They're Finally Home!

[Gabby88]

As most of you know, I've been waiting for a long time for my babies. I finally brought them home last night! They are getting along very well with each other, too! I'm extremely surprised at how friendly and social they are. I let them run around a chin proofed room (just to get to know each other better before putting them in their cage) and they were coming right up to me, jumping on my knee, let me scoop them up very easily, and they even took a dust bath. One of them comes to the cage to greet me every time I come in the room.

It took them about an hour to figure out their new cage and how to get around in it. But after a while, they were bouncing from shelf to shelf with no problem! They were even popcorning.

They mostly ignored each other, but every now and then they would bite each others fur or whiskers once or twice. Is this normal? They didn't seem to cause pain whatsoever to each other. I even noticed they were sleeping right next to each other this morning.

And they still need names! Haha! And I'm sure I'll have a lot more pictures later. I didn't want to bother them too much right away.

Sleeping on the ride home

Made it to the highest shelf

 

[Siany]

They look very cute and it seems the cage is a big hit

My chinnies like to groom round the mouth and ears, when i first saw Lola holding Dottys ear i thought she was biting her but it turned out she was just grooming her. Just keep an eye on how they act together, but i wouldnt worry too much if they are not nasty to each other though and i always think cuddling together is a good sign

 

[Gabby88]

They look very cute and it seems the cage is a big hit

My chinnies like to groom round the mouth and ears, when i first saw Lola holding Dottys ear i thought she was biting her but it turned out she was just grooming her. Just keep an eye on how they act together, but i wouldnt worry too much if they are not nasty to each other though and i always think cuddling together is a good sign

They do seem to be enjoying their cage! They did fall a few times at first, but they haven't since then. And when they fell, they fell in the middle hammock. SUCCESS! Haha!

The place I got them from didn't have them in the same cage before. Is it normal for them to be grooming each other after just being housed together for the first time? They had met each other before, but never have been in the same cage.

 

[Siany]

Do they take turns doing it ?? I think its quite good that they seem to be getting on so well and maybe because they have met before may have helped. The first time i introduced my chinnies in the same cage i had to split them up because they were fighting and fur was flying everywhere, i think with night one out of the way without any incident is a positive.

I would just keep an eye on them, if they seem happy and seem to be getting on together its a big thumbs up so far. I only seperated mine when it started to get a bit too nasty and they are great together now in the same cage, every now and then i still hear them have a disagreement where they sort of bark at each other. Lola is more dominant and will jump on Dottys back (sort of looks like humping) and will wee on Dotty, very weird but i just supervise and wait for them to soor it out by themselves.

 

[Gabby88]

They both took turns doing it to each other. One would bite or nibble the back of one, and then a while later the other one would do the same thing. They didn't make any noises at each other, they didn't seem uncomfortable or run away from each other during the nibbling. They're sleeping peacefully right now. They both seem very sweet.

How much food should they be eating? They've been eaten a little and drank some water. I only saw them eat maybe 4 or 5 pellets each. They also only ate a tiny bit of hay. I'm sure they're stressed and scared from the car ride and being in a new environment. I'm just not sure how much food they should be eating.

 

[Siany]

It sounds like grooming

Im not sure on food and water as i had my chinnies when they were older but you could weigh them and keep a record, that way you would know if they are putting weight on or losing it. My chinnies dont eat alot during the day, i will only see them have three or so peices of food before going back to sleep. In the morning when i wake up i usually find their food bowl mostly gone, and with water i only ever see them have a couple of sips. I usually find Lola will pull her hay out of the bag a nibble on the ends and throw it, where as Dotty will pull a small bit out and it all of it.

 

[Godofgods]

congrats on your chins! glad to hear their getting along.
From what iv seen from my 5 chins, they generaly eat around 2~ tbl spoons of pellts a day maybe a little less. Younger ones generaly seemed to be clsoer to 1-2~ It wil range a little bit depending on the chin, their size, climate, mood ect.
As long as they continue to grow and their gaining weight, they most likly eating enough.
I generaly measure the food i give them. (i give them all 2 tblspn) Not so much to keep them from over eating or anything, chins generaly dont do that, but after a short while you will get used to seeing a certin amount left in the bowl each day. Which will give u a rough estimate on how much their eating, and when they are eating a little bit more or a little bit less.

 

[Gabby88]

I just checked on them, and not only are they getting along, but I think they actually like each other. They're sleeping together right now. I didn't expect them to sleep so close to each other so soon!

I'm going to get a scale so I can make sure they're gaining weight.

 

[Gabby88]

How often should I check on them and make sure they're still getting around in their cage ok and that they're not fighting? I don't want to bother them and stress them out. I've just been peeking in every now and then. But they hear my footsteps and wake up. I don't want to keep waking them up on accident.

 

[Siany]

Im so glad they are getting on so well, i love the way chinnies cuddle together

As your chinnies are so new and young i would check as often as i could, im with my chinnies most of the day and they are rarely in the room on their own, i usually have the television on aswell. They will most likely learn to ignore noises once they are more settled in, my chinnies are sleeping now and i have the television on.

Im not quite sure how often people weigh their chinchillas but i would do it once a week untill im sure they are eating, as Godofgods said once you get used to your chinnies you get an idea of how much they eat by whats left in the bowl.

 

[comtnmama]

Yay Gabbi!!!!!

:congrats:

They are so adorable! That first pic is especially precious!

Sounds like it is going really well. Keep us updated!

 

[chin_gal]

Congrats, Gabby! ) It sounds like they're already settling in nicely! And they're super cute!

 

[Ratchilla]

Congrats on getting the new babies! They look great!

You'll be a great chin mom, don't worry so much. ) Mine make noises at each other all the time, but have yet to fight.

As far as noise goes, they'll adjust to it. They'll just keep waking up because they are in a new environment. When I first got mine, I'll be honest, I thought they hadn't slept for like the first week. Every time I got up or near them they were just sitting there staring at me.

Good luck with them. Full pics later of them in the cage.

 

[Gabby88]

Thanks so much you guys! I just caught them cuddling together. They've been sleeping like this for about an hour now. Soooo cute!! I didn't want to disturb them, so the picture was taken from far way, so pardon the crappy quality.

 

[Airyn]

I'm still convinced that 2 of mine have mastered the art of sleeping with their eyes open. That first picture is beyond adorable! Congrats on your new little furry family! They're lucky to have you!

 

[Gabby88]

Here's a video I took of when I first let them out of their travel cages. I let them explore for a little bit to make sure they got along before I put them in their cage. I won't let them out to play until they're older though. I know the rule. Haha!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-w9KlUsIbY

 

[Andrea]

Congrats Gabby, they are VERY cute! You've done a great job getting everything ready Mine also groom each other...they squeak like baby chicks while getting "kisses" from each other

 

[chinchatcomics]

Congratulations Gabby! They are beautiful, I enjoyed watching the video. They seem to be warming up and come up to you frequently =D mine are extremely talkative and the most 'fighting' I see is when one of them bites the other's nose during grooming.

 

[Gabby88]

Congratulations Gabby! They are beautiful, I enjoyed watching the video. They seem to be warming up and come up to you frequently =D mine are extremely talkative and the most 'fighting' I see is when one of them bites the other's nose during grooming.

It's so funny because I thought they would actually need to warm up to me, but the video was taken literally minutes after I let them out of their travel cages for the first time. That's why I was so surprised that they were so friendly to me. if I put my hand down, they would come right on it and let me pick them up. Is this normal? Or am i just very lucky?!

Maybe it won't stay like that forever though? Haha! Either way, I love the little fuzz butts already.

 

[partygirlha]

that video reminds me of getting my twins. They were about the same age whenI got them. They were shipped, and when I got them home I set up a playpen around the cage and opened the carrier just like you did. I figured it would take them a while to come out and that they would head right to a hidy house in their cage... no they were running around and popcorning all over the place.

And I remember they didn't really sleep during the day for the first lone while. I think like human babies, baby chins sleep and wake when they wnt and it has little to do with time of day or sunlight.

The breeder I got my boys from told me she thought babies adjust to almost anything and are really easygoing (in a crazy run around sort of way)

They're adorable - enjoy this stage it's such a cute and fun time. (I wish I'd had my video cam back them)