Suggested wait time?

[SakuraSan89]

Hello again everyone!

So I was just wondering what your suggested wait times were before I attempt handling my baby girl (still no name T-T)?
Until this morning, she would run at the sight of either me...well anybody really, but today I was able to put my hands in the cage and she actually did sniff them and didn't move (so long as I didn't make any movements). She took a carrot once out of my hand after sniffing me, but the second one (only two right now!) she refused to grab until I had placed it down, and went to run away after I closed the cage and began to slowly walk away. And this was after I had thought we made so much progress!

Again I just want to make sure I'm not trying to rush anything and that I'm not doing anything wrong ^^;
Thanks!

 

[Airyn]

First, chinchillas should not have fruits or veggies of any kind. They only need a good quality pellet, hay, filtered water (reverse osmosis or PUR3) and chin-safe wood to gnaw the bark off of. If you want to give her treats, half a cube of shredded wheat, a single cheerio, rosehips or old fashioned oats are good options... no more than a few times per week.

They take a while to come around, but if you sit with your arms in her cage at the same time every day and talk softly to her, that will help her to get to know you. Some people also read to their chins. In time, she'll realize that you're not trying to eat her and all will be well. You can also leave the TV or radio on during the day to keep her company.

 

[Lillybabe]

I was wondering... how old is your baby girl and how long have you had her? I think wait times really depend on the chinchilla. Some chinchillas will come to you right away, others take much longer to warm up to you. If she's not ever been handled much it will most likely take her longer to get use to you and be comfortable with you handling her.

 

[Don Ciccio]

Hi there,

Still new to this, but this was our experience. Ciccio was the same way when we first brought him home. Day 1 he would run and hide at the sight/sound of anyone entering the room.

We simple sat quietly on the floor of the room and spoke quietly amongst ourselves. We also leave a small alarm clock that plays nature sounds as background noise so the room is not too quiet.

When he became comfortable with our presence, we would approach the cage and talk to him. My daughter read him bedtime stories! lol

Next step, we placed our hand/arm in the cage and he eventually explored, sniffed etc... When comfortable with that, slowly lift a finger and try scratch between his paws, and head scratch. He really liked that. We then worked up to cupping our hands and putting a treat (cheerio or wheatie) in the middle. He would take the treat (no more than 1 /day) and felt comfortable enough to sit on our cupped hands. If you want to keep trying this over again, use a piece of Timothy hay so as not to give him too many treats. Also, handling Timothy hay before trying this seemed to make him more interested (maybe the smell of it on our hands?)

When comfortable sitting on our cupped hands, we slowly lifted him like an elevator to another part of the cage. He seems to like this and plays a game where he runs back down to our cupped hands to be lifted again!

To take him to play time, we let him jump in the bathhouse so its easy to transport him to our chin safe play room without having to worry about him escaping. So easy just to cover the whole with your hand. Its also easy to get him safely back to the cage because he will always jump in and out of the bathhouse.

Now everytime we come to the cage he comes to the door to greet us. I'd say the above took about 2 weeks. I am sure it will vary by Chin. He still doesn't like to be outright picked up or held (and maybe he never will)

but I do want to start getting him used to that so at least we can check his teeth, hair rings etc...

Good luck!

 

[Cuddlebug]

No veggies or fruits, period. If the chinchilla is younger than 6 month old, no treats at all.

The advice above is really good. Just keep working on it. Just a quick note. the chinchilla does need to get used to being picked up. The only way to do that is to pick them up. what are you going to do if the chinchilla needs to go to the vet or your house is on fire? Wait 'till the chinchilla dies because he won't jump in your hand. contrary to popular opinoin, chins will not be traumatized and hate you forever if you just reach in and pick them up.

 

[SakuraSan89]

Just wanted to give a quick update!!!

Sir Stephanie and I are doing great!
She (like Don Ciccio said with Ciccio) loves to use my hands as an elevator. I've had one playtime with her so far in a room I chin-proofed and she seemed to enjoy it. I've been able to pick her up and she seemed fine with it so long as I held her correctly. =)

She's such an exersice nut too! She's almost always on the loud wheel which has me constantly jumping out of bed in the middle of the night to check her ears!

I was wondering now though....I've read a few books that said raisins (so long as there are no phosphates in them) are okay for them...is that true?

 

[andreya]

I'm glad that she is doing good.

Raisins are not okay. I occasionally (not every day) give mine a whole rose hip, a cheerio, or a piece of plain shredded wheat. However, your chin does not -need- treats. If you have a good quality pellet (not Kaytee/Charlie Chinchilla or most other pet store brands) and good hay and water that is sufficient. I like Oxbow and my chins do well on it.

 

[Airyn]

Just wanted to give a quick update!!!
I was wondering now though....I've read a few books that said raisins (so long as there are no phosphates in them) are okay for them...is that true?

No raisins. Raisins are dried grapes, hence they're a fruit. As stated previously, chins can't process the sugar and should not have fruits or veggies of any kind.

I'm happy to hear she's coming around for you!

 

[Lillybabe]

You never said how old your little girl is. If she is under 6 months old it is usually recommended that she not have a wheel or out of cage playtime. Wheels can be somewhat dangerous for young chins plus they need to put on weight. Out of cage playtime is also limited so they do not use up all their calories. As others said absolutely no raisins no matter how much she seems to like them.

 

[SakuraSan89]

You never said how old your little girl is. If she is under 6 months old it is usually recommended that she not have a wheel or out of cage playtime. Wheels can be somewhat dangerous for young chins plus they need to put on weight. Out of cage playtime is also limited so they do not use up all their calories. As others said absolutely no raisins no matter how much she seems to like them.

I'm actually not sure how old she is =(
I bought her from my workplace; they had just received her so anybody's guess is as good as mine.

I've stopped the raisins (I also spoke to her vet about it) and bought this "salad treat bag" which is made of rose hips, petals, etc which I rarely give to her.