New boys

[mishellyshel]

So I drove to Deleware to meet Jill this weekend to take her 4 boys that she was not currently able to care for. The ride in the rain was long!
The assembly of the FN took forever because we had to modify it to fit in our house (are ceilings apparantly are not that high!)
Then took a couple hours to go thru all the stuff and put their stuff in their space.
I met Megan today to return Soot to her but decided this morning to adopt him and keep him with Snickers (from Monika).
They are all beautiful boys, all desparately needed dust baths and attention.
I have Jack V & Klinger as well. And those two are a little less friendly than snickers and soot (who i may rename Oreo)......but i am going to earn their trust.

I am getting used to now caring for 7 Chinchillas!!! Earlier this year I only had 2 and now I have 7. These things are like Chips...........you just can't have one!!

Anyway, if anyone has any advice on how they care for multiple chins, please feel free to PM me. I mostly need ideas on how to handle playtime.
I am going to let them be for a couple days and get them acclimated to this environment.
Went out today and got all new wood to make some houses and shelves and lots of new fleece.
And tomorrow I am going to get some litter boxes and put one in each level and see if i can get them to use them.
I just wanted to share! I am exhausted and need a nap!

 

[Laurie]

Mmmm I have no advice LOL! I have mulitiple chins and just love all of them all the time HA! I have to say I love Soot's new name! One thing I can say, Shel, all mine have a cagemate cept for Leonard, but Leonard does come out occassionally with Mick and Wesley for playtime.

 

[Ash]

I'm glad to see these boys ended up in a good home and that everything worked out for Soot.

 

[Sandi]

All I have to say is congratulations! That is awesome that you were able to take them in.

 

[Megan]

Michelle, When you asked me this morning to keep Soot- I couldn't have been happier. Everything you did for these boys--without knowing them, Jill or myself...It showed me just how much you cared. THANK YOU for giving Soot the home he deserves!

 

[Mt. Zion Chins]

way to go Michelle - now you are really hooked. Couldn't have happened to a nicer person

 

[6Dusters]

Well Michelle you just make due with playtime. My group doesn't get out as often as I like. However they don't mind as long as I make up for toy variety, wood, tube beds ect. I mix up toys in the play pen and for the most part the toy is just boxes and the duster. With my small herd they would rather be out daily. Having said that, they look forward to my morning food/water check and the nightly snack with a smooch. You'll do just fine when everyone settles. You'll be so happy when they come for loving, a smooch , jumping on your hand or arm, or that scratch. Congrats on a herd. My only advice is to keep your numbers low. The two main reasons are pet sitting and cost.

 

[mishellyshel]

thank you all. i do not plan on getting any more! really. i swear. lol
i am truly hoping that jill will take back her 2 boys, but am prepared if she can not.
i guess i will alternate playtimes. my original 3 will try & get out every other night and once these new guys get settled, i will take them out on the opposing nights. i try for about 15 - 20 mintues per chin.
the hardest thing that i have encountered is that my boys want to come out EVERY night! they wont let me clean their cages!! they keep jumping on me to come out, so i end up letting them out and clean their cage in 5 minutes and then go play with them.
if i did that every night it would be an hour just for playtime and about 45 minutes for feeding, haying, snacks and cleanup on cages PLUS 20 minutes for handfeeding. OMG.
I need to come up with a better plan. I am trying to figure out how to convert one of our rooms to a chin room, so they are all in the same area, i can keep all their supplies and i can let them out for playtime in one room! wish me luck.

added: my mom just asked me this morning.........what the heck are you gonna do if you want to go away! I said, i guess i will cross that bridge when necessary. i have the money for the food & supplies. and am prepared for vet costs but i feel like i am armed with so much more knowledge now than i was before that i will not have to spend money on un necessary vet visits as i have in the past.

 

[moon]

Michelle,
I'm so glad you decided to keep Snickers and Soot! You have been great, and I really am as happy as can be that you're able to keep both these wonderful boys and give them a loving, stable home! Thank you so much!

 

[Stackie]

I have 7 chins as well and unfortunately, not everyone gets as much playtime as I used to be able to give when I only had a few chins. They really don't seem to mind though, I just make up for it by making sure they have wheels, lots of toys, and other things to do in their cages.

Depending on my schedule, the boys get playtime either once or twice a week. I alternate days. Usually Roo & Koda, then Bostin one night, the next night will be Moose then Bear, and the next will be Smudge and now Harley. They each get about 30-45 minutes out of their cages. They have adjusted to not having playtime as often and really don't seem to mind all that much, honestly. It's just something they get used to. I think they would rather have a pile of apple twigs than playtime, anyway!

You'll develop a schedule. I've pretty much adjusted so that everyone gets individual attention from me every day, several times a day. It is a lot more time consuming but I enjoy the time spent with my chins, so I don't mind. It takes me about an hour each time I feed the chins (not counting the numerous times I visit them throughout the day) because I take the time to open their cages, talk to them, give them scritches, and look everyone over to make sure they are healthy.

 

[lauralynne]

Wow, Michelle - you're on a roll!

 

[mishellyshel]

So this weekend marks the ONE YEAR point that I drove to get Oreo, Snickers, Jack & Klinger.
They have all brought great joy to my life and I love each & every one of them!
I just moved Klinger to a new spot and is SO, SO happy. Guess they will be staying??

 

[ticklechin]

YA Think????? ROLF!

 

[Sandi]

Holy cow, does time fly! I remember when you got them. I was just reading all the old posts and you've come a long way baby, LOL, you are such a pro now! Plus you ended up getting two more didn't you hehe!

 

[momenteller]

I just reread the thread. Funny how that happens, isn't it?

:needpics:

 

[Megan]

I agree... we need pictures... Especially of a certain black boy...

 

[mishellyshel]

FEB 2011 Updated Pictures

I gave all my boys a huge piece of Cholla for Valentines Day. And took some pictures, here are my boys Oreo, Snickers, Jack, & Klinger! They are all doing so well, especially and finally Klinger! That boy had me worried, was about 350 g when he came to me and held steady around 450 for a while. Weighed him the other day and he was at 578 or close to that! Jack has also gained a ton of weight recently, you cant tell in this picture but he looks awesome!