Lots of random yet important questions

[Alixandria]

1. My chinchilla is actually my younger brother's. I have receantly noticed that Danny fur chews around his hips. Possibly because he is bored. I plan to let him out more often and am making my brother clean his room out as i am writing this. Question is will his fur grow back?

2. Danny's cage is really falling apart, we are ordering him a Ferret Nation cage. But until then, should i remove the top shelf and just leave it or should i replace it (if so, what with)

3. also, I would like to get him used to people,we have had him for two years and my brother hasnt done much with him and i have been focused on my ferret and sports. I feel as though it is very important to give him time too, so i will be spended time with Danny for now on. How should I come about this trust building thing? He allows me to pet him and he crawls on my lap, but he is still easily frightened and doesnt love to be picked up.

4.And finally, is Kaytee a good chinchilla food


Thanks,
Danny and Adrienne(me)

 

[tunes]

1. My chinchilla is actually my younger brother's. I have receantly noticed that Danny fur chews around his hips. Possibly because he is bored. I plan to let him out more often and am making my brother clean his room out as i am writing this. Question is will his fur grow back?

Maybe, maybe not. It depends on your chin. Fur chewing can sometimes be environmental, but it usually starts out as genetic and something triggers it. It doesn't affect his health, it just makes him look unusual.

2. Danny's cage is really falling apart, we are ordering him a Ferret Nation cage. But until then, should i remove the top shelf and just leave it or should i replace it (if so, what with)

If the shelf is dangerous, remove it. You can replace it with a piece of board made out of kiln dried pine. It's pretty cheap at your local DIY, Menard's, or wherever. If it's not dangerous, and you have a new cage on the way, leave it. If he's fur chewing, something may be stressing him out and changing things up too much could aggravate him.

3. also, I would like to get him used to people,we have had him for two years and my brother hasnt done much with him and i have been focused on my ferret and sports. I feel as though it is very important to give him time too, so i will be spended time with Danny for now on. How should I come about this trust building thing? He allows me to pet him and he crawls on my lap, but he is still easily frightened and doesnt love to be picked up.

Here are some links from the FAQs that are a good read. You've had him for a while, but he's new to you, so look at it from a new owner standpoint. Most chins don't love to be picked up and held, so that's nothing new with Danny. Lots of chins prefer to be chinavision rather than held at all. Time and patience my win out with that, but he may just be a chin that doesn't want to be held. I usually recommend people sit by the cage and read to a new chin, get them used to your smell and sounds, then start gradually opening the door, putting your arm in, and finally putting small pieces of chin safe treats on your hand, then wrist, then arm, and slowly go up until he's comfortable climbing on you. You can also let him run in a bathroom setting, transporting him in his dust bath, then sit on the floor and read a book or talk to him. He'll be using you as a jungle gym pretty quickly.

http://chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46
http://chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45
http://chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?p=90#post90

4.And finally, is Kaytee a good chinchilla food
Nope. Good feeds are:

Nutrena Naturewise 16%
Purina rabbit, and the names have changed so I'm not positive which is which.
Oxbow.
Tradition.
Mazuri, which I am not a fan of because it causes loose poos in many chins, but some people swear by it.
APD (American Pet Diner)

 

[Mt. Zion Chins]

I agree with Tunes - I am concerned about the ferret. A ferret should never be in the same room as a chin. Ferrets eat chins

 

[Alixandria]

4. Which food do you feed

My ferret (Austinn) and Danny are on opposite sides of the house. I would never endanger Danny like that.

 

[Godofgods]

I agree with Tunes - I am concerned about the ferret. A ferret should never be in the same room as a chin. Ferrets eat chins

Living near each other is not that big a deal i think. At least not for my 5chins/5ferrets. But i would never ever let them physically near each other.

Their naturals are polar opposites of each other. Ferrets love to play and chase each other. Pick a fight or play atk then run away and let the other chase them. That would not mix well with a chin. It would only be a matter of (a short) time till something bad happened. Even tho my chins are higher off the ground in a FN cage, i don't even let my ferrets run in the same room their in. (Used to have free reign mostly.)

And one thing i can say for sure. Even tho my ferrets arnt in the same room as them when their out running, my chins take very quick notice that they are out. And the get defensive.