Jealous Chin...

[Directorthiang]

Powder was acting strangely tonight when I got him out for his playtime. I decided to give him a little alone time from his new companion Dash and played with him in the bathroom for about a half an hour just the two of us. I was sitting Indian-style on the floor, and he kept climbing down into the hole between my legs and trying to burrow his face into my body while making little squeaking noises.

He didn't seem agitated or scared, and while I listened to the sounds website, I couldn't identify what the squeaking sounds meant. Has any one else's chin done this? He gets bothered when I give my other chin attention, but he's never done this before.

 

[Brittany]

Some chinchillas can be very possessive. My Lily "owns" everything in our apartment (including my boyfriend and I) We keep little toy blocks of wood around on the floor for our chins to chew while they are out, and she will horde all of them into the hidey house in her cage along with receipts and anything she can find on the desk. She will chase off our other chins if they are sharing playtime and another one of them decides to chew one of the toys (even though there are more then enough for each chin to have their own) Her cage is next to our other female, and if we try to scratch them both at the same time Lily gets very upset. She also has to be the first chin in the dust bath. Our other chins don't really fight her for dominance so for the most part we just let her assert her alpha personality as long as it doesn't get too out of control. If she gets violent (urine spraying or actually biting) we will separate her from the others for awhile. Usually she realizes that it's better to get along with the others then to be locked up in her cage, and she gets over it quickly.

She is also a "squeaker" she doesn't make typical barks or chin greeting sounds. She squeaks to greet us and other chins, she squeaks when she wants attention, or when she's scared. The only other noise she makes are kacks and grunts when she is really upset (this is normally directed at my boyfriend when he puts his hand into her cage).

Chins do the strangest things, and will start or stop new behavior for no apparent reason. As long as your chin wasn't hurt or overly stressed I wouldn't worry about it. He was probably trying to hide or explore when he was burrowing into you. Of the 5 chins we've owned Lily is the only one I've ever heard squeak. It might be rare, but for her it's her main method of communication.

 

[Cuddlebug]

I have one that squeaks, too. She also makes quiet, monkey sounds. She has never barked or kacked. It's just the way she is.

 

[IslandDreamer322]

Burton is our jealous one. He is a hoarder too!! When ever it is treat time - or they get new chews... we have to keep him away from Louie (his cagemate) so that he does not steal all of Louie's wood! I tend to find piles of things in the shelf that he lays on the most. He is also possessive of the tube!! Louie just lays on top while Burton lays inside... but I always say that boys will be boys...

 

[Directorthiang]

How funny! My previous pair of boys weren't nearly this full of spunk. Glad to know that I'm not the only mom of a squeaking chin-diva. lol

 

[Bethany2386]

I only have one chin right now. He is a goofball. He will take everyone of his toys into his house if I am reaching into his cage. It's HILARIOUS to watch. I think that he gets very jealous because when it gets dark, he will come out of his 'house' and just sit there and stare at my husband and I until we come get him out for his playtime. He has only really barked at me if I am trying to get him out of his cage. He wants out while the door is shut, but when I try to get him out, then he doesn't want to come out. Or he just wants to run free and not be taken to our bathroom. I love him! He is the bright point of my day!