one of my chinchillas keeps biting

[kylonyoda]

hello i have had my chinchillas a few days and they have settled in abit now, enough to come to me for food and dust baths soon enough i can get them out for playtime but one of them keeps biting/nibbling on me, i keep my hand their but he just puts his 2 paws on me and carrys on, is this a sign of past abuse or anything? i have been hand feeding him his pellets as my other chin keeps eating them before he had a chance, please advice me on whats wrong or what to do thanks

 

[Amethyst]

First of all is it actual biting? or more light nibbles? Chins will nibble on you to show affection, basically trying to groom you. If it's actual biting then how old are they, I think you said 6 months in another post? At around 4-6 months they do go through puberty, which lasts a few months. Basically think bratty moody teenager, they generally out growing it, but are testing to see what they can get away with. Personality changes are not uncommon during puberty either, and they don't always go back to being the same as when they were kits.

You say you have to hand feed since the other hogs all the pellets? If you have two chins in one cage you need two food bowls and two water bottles, and in some cases two hay holders too to prevent resource guarding. If one is preventing the other from getting food or water that can lead to a fight, and chins can and often do fight to the death. The way I have it set up for my two is I have one food bowl and one water bottle at the top and bottom of the cage to prevent one from being able to guard all food. I also put hay in 2 different holders, and put hay cubes around the cage. Hand feeding pellets can be used for bonding, but you shouldn't have to do it just to make sure the chin is getting enough to eat.

 

[kylonyoda]

First of all is it actual biting? or more light nibbles? Chins will nibble on you to show affection, basically trying to groom you. If it's actual biting then how old are they, I think you said 6 months in another post? At around 4-6 months they do go through puberty, which lasts a few months. Basically think bratty moody teenager, they generally out growing it, but are testing to see what they can get away with. Personality changes are not uncommon during puberty either, and they don't always go back to being the same as when they were kits.

You say you have to hand feed since the other hogs all the pellets? If you have two chins in one cage you need two food bowls and two water bottles, and in some cases two hay holders too to prevent resource guarding. If one is preventing the other from getting food or water that can lead to a fight, and chins can and often do fight to the death. The way I have it set up for my two is I have one food bowl and one water bottle at the top and bottom of the cage to prevent one from being able to guard all food. I also put hay in 2 different holders, and put hay cubes around the cage. Hand feeding pellets can be used for bonding, but you shouldn't have to do it just to make sure the chin is getting enough to eat.

it feels like a nibble if im honest sometimes harder, i think he just smells all the food on my hands but i did wash them after i feed them and still happened, and yes they have 2 food bowls and water bottles

 

[kylonyoda]

reply

First of all is it actual biting? or more light nibbles? Chins will nibble on you to show affection, basically trying to groom you. If it's actual biting then how old are they, I think you said 6 months in another post? At around 4-6 months they do go through puberty, which lasts a few months. Basically think bratty moody teenager, they generally out growing it, but are testing to see what they can get away with. Personality changes are not uncommon during puberty either, and they don't always go back to being the same as when they were kits.

You say you have to hand feed since the other hogs all the pellets? If you have two chins in one cage you need two food bowls and two water bottles, and in some cases two hay holders too to prevent resource guarding. If one is preventing the other from getting food or water that can lead to a fight, and chins can and often do fight to the death. The way I have it set up for my two is I have one food bowl and one water bottle at the top and bottom of the cage to prevent one from being able to guard all food. I also put hay in 2 different holders, and put hay cubes around the cage. Hand feeding pellets can be used for bonding, but you shouldn't have to do it just to make sure the chin is getting enough to eat.

i have got 2 bowls and 2 water bottles they only seem to use one water bottle though and they have started using different bowls but still will share, i believe kylo was just more scared at the start so he didn't come down for awhile or till i wasn't in the room and by then their wasn't as many left for him, how many pellets do you suggest as some people say free feed some say 2 tablespoons? and the biting is abit like nibbling but sometimes is quite sharp, they seem to have settled in abit more now so its looking up but im still slightly worried about getting them out as they still don't like me touching them atm Ive only tried a few times after they have come to me for pellets.

 

[Amethyst]

Chins don't normally over eat pellets (just to be clear the pellets should be a high quality pellet only food no extra junk), and most eat roughly 2 tbs a day per chin, but some a bit more some a bit less. I prefer to measure out the food so I know they are eating and how much, but refill the bowl when ever it's empty. Pellets lose nutrients over time when exposed to air, so it's better to just figure out how much they eat a day and give them that. Hay is really the more important food though, about 75% of their diet should be hay (roughly a small handful a day) so make sure that is always available. It's better to think of hay as being their food and the pellets are supplement to that.

As for taking the chins out, I would wait if they still wont let you touch them. They seem to have a large cage so they are probably not lacking on exercise in there. It's a bit debated but chins don't actually need out of cage time, unless they are in a tiny cage. Most chins take time to settle in, give them at least a week (but can take longer). If you have to chase them to get them back into the cage you will be teaching them to fear you.

 

[kylonyoda]

Chins don't normally over eat pellets (just to be clear the pellets should be a high quality pellet only food no extra junk), and most eat roughly 2 tbs a day per chin, but some a bit more some a bit less. I prefer to measure out the food so I know they are eating and how much, but refill the bowl when ever it's empty. Pellets lose nutrients over time when exposed to air, so it's better to just figure out how much they eat a day and give them that. Hay is really the more important food though, about 75% of their diet should be hay (roughly a small handful a day) so make sure that is always available. It's better to think of hay as being their food and the pellets are supplement to that.

As for taking the chins out, I would wait if they still wont let you touch them. They seem to have a large cage so they are probably not lacking on exercise in there. It's a bit debated but chins don't actually need out of cage time, unless they are in a tiny cage. Most chins take time to settle in, give them at least a week (but can take longer). If you have to chase them to get them back into the cage you will be teaching them to fear you.

the people i got them off used charnwood pellets and that's exactly what i brought for them and yes the get through quite abit of hay i was just worried that some poop was slightly moist but that is when it comes out right away seems to be dry and hard after a few mins, and i have the wheel in the cage now they haven't worked it out yet but it seems good is it okay? and yeah he seems to like nibbling my fingers thinking its food maybe im not sure.

 

[kylonyoda]

the people i got them off used charnwood pellets and that's exactly what i brought for them and yes the get through quite abit of hay i was just worried that some poop was slightly moist but that is when it comes out right away seems to be dry and hard after a few mins, and i have the wheel in the cage now they haven't worked it out yet but it seems good is it okay? and yeah he seems to like nibbling my fingers thinking its food maybe im not sure.

Protein 20.1% Oil 4.0% Fibre 12.4% Ash 7.6% DE 11.3mj/kg as fed.

The considerable time spent in researching the needs of Chinchillas, both as far as nutrition and their eating preferences are concerned, has resulted in this widely acclaimed diet. This is a top quality, highly palatable feed for growing and active Chinchillas thats from the website they get them off they are breeding/active pellets as they are young