New Chinchilla

[Chino]

I just got my Chinchilla today (first Chinchilla) and I'm working on her getting used to me. I know it's not gonna happen right away, but what's the best way to approach this? Also what are the best/healthiest treats to give my Chinchilla? Thanks in advance!

 

[tunes]

Bite sized, nonsugared shredded wheat.
Dried rosehips.
Organic rosebuds.
A pinch of old fashioned oats.
The very occasional cheerio.
Lots of chin safe wood chews: http://www.chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34

As far as getting her used to you, right now she needs to get used to her new home. Try and keep things fairly quiet around her for now. If she's not used to a lot of noise, it can be overwhelming. I usually recommend sitting beside the cage and reading to a new chin, letting them hear your voice and get used to your scent. Then I dangle my hand in the cage while I read, and let the chin come up and sniff it. After that you can start to bribe them up your arm with a couple oats, maybe a shreddie, etc., until they are comfortable with standing on you and letting you pet them or scritch under their chins/around their ears.

The most important thing with chins is to be patient. When you run out of patience, find more. They can live 20 years, so you've got plenty of time to get close to each other.

Welcome to CnH.

 

[Chino]

Yeah I'll let her be for the night (with a few occasional visits) to get used to the cage. She just sleeps on top of the house rather than going inside of it, haha. Thanks a lot for the info! Very helpful.

 

[Tanya]

Congrats on your first chin!

Healthiest treats are safe wood and safe herbs. Herbs are rich in nutrients. My chins especially love the Broad Spectrum Supplement. Herbs are not only sources of fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals, enzymes; they also contain secondary elements that possess medicinal properties. In reality, nutrients from herbs do not just keep herbivores alive; they also keep them healthy. That's why in the wild nutritional equals medicinal. Wild chinchillas consume various herbs. "According to Jiménez (1990), wild chinchillas feed on up to 24 plant species, mainly herbs." http://www.chinquest.co.uk/JEJSeasonalFoodHabits2002.pdf

You can also offer various hays. Variety encourages chins to eat more hay. Hay is very important for dental health, and long strands of loose hay insure a superior digestive health.

 

[Idgie]

I find that Idgie sleeps on her house or outside of it when she is in her cage at someone else's house (when I go on vacation). At home, she largely sleeps inside. I think that she is kind of "on-guard" and doesn't want to miss anything. Maybe that is what your chin is doing since she is new in her surroundings.
As everyone said, take your time with your chin. She'll come around when she is ready. Good luck. Enjoy. And utilize all the helpful people and information on this site.

 

[Chino]

Congrats on your first chin!

Healthiest treats are safe wood and safe herbs. Herbs are rich in nutrients. My chins especially love the Broad Spectrum Supplement. Herbs are not only sources of fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals, enzymes; they also contain secondary elements that possess medicinal properties. In reality, nutrients from herbs do not just keep herbivores alive; they also keep them healthy. That's why in the wild nutritional equals medicinal. Wild chinchillas consume various herbs. "According to Jiménez (1990), wild chinchillas feed on up to 24 plant species, mainly herbs." http://www.chinquest.co.uk/JEJSeasonalFoodHabits2002.pdf

You can also offer various hays. Variety encourages chins to eat more hay. Hay is very important for dental health, and long strands of loose hay insure a superior digestive health.

Thanks! I'll look into getting some herbs for her.

I find that Idgie sleeps on her house or outside of it when she is in her cage at someone else's house (when I go on vacation). At home, she largely sleeps inside. I think that she is kind of "on-guard" and doesn't want to miss anything. Maybe that is what your chin is doing since she is new in her surroundings.
As everyone said, take your time with your chin. She'll come around when she is ready. Good luck. Enjoy. And utilize all the helpful people and information on this site.

Never though of it that way. Thanks!

 

[deaigo12]

I got my chin 3 days a go and he is settling in pretty well he is already starting to come over to me and sit on my lap but if I pet him he jumps off haha i gave him 2 days to himself to let him get used to his new home and he seems pretty happy.