Our newest additions (already),Laverne and Shirley

[stampinchick]

Even though we have only had our first chin, Bella, for about a month, we had to save these two girls when we saw them. A little background on their story,
A local dog rescue was called in to help an abandoned dog. When they arrived they also found two chinchillas. They are two girls that have obviously been together quit some time. They also are very comfoertable with people, as they enjoy to be held and petted. As you might be able to tell from the size of Shirly, I can't imagine that they were malnurited.:laughitup:
We have attempted to introduce them to our chin, Bella, but that did not work out so well. Bella sniffed at them and then lunged, so we immediately had to seperate them. It just meant that we had to build our custom cage a little sooner than we had planned.
Well, here are some pics.

Shirley

Laverne

And I pic I can't resist throwing in of my middle son, Nikolas, holding Laverne.

:hug2:

 

[Jenn]

What a couple of beautiful additions to your family! And I absolutely love the picture of Nikolas holding Laverne!!

 

[Dolyphinm]

Cute new chinnies. You shouldn't let your 2 new ones interact or be in the same room as Bella just yet though. Incase signs of illnesses show up you need to do a 30 day quaratine. Different chins will also have different bacteria in their gut to digest food. One bacteria could kill off the others putting a chin at risk of not being able to digest their food. Wash your hands between the chins. And change clothing too.

We have a pair of bonded bunnies named Laverne and Shirley at the shelter I volunteer at. Good luck with them.

 

[oxchincerelyxo]

Cute new chinnies. You shouldn't let your 2 new ones interact or be in the same room as Bella just yet though. Incase signs of illnesses show up you need to do a 30 day quaratine. Different chins will also have different bacteria in their gut to digest food. One bacteria could kill off the others putting a chin at risk of not being able to digest their food. Wash your hands between the chins. And change clothing too.

We have a pair of bonded bunnies named Laverne and Shirley at the shelter I volunteer at. Good luck with them.

I agree...quarantine is very important...30 day before contact. Seeing as you have already broken quarantine-it's a little different but I'd still try and keep them away.


Also, before you go trying to do intro's read up on them first. There are a bunch of different ones that may or may not work for your chins.


P.S. they're very pretty :thumbsup:

 

[Rickman]

Shirley looks like a violet! How lucky! They both look healthy, too! Good luck with the intros!

 

[Brandon]

How lucky! Congrats!

 

[stampinchick]

Thank you all so much. I had read up on intro's and so was going to try to take it slow, but Bella got out of her cage, an issue we have since addressed, while the other two were having out of the cage time. I had not, however, heard anything about quarantine. I will have to try to keep them seperate, and make sure we are washing our hands in between handling. Thanks again.

 

[furrylovables]

Congrats on your new additions! I love their names.

 

[Laurie]

Beautiful girlies! Hey cute kid too! I hope Shirley isn't trying to get you to make her Pepsi's with milk!!!

 

[vickym1984]

Sorry, can I ask a quick Q about the bacteria in the gut thing

Surely if this is the case, the bacteria in the gut would still be there after the quarentine?

 

[Chinniechantel]

Sorry, can I ask a quick Q about the bacteria in the gut thing

Surely if this is the case, the bacteria in the gut would still be there after the quarentine?

Yes, but it allows both chins to slowly aclimate to the same gut bacteria, since each house will have different "bugs" and bacteria.

That is how I understand it, please correct me if I am wrong someone!

 

[alli713]

In order to digest food, chinchillas use bacteria that live in their gut. All chins have these, but being in different colonies (homes) they different groups of chins will have different bacteria. So say, if a new chin gets around a different chin's poop, they will undoubtedly be exposed to this bacteria. Chinchillas will eat poop.
So the reason behind quarantine is to allow the chin's bacteria to get used to the new area. Being under stress with moving and new people, a chin's immune system will be at risk.
Also, when getting new chins, especially rescues, you have no idea of knowing if they have a disease or illness that could pass to your other chins. So you would want to quarantine them in a completely different area of the house, and wash hands and change clothes in between chins so that your first chin(s) can't get anything from the new ones.
And especially with them being able to touch one another, many chins that are being introduced with sniff at each other and many touch their mouths together, which could easily allow things to pass from one chin to another.

It's also just a good idea to let new chins settle into your household before putting them in an area with other chins. Many chins can get stressed out with too many changes.

 

[vickym1984]

Thanks, I asked before, but don't think anyone saw it. I was curious because guinea pigs and rabbits can be quarentined in a different house as long as they are isolated, but not so with chins and I was confused

This makes sense though