What Happened?!

[Andrea]

I've heard all about "chinnie teenage rebellion" so I am wondering if perhaps that is what's going on here. The twins turn one on June 26th, 2010 and Arwen has developed a serious behavior issue. She's always been more standoffish than Esper, who is my lovebug, but now she is a total biotch! I give them playtime daily and Esper & Scully get very excited...whereas Arwen wants me to STAY AWAY! She barks at me, sprays me, bites me...I don't know what has become of her! Lately I've been coaxing her out for playtime by using the dustbath house...I wait for her to climb in and then I put her in the playpen by transporting her IN the dustbath house. Once she is having playtime she's really enjoying herself...but then once I'm back to take her to the cage she gets upset and throws a hissy fit. I know I should probably leave her be but I'm worried she will become even more anti-social if I don't at least include her with the other chins for playtime. Is it possible that maybe she is "in heat" and she's just going through some sort of chinchilla PMS? This behavior change is very recent...she never, ever bit me prior to three days ago. Help?!

 

[Sandi]

Is she getting along with the other girls? I don't know what's normal behavior when a chin is in heat since I own only boys but I'd just keep a close eye on her for now.

 

[RDZCRanch]

Girls can turn into absolute witches when they go into heat, but being that she is about a year old, this is not her first heat. It could be related to her going into heat, but I think she is testing her boundaries more than anything. Chinchillas really don't settle down and become established personalities until they are two years old, until then you'll get random times where they want to test the boundaries and see what they can make you do. Heck, I've got some four year olds that still do that to me every now and then. Usually, I can correct the behavior by just ignoring it and continuing with what I was doing so they know their behavior will not change mine.

 

[Andrea]

She seems to be calming down with me so I'm really thinking it's heat related. The girls are all as cuddly as ever with each other...they never bicker. Thanks for responding Sandi and Tabitha!