Random freak outs

[Chinlove25]

Hello,
My new almost 4 months old Chin, Pichu, just came home with me last week. He's still adjusting to his new home so is still shy and scared. Every once in a while he seems to jump spastically around the cage for a few seconds but then goes back to sitting in a corner or eating hay. Otherwise he acts very normal. Did something just spook him or maybe had a sudden burst of excitement? Is that normal? As a new chin owner, I just want to make sure that isn't a sign of a neurological issue.

Thanks!

 

[caiti]

Look up videos of chinchillas popcorning on youtube or on the search here. If this is not what your chin is doing, I might be concerned. Popcorning is a good thing; it's just a burst of excitement, like you said, when they are playing around and being hyper.

 

[Cuddlebug]

He could also be wall surfing around his cage, which is another sign of a happy chin.

 

[GorillaJTA]

Flea does that, too. Almost like he sits there and builds up energy then it just bursts out. He does it less now than he used to, but he will still bounce off of every wall and shelf in the cage then just STOP like it never happened. He is older now and has a wheel, but he still will make a cage run or just jump on his wheel for 15 seconds at random times.

 

[Jaina_Organasolo]

Sounds like a normal baby Chin to me My boy Spooky is the same age and he's always doing it.

 

[Laurie]

When they hop and jump around their cage we refer to it as popcorning. I have a couple of boys who do this regular. Two of them have cuddle cubes they actually hold in their mouth and then hop and bound all over the cage while holding the cube--it's pretty silly looking and quite funny.

 

[Godofgods]

Mine latest chins around about 6 months and they do that all the time. I swear, anything can randomly make them suddenly 'burst' around the cage. Some times even a deep breath. lol

 

[Chinlove25]

Thanks everyone for the information and stories! I agree that it seems like just a sudden burst of energy/excitement.

 

[Godofgods]

btw, i love the name Pichu for a chin. If only their were yellow chinchillas lol. Would look just like em'! Pika Pika!!