When to pick up

[Joannr24]

Hi Again,

My new chinchilla, Felix, is very grateful for this website as his mom is new to Chinchillas.

Today is his second day at home. He is in a two story ferret nation cage.

He will come up to me and walk on my hands and smell my nose,etc. Today I tried picking him up and he scurried away. He did let me scratch under his neck. I played with him for a while although he never let me pick him up and then I closed the door and let him rest.

Here are my two questions:

1. Is is true that I should hold the base of his tail with one hand to stabilize him and then put my other arm under him to hold him?

2. Should I take the time it takes (maybe weeks) to get him to slowly trust me and let me pick him up? The reason I ask is because if I can't pick him up I can't get him out to have play time. His cage is pretty big but not as big as play time. I could wheel his cage into my bathroom and see if he jumps out but then how do I get him back in?

Any advice is much appreciated

Thanks,

joAnn

 

[Jazicat]

Personally I wouldn't force Felix out of the cage if he doesn't want to come out. In the beginning for me it's all about trust since I only have pets. None of my boys came out of the cage in the first few days but as soon as they got used to their cage and started feeling safe they would. I also usually keep my chins in a smaller cage until they used to our home because for some chinchillas a whole FN is scary after being in a breeders cage although it doesn't sound like Felix is experiencing this if he's checking you out.

Also a FN is big enough that a chinchilla will get enough exercise so you don't have to worry about play time. Oscar got a wheel a few weeks back and he no longer really wants to leave his FN but he does want his nightly attention.

 

[ChinnyMom]

another thing you could do is build a step of sorts so that Felix can go in and out of his cage at will during playtime. once you think he's had enough time out of his cage (although he will surely disagree, lol), and he's hopped back in of his own free will, then just close the door.

 

[Laurie]

Hi Joann, welcome! yes you should take time like a couple of weeks to allow him to get used to his cage and his new home. I wouldn't let him out for at least 2 weeks. You can bond with him by opening the cage door and talking to him and giving him scritches, but I would wait on the picking him up and letting him out until you are both comfortable with each other. I know it's exciting when you first get your chin, but patience is really key with chinchillas and gaining their trust.

 

[SamiJami]

The way my boys get from their cage to my bathroom is by hopping on my arm and then I bring them to my chest and off we go! I've also made it a fun thing to hop onto my arm and scurry about my arms and shoulders when it's not play time. I stick my arm in the cage and soon enough, it's a perch which leads to my head and arms then I put my hand back in the cage and they hop off, only to come to the edge of the cage to want out again.

 

[Riven]

I'm one of the ones that say treat them how you're going to treat them every day. Like a puppy ( I know chins aren't puppies ), I believe you should treat them the same from day one. Holding a chin is a very important aspect of ownership, if there is an emergency you need to be able to get them out of the cage or hold them to hand feed them, whether you've had them one day or 10 years.

 

[RDZCRanch]

I agree with Riven. I handle from day one of the chins being home.

 

[Dusty Foot Prints]

Annabelle was so social when we brought her home, we had playtime the very next day. We did not try to pick her up right away, or force her out of the cage, but she willingly hopped right out and all over us. I think a lot had to do with the amount of time that my daughter spent with her @ Crysta's though- she played with her in the playpen, so she wasn't someone totally "new". She's loved attention & scritches from day 1, even hour 1, lol. She loves to lick & groom us.
I would let your chinnie be your guide, they will let you know when they are ready for more interaction. Don't force it.

 

[broderp]

Our boys let us pick them up to get out of the FN cage, but getting them in is another story. It took a few weeks. Let them come to you, feed them by hand and pet them. They will let you pick them up on thier own time.

(Some chins NEVER want to be held, so you have to be ready for this too.)