Newbie

[kitty-kat-kazoo]

Hi everyone,
I've been on the site a while, i have a 2 year old hedgie. Now were about to pick up our brand new chinchilla! Very excited. I've been trying to research as much as i can about chinchilla's and i have a couple questions.
1. We're getting a female, i heard it's more common for female's to spray then males, one is this true? and two if it is, is their measures we can take to help prevent this.
2. I know your not supposed to feed chinchilla's alot of treats, and no fresh fruit. What do you guys like to give your babies as a little treat here and there?
3. Lastly, We got her some chewing blocks for toys. Is there other toys anyone finds their chinchilla's just love?
Thanks

 

[mishellyshel]

welcome to the world of chinnies!!

1. i have 9 males, only 1 sprays me (little stinker) i have never had a female and i hear that it is somewhat uncommon for males to spray........but my Stitch thinks he is funny.

2. i give my chins crushed rose hips, plain mini shredded wheat, plain cheerios, old fashioned oats, chin approved cookies, hibuscus flowers and assorted organic herbs in moderation. their favorite is apple sticks!!! they get one per night.

3. my chins 2 favorite treats that they ALL love and could probably not live without would be apple wood sticks and unfrosted mini wheat squares.

 

[Olallie]

Hi! Welcome! Be prepared if your female is just a little on the evil side... At least that's my experience.

1. My Twin's chinny girl sprays, but we've learned to read the signs, and if she gets up on her feet and points her privys at us, we should stop what we're doing and back away!!

2. Apple sticks.

3. Apples sticks.

can you tell they love their apple sticks?

 

[Maia]

My chin LOVES apple sticks, rose hips, and dry plain oatmeal. All are pretty inexpensive and good for the chin!

And welcome

 

[inzeos]

Don't forget about the wonderful plain Cheerio's. All three of my chins love them.

 

[cindyv3737]

I have a girl chin.

1. She has not sprayed me since I got her (3 months ago).

2. Shelly is a shredded wheat junkie. She has been known to scratch at my foot when I'm getting one out of the box. Also plain Cheerio's and hay cubes are up there as favorites for her.

3. Apple wood sticks and willow balls.

 

[Parkerspetchins]

I have 5 girls and none of them spray me (each other occasionally but not me lol). I think it is just a personality thing and you can't really do anything about it except learn to move out of the way. Rosehips and old fashioned oats and chin "cookies" along with apple sticks (or any barkilicious wood) are the hits for treats here. They shouldn't have any treats (besides wood which is safe at any age) until they are 6 months because they are still growing and need all of the nutrition their pellets and hay provide. My girls love lava bites, any wood with bark, willow balls and grapevine wreaths for toys.

 

[alli713]

I agree about the spraying, I have 4 girls (had 5) and I have never been sprayed in the 4 years that I've owned chins. It's just a personality, you can't really plan on knowing if you'll end up with a sprayer.

I agree with the treats as well, small bite sized non-shredded wheats are a favorite here, they get those about once a week. Old fashioned oats are also a favorite. Or crushed rosehips. Uncooked whole wheat pasta they get every once in a while.

But they also think twigs are treats and they love getting those. They can go through the lava bites in about 30 seconds but they love them!

 

[Essentia]

I think you meant non-frosted instead of non-shredded, Alli.

 

[kitty-kat-kazoo]

Thanks so much guys - so what they like apple sticks? lol The girl were getting is a year old so i'm sure when we pick her up tonight we'll find out if she has any umm quirks we should know about
Thanks again!

 

[Olallie]

Hows your girl doing???