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Post by momof5furryboys1fuzzygirl on Aug 29, 2007 2:37:33 GMT
So, after checking out all the lovely photos in this section, I am completely smitten! I want a chinchilla! Of course DH says not right now, but my daughter is adding up costs already.
Now I am obsessed and have started researching!
We have 4 lovely little degu boys who are 9mths old (rescued at 4mths, all brothers). They are all now hand trained, although some are greedy little buggers and require treats to crawl into a hand. But they will all sit still for a bit of snuggling. I know chinchillas are not necessarily cuddlers either, but how would you compare their handling to degus, who are off and running most of the time?
In terms of mess in the cage and out for that matter, more or less? Remember I have 4 messy boys and only plan on one chinchilla.
Where do your chins live? In a room alone? If they play all night, are they loud? When do you play with them?
I guess that's all for tonight. I will now continue on my quest to find a young chin to rescue.
Thanks for any insight you'd like to share!
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Post by critterrx on Aug 29, 2007 12:41:43 GMT
how would you compare their handling to degus, who are off and running most of the time? Well, Chico is a WHOLE lot easier to handle than my degus, but from your pictures your degus are a lot easier to handle than mine. Chico sits in my lap some, but he's off playing most of the time. In terms of mess in the cage and out for that matter, more or less? Less. There are lots of poops, but I vacuum those off every night. He's gotten into the bad habit of peeing on the couch, so I just put towels down. (It's an old couch in the bonus room that we were going to give away, anyway.) Where do your chins live? In a room alone? If they play all night, are they loud? When do you play with them? Chico's cage is in the same room as the degus' cage. It's a really big room, and I have a cardboard barrier set up so when they're out for their separate playtimes Chico can't get to Simon and Theodore's cages and vice versa. Chico play all night and can make a lot of racket with all his running and dropping twigs on the flying saucer. We just close our bedroom door since we have Chico, 2 degus, and a hamster all up at night playing. I usually let Chico out to play in the evening, say around 8 pm. If I'm home during the day and in his room for any length of time, he'll usually get up and want to play then, too. Daytime playtimes are usually shorter, but when he's making the sad puppy sounds, it's hard not to at least let him out for a little bit. Hope that helps!
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Post by momof5furryboys1fuzzygirl on Aug 29, 2007 14:25:01 GMT
Thanks for all the info.
Our degus are in my daughter's room. She's 8 and technically they are her pets. She checks food and water daily and plays with them. Mommy cleans the cage, buys supplies, and plays too. They however sleep at night (as long as we take out their wheel) and play ALL day. As much as she'd like to have a chin in her room too, besides the playing at night issue, it's too small and it's also the warmest room in our house, so that's out.
Although I hate to admit my DH is right, we are about at our fill of critters right now. Seeing as the best spot for a chin would be where our dog sleeps. He probably wouldn't even notice, but I'm afraid it might stress out a chin.
I suppose if one falls into our laps, we would find a way to make it work. For now I will continue to admire your lovely boy! Keep the pictures of Chico coming!
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Post by critterrx on Aug 29, 2007 21:56:01 GMT
Taking in a rescue would be wonderful! I adopted Chico from a family who were moving to California and didn't want to risk taking him on the flight. It worked out well for all of us! So many people get chinchillas "because they're SO cute," and then find out that they're not necessarily low-maintenance pets. They also can live to be about 20 years old, so it's not like a hamster with a short lifespan. They are wonderful pets, but it's smart to do some research ahead of time.
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Post by momof5furryboys1fuzzygirl on Nov 9, 2007 13:11:57 GMT
Just had to come back and update... WE ARE GETTING A CHIN TODAY! I can't believe it! I am adopting one from someone who is allergic and has to rehome hers. Apparently it's not the chin she's allergic to, she has actually had her 2 years, tried different dust baths, hays etc. and nothing has helped. The girl is a college student living at home and her family has been doing most of the care because of her allergies and they decided that the chin would be better off with someone else. So I am getting the chin and her cage and all her supplies. I am hoping that moving her in her own cage will help her adjust to our house easily. And advice on making a smooth transition is greatly appreciated.
Oh and I have to THANK YOU for answering questions and giving me resources to learn more about chins. When I called she told me someone called before me, and that if she didn't call back to follow up she would let me know. Then she asked me if I had any questions, because she had a few for me. Well after we talked and she realized I had done my homework and knew a lot about chins she decided right then that she wanted me to have her baby. She said she was a bit nervous about the first caller because she seemed to not know about chins. So she asked that she do a bit of research and get back to her. In the meantime she was calling me as a back up. After talking for a few minutes she told me, nevermind about the other person, you are the one I want to have her. Long story longer, I am picking her up this afternoon!
She is a beige chinchilla with freckled ears between 2 and 3 years old. Her name (named by the girl's little brother) is Mickey. But she told me she wouldn't blame me if we changed it. Hee hee. We are going to call her Niblets (as in small kernel, Ha!). My kids love Hannah Montana and she says "Sweet Niblets!" instead of a curse word. I figure as she is tossing poop (niblets if you will) on the floor all day long I'll be referring to her as "Sweet Niblets!" Hee hee!
I'll post photos and updates this weekend! Just had to say THANK YOU!
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Post by exile57 on Nov 10, 2007 9:19:25 GMT
I'm so glad you've managed to get your fluffy friend And I'm over the moon that the person selling didn't just give niblets to the first person who came along, rerardless of what the knew about Chinneys. I hope you have loads of happy days with your new addition. Can't wait to see some pics too
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Post by muddiwarx on Nov 10, 2007 11:47:49 GMT
Oh congrats!!! How exciting!
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Post by momof5furryboys1fuzzygirl on Nov 10, 2007 14:27:23 GMT
Little Miss Niblets is home and adjusting really well considering the ongoing craziness around here. Hee hee! She came with a Martin's Skyscraper cage (with pull out tray and top door), and a big metal "play pen". Woo Hoo! Of course they told me she doesn't like her pellet food she likes something with more in it, I don't remember what it was, but it was that Kaytee brand, which I know is full of junk. They gave me what was left of both, so I only put the pellets in her cage last night and will be buying a better brand to slowly switch her to. Although they gave me half a bag of hay, tons of dust and "treats" she has no toys. Her "treats" are raisins and dried banana, and before you start typing, yes I know they are not good for her. And in her cage she only has a hidey house and one perch to get off the wire, which are the only two places I've really seen her. When I open the top door she does not run off and lets me reach in to give her scritches (sp?).
Yesterday I totally flaked and forgot to take my travel cage with me to pick her up, so she came home in a big cardboard box strapped into my car seat. When we got her home we opened the box in the middle of the "playpen" and just waited for her to come out. She finally started sniffing, then running, then bouncing, and finally trying to climb out. She jumped into my hands and let me hold her for a bit too. She nibbled at my arm so I put her back down and here's the funny part she jumped back in the box and peed then started playing again. We noticed she didn't pee on the floor only in the box. Of course there were pellets all over, but they are smaller than my degu's pellets! But is that normal that she would find an absorbent spot (she was on the tile floor) to pee? I'm just used to the degus who pee when ever and where ever (although thank goodness never on a person!).
Our big old lab just lays and looks at her, neither one seems to care about the other. But I think the Degus are a bit jealous. Niblets cage is across the room from theirs and they were louder and more active last night and early this morning than ever! When I opened their cage door the boys came running, usually they hold out for treats.
Haven't been able to get a good picture yet, been too busy getting to know her. But I'll get one up soon.
Oh and I too was impressed with the girl selling her. Her father was helping load all the stuff and said if Brandy approved then he knew she's going to a good home. I think that said a lot too. They were a very nice family and seemed genuinely sad to say good bye to her. I gave them my email and said if they wanted updates I would send them.
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Post by kerry on Nov 10, 2007 21:51:10 GMT
aah congratulations, i don't know much about chins, only degus. they do look rather cute and cuddly but very expensive.
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Post by critterrx on Nov 11, 2007 3:41:16 GMT
Karen, I'm so glad that worked out for you!! I think Niblets is going to be a very loved, pampered little girl. Y'all are going to love her to pieces, if you don't already. (And you're very welcome!
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