day and pellets during the night it seems and is drinking plenty but i was just wondering about her sitting around and should i worry? The gaze is kinda like she is day dreaming but out the cage she is running around and she does run on her wheel now that she figured it out. Second i know my chin's cage shold be cleaned every week but what is the best cleaning solution to clean? Third I do have a hut for her to sleep in but she never does should i just take it out or give her more of a chance to warm up to it? It is like a see through green should I just get one that will make it really dark inside?

Thank you

iayla · Jul 23, 2009

Some chins do sleep with their eyes open - its a bit odd when you first see it, but eventually you get used to it.

There are several threads on here already about what to use when cleaning a cage. Use the search function near the top of the page and I think you'll find what you're wanting to know.

As for the hut, if its the plastic kind, alot of people will tell you its not very safe. If your chin should decide to start chewing, she could get sick or possibly impacted. A wood house would be a safer option, and its also something she could chew on & not have any problems.

~Barb~
(ps - Welcome to the world of chinnies)

Cuddlebug · Jul 23, 2009

I agree with Barb.

burkirs · Jul 23, 2009

thank you very much

Sesame · Jul 25, 2009

Agreed with the above.

A safe homemade cleaning solution is the vinegar and water mix to clean the cage. Also just sand down the wooden shelves help with any rough edges and pee stains.

Safer options for a place to hide are:
Wooden hidey houses (there's some pretty fancy ones, like corner 2 floor mansions!)
Fleece houses
Fleece tunnels
Wooden Tunnels
Chubes (Pet-safe Colored Cardboard Tubes, I would recommend the XXL size, which are big enough for chins).

burkirs · Jul 25, 2009

thanks guys i think ima gowit the fleece tube or house

Terbear24 · Jul 30, 2009

I have a chin that does the same thing but then will start to fall over a little and then wake herself up.... hehe its kinda funny

cherylslittleangels · Jul 31, 2009

I only had one that slept with his eyes open. I have a few that lay on their sides and look like they're dead. It scares the crap out of me every time and I know they get mad because I can't resist poking them to make sure they are okay.