New member

[Ellie Summers]

Hello my name is Ellie and this is my first time using this or any other forum so you will need to bear with me. I found your site through Yahoo because I wanted to ask a few questions about my recent additions to our family and they recommend i join your forum.

I have been the proud owner of 2 other male chinnies but unfortunately they have passed away. Maverick was my first who developed a tooth problem and only lasted until he was four. He was a standard grey and I got him from a pet store. Valentino (Tino) was my second and he was Voilet and has just gone to Chinchilla heaven. Im devastated! He was beautiful in every way!

I have now decided to get two chins together so hopefully they can keep each other company. 1 is 17 weeks and the other 9 weeks. Truffles and Pepsi.

They are happy together in the cage however Pepsi is not happy if I try to pick her up and stands on her back legs ready to spray urine at me. If i put my hand on the bottom of the cage she climbs straight on and is happy to come out, she is definately more dominant than Truffles.

Am i doing something wrong or is this because i have 2 females in the same cage? Never had a female so its new territory to me?

Do I need to leave them alone for a while before I handle them?
I didn't experience any probs with my previous males.

 

[lauralynne]

Hello and welcome!

How long have you had the girls? Some take lots of time to become comfortable with you. Some just don't likee to be handled or messed with...I have one like this.

Consistency and patience are the keys!

 

[tunes]

Welcome to CnH.

I agree with Laura. Some chins are just a pain in the butt. Boys will actually also rear up and try to spray, they just don't have the range a female does. Time and patience really does help, but if it doesn't, I've found that if a female starts to rear back for a spray, I take a small handful of shavings and toss them at her tummy and it distracts her and she forgets to spray. Some females in breeding just will not stop spraying no matter what you do, so I either use toss some shavings or I lightly spray her back with a spritzer bottle. I had one female that would spray the instant you walked into the chin barn, and God forbid you walked by her cage. I finally started spraying her back and she stopped.

 

[momenteller]

:welcomewagon:

I bet your girls will just take some time settling in. Read over the FAQ section; there's lots of good info on there. Good luck and we're happy you're here!

 

[Isabella Whateva]

Welcome! You've come to the right place for answers

I've found that if a female starts to rear back for a spray, I take a small handful of shavings and toss them at her tummy and it distracts her and she forgets to spray.

My mental picture of this made me laugh out loud. "Hey, watch it or I'm gonna-- what? What was that? What was I gonna do? Nevermind..."

 

[Claire D]

:wave: Hi Ellie & a warm welcome from a fellow Brit.

 

[SmileX3]

Hello Ellie! Super cute names! Give the Diva's time! Sorry to hear about your losses. Its tough. Welcome to the forum!

 

[Dragonflye]

:welcome5:

 

[starleomach]

welcome to the forum

 

[Laurie]

Welcome to the forum. I have a couple of girls who are quite beastly in their cage--once you do get them out they are very sweet. Sometimes they like to be held or picked up and other times not, it's just a roll of the dice. I say keep trying and hopefully things will get easier.

 

[JodiO]

I'm a new chin owner with 2 3month old boys. They are still quite skittish but seem to be getting better. Sometimes they run away when we open the cage & other days they allow us to pet thm & come running out to play. I guess patience is the key ( but it's SOO hard!!)

 

[Christina Noraas]

Welcome to the forum!

I love the name Truffles!

 

[Jenn]

Hi and welcome to the forum Ellie! We're so happy to have you here and I sure hope your girls will be with you a long time. I'm so sorry to hear about your males. It is so hard to say goodbye I agree with everyone that time and patience are the best way to win over the girls. It took me a full month, at least, to win over my female chin. I just sat with her at her cage and let her get used to my company. I let her make the first move toward bonding. Good luck and can't wait to see pics!

 

[Ellie Summers]

Hello and welcome!

How long have you had the girls?

Consistency and patience are the keys!

Hi everyone

Thanks for all the kind words and advice, maybe i want to much to soon... I have only had them a couple of days. I will post pictures of Pepsi and Truffles soon.

look forward to talking Chinnies soon

x

 

[Maia]

We love pictures!!

Congrats on your new girls and welcome! You will find so much good info here!