what time/daytime playtime?

[Tillygizmo]

Hi all,
Of course we normally do our playtimes in the evening when the chins are most awake. Unfortunately, now I am in a position where I need to take a night time waitressing job. This means playtime would have to be moved to the afternoon or late morning. How many people do this and how does it work out?

I am nervous about it... as you can tell

 

[EnslavedByNinjas]

I think it depends on the personality of the chin in question - my Nibbler is a hyperactive beast. Any time he can get out of the cage he's a pinball. I can't keep the elusive stinker in the cage when I clean, so I typically give him an afternoon playtime when I need to clean, and have someone watch him while I do it.

Turbo, on the other hand, gets annoyed with my attempts to clean if it's mid afternoon or so. He gets mad at the noise and gives me the stinkeye and stays on his ledge. He just lets me clean around him and occasionally hops around and sees what I'm doing. He really shows very little interest in leaving the cage during the day.

I guess it depends. Let them out one afternoon and see how they do. Nibbler is awake by late afternoon, Turbo likes to sleep in, I guess it's another one of those depends-on-the-chin things!

Best of luck!

 

[Ippo456]

Since I have 2 chins that are not bonded, I play with one in the afternoon, and the other one at night. The one who I let out in the afternoon, he's fine with that, he's just less exploratory than he usually is at night. By afternoon, I mean between 4 and 7 p.m.

 

[Jenn]

I think playtime can happen whenever your chin is up and alert and ready for attention. My chin is up periodically throughout the day, and I can interact with her at any of those times. She is always happy to have attention.

 

[Kansas City Chinchillas]

I believe most chins will adjust to a new time for play if it is generally the same time each day.

 

[rach_leigh]

I work daylight and evening shifts 4 days a week. Kunya is up for playtime anytime! He's normally up a little in the late-afternoon and wants to come out. Ashe is more grumpy and she likes to be left alone until the evening. So I guess it depends on their personality. I am sure they will adjust to your schedule though. Good luck!

 

[Quinley]

Like the others said, it TOTALLY depends on your chin's personality and temperament. It is just like with humans who have to work night shifts--some do better with the internal body clock shift than others.

Try experimenting with your chins to see how much change they can/will tolerate, but ideally, you should try to stick with the routine they are used to. Just because they CAN tolerate significant schedule changes doesn't mean they SHOULD. :hair:

Can you not find any waitressing job with daytime hours instead or have your partner do evening playtime with your chins? That is the best solution IMHO. :thumbsup:

 

[Tillygizmo]

Although I am working this job for now, I am going to continue looking for something in the daytime (hopefully that has to do with my degree). I dont want to work the evening shifts either, but at the moment I have no other options

 

[Marie5656]

Trixie has gone out to play early in the morning. But she is definatly NOT a late afternoon or too early evening player, even if she is awake. Once I was gone for a weekend and Rick took her out about 6PM. She wanted no part of it, and apparently ran under the chair and settled down for another nap.

 

[Siylvat]

When I work night shift, we take them out when I get home, like midnight or so. Some of them don't mind being taken out in the early morning, but my chin Dash hates it when you bother him in the morning. He will kack at you and get mad, so we just leave him alone, the grump. lol.

 

[mishellyshel]

i think you will find the right balance..........don't sweat it. maybe when you get home from work you will want to unwind a bit and can take them out for 15 minutes. and then try different times during the day that work for you and take them out for short periods until you see what fits for you and them.