Well, it's come to this.

[Brittney]

As stated previously, my paired chins, Bryson and Ande, have decided that they are mortal enemies now. Not sure why, but they hate each other. I had moved Ande into a 3'x3'x2' cage until I could get Charlie and Bryson introduced and living together, then I would move Ande into Charlie’s cage.

Sounded fine at the time since Bryson and Charlie got along so well during playtimes. Yesterday I scrubbed all of the wood in the cage and left them outside to dry and I scrubbed down the cage getting it ready for and intro. This morning I put all of the shelves back in, put a huge pile of hay in there, some new toys, dust, clipped whiskers and dabbed vanilla on their noses and butts. I put Bryson and Charlie in the carrier and drove around the neighborhood for 30 minutes. I came home and plopped them in the cage, turned on the TV and just sat there watching them. They seemed to be doing fine. Bryson was munching on hay and Charlie was just investigating the new place. Then Bryson realized Charlie was in there and went over to sniff him. There was no humping as they have had playtime before and I'm guessing they got it out of their system. They stared at each other nose to nose for a while then Charlie kind of snapped and grunted at Bryson. Bryson did it back then it was on. Rolling around, fur slipping. Sounded like two gargoyles going at it. I grabbed Charlie and put him back in his cage. I checked them both over and no one was hurt, thankfully, just a little bald in some places.

I'm guessing this is a no go with Bryson and Charlie? I definitely can't put Charlie and Ande together as they have fought before. Bryson and Ande get along sometimes, but Ande will chase Bryson to the point Bryson sprays him, so I don't want to stress him out by keeping him in there.

Is it time to go buy another cage or is there any way in the world they can be together still or am I going to have to have 3 single chins?

 

[Rickman]

Sounds to me that Bryson feels that it's 'his' cage, and defending 'his' territory!
Had you washed down the cage while they were out, removing his scent, things may have turned out different!
Whenever doing intros, I switch cages around and put them in a 'new' one - seems to work for me!

 

[AZChins]

Don't give up from them not getting along the first time they were together. Chins are extremely territorial and sometimes it takes a bit to break through so they get along. You can put Charlie in the cage and take Bryson out for a bit. That can work out really well.

Remind me to come over in February when I am up your way. We can work on introducing them if you like. I'm so surprised at Bryson...and Charlie, too. Why would they fight like that? Ugggg...chins...

 

[addictedtochins]

I definitely can't put Charlie and Ande together as they have fought before.

Just because those two fought before doesn't necessarily mean they will never get along again.

 

[starleomach]

some intros are harder than others I wouldn't give up after 1 tussel

 

[Sandi]

I agree, I wouldn't give up just yet. I'm kind of going through that with my 2 older boys. They were together for a little over 12 months, they are now in separate cages but get playtime together and I switch them into the others cage.

 

[Laurie]

I have a bonded pair who have been together since they were weaned together for 2 years now. Recently they have begun to fight. What I did was clipped whiskers on both chins, use vanilla on their nose for a couple of days and they have not been fighting. When they do fight--and I mean more than chasing each other around the cage they are separated immediately into a small carrier that is separated so they can still see and smell each other. Then that carrier goes into their cage and they spend a few hours that way. I've even said to them--you were naughty you're going to jail. Ever since they were in jail overnight for one whole night they rarely fight. We are still not allowing them to be alone together though when we are not home or sleeping. One gets taken out to a large carrier and one stays in the cage--the less dominate boy gets the cage the dominate boy the carrier. I'd really like to keep them together as they really do love each other and snuggle and are inseparable except for the occassional chasing. However if the fighting starts up again and I see fur loss in the cage I am separating them. I would try the vanilla and whisker clipping and see if it helps your situation.

 

[zappa-fied]

Just because those two fought before doesn't necessarily mean they will never get along again.

yeah, blood has to be drawn, etc.

my girlfriend's two chins, fought pretty much for days.. lots of fur slipping from Zappa, the newer of the two... now they gladly share toys and snuggle with each other. [about two months later]

 

[Sandi]

Brittney, please do not pay attention to the above post (#8).

 

[karnage75]

Gosh I'm getting nervous, getting four boys and a fn 142/143 I'm thinking I should push for 2 142's since the wife is bound and determined to get 4

 

[Chub_Chub]

Brittney- I'm having the same problem. Bowie and Ziggy are he11-bent on getting at each other and I am looking at keeping them separated permanently. Last night Bowie bit through my BF's finger because he was being held too close to another chins cage and he got upset. I don't know if I can ever trust either of them with another chin at this point. I've tried the whisker cutting and it calmed Ziggy down for one night and then he was back at trying to get to Bowie through the ceiling (they are in a closed off FN 142). I've pretty much run out any kind of neutral territory since I won't let them play in most of the house. I even bought a second playpen to try the intro again. I think we need to wait for Ziggy to stop being crazy with his puberty.