Not sleeping in his little house...

[nonniemorris]

I got my gorgeous little Mr Pickle a couple of days ago and I've noticed he isn't sleeping in his house at all...
He's had a little sniff and a nibble on it, but other than that he's just sleeping in a corner on the top level of the cage.
Is this normal? : /

 

[Laurie]

chins LOVE to be high. I often find all my chins at the highest level of their cage. I am lucky enough to have houses on ledge for me chins so I don't have to set them low in their cage. Not all chins take to a house or fleece tube, I do have one girl here who would much rather just sleep stand on a ledge, so yep perfectly normal.

 

[leni]

Atlas has had a house in his cage for several months and he just now started using it yesterday. It depends on the chin. Some of them never take to certain things, some take a while to use it. My Zim doesn't like hammocks, so it may just be a preference thing.

 

[cindyv3737]

It's perfectly normal. It's rare that I see mine in her house. Granted she likes to sleep on top of it.

 

[nonniemorris]

Oh right, thank you
I've noticed he also hasn't really been drinking much.. so since they like to be on the higher levels I've moved his water bottle to the top, do you think that will make a difference?

 

[Amphy64]

It may take a while for him to decide to use it, it took my Henry a whole month to use his hammock, but now he loves it. I expect if he does use it he'll still choose to sit on the shelf sometimes as well. Hen either sleeps in his hammock, his house or on a shelf, and moves between spots throughout the day.

Congrats on your new chinnie, have fun with him!

 

[Jazicat]

Edgar must use his house because he drags toys into it and there is evidence he chews them there. However we've only ever seen him sit on it. I kind of feel bad for my husband who built it and wanted Edgar to sleep in it.

 

[broderp]

Yep, my chins would rather sleep out in the open half the time and just eat their house. This is normal.

 

[Mt. Zion Chins]

chins seldom do what you want them or expect them to do - very normal

 

[Dusty Foot Prints]

When we first got Annabelle, she slept on TOP of her tube. Then she switched to the hammock. 3 days ago I had a moment of sheer panic when I could not find her anywhere inside the cage, then realized she was inside her hidey house. She's been sleeping in it off and on, ever since. She also naps or sits in her cuddle ledge, but when she really wants some serious Zzzzzz's, she curls up in her hammock. :tired:

 

[Stackie]

Oh right, thank you
I've noticed he also hasn't really been drinking much.. so since they like to be on the higher levels I've moved his water bottle to the top, do you think that will make a difference?

Chins don't drink that much to begin with, especially when you first bring them home. You can try marking on the bottle with a dry erase marker and seeing if the level goes down. Also make sure you check the nozzle of the bottle just to be sure it is working correctly.