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Post by winic1 on Sept 16, 2016 13:00:00 GMT
perhaps check out several other sites and compare?
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Post by skardsen on Sept 16, 2016 13:09:49 GMT
I think the tail thing is to just stop them moving so you can scoop them up with the other hand. It's meant to help prevent furslip by not grabbing them around the body.
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Post by randomname on Sept 16, 2016 16:06:23 GMT
OMG! It also talks about tonic immobilisation at the end! I thought it was only ignorant rabbit owners who did that (& a few stupid vets) Please, please don't do that either - it's actually a state of shock they go into, which can kill them. Welfare organisations have been campaigning against it for years, people don't realise what they're doing. Based on that, I'd be unable to take that site seriously at all. I personally would never handle any animal by the tail, I think chins can de-glove too. Never seen any rescue or vet hold any animal by the tail come to think of it. Seems to lack dignity & how can trust be built without some dignity & respect on both sides?
Edit : Looked into it a bit further, & that site is run by a breeder/shower - not the best source of information, or welfare standards imho.
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Post by skardsen on Sept 16, 2016 16:28:02 GMT
Got it, I won't use it from now on.
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Post by moletteuk on Sept 16, 2016 16:42:14 GMT
It's a minefield finding trustworthy information sources when you are starting out Do question everything!
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Post by skardsen on Sept 16, 2016 16:44:58 GMT
moletteuk I seem to have a knack for finding bad sources. First degutopia, now this. :/
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Post by randomname on Sept 16, 2016 16:56:53 GMT
You can only do what you think best - I wouldn't want any one thinking I think I know everything! (Except my kids!) I do know that the rabbit welfare group RWAF (who are 1000% trustworthy) have a lot of info on tonic immobility - & I had a stand up shouting match with an emergency vet who tried to do it to my Zak - he phoned later after he'd "updated his knowledge" on their website!! ChinsRus (a rescue) has shut recently, but still offer advice, might be worth asking them via FB or twitter or email.
Edit : someone once told me that to evaluate any information, first ask who presented the information & what would they stand to gain from it?
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Post by skardsen on Sept 16, 2016 17:46:27 GMT
I'll try not to beat myself up over it and just chalk it up as a lesson learned. I never actually grabbed their tails, but I do admit to scruffing their neck to freeze them up while checking their teeth. I thought it would be just the same effect as doing it to a dog or cat, where instinct tells them to keep still so they can be carried. Thankfully it looks like they haven't been hurt. I just hope it hasn't irreparably damaged the trust I'm trying to build with them. I know I said the same thing about Frankie, but I had him for months before I was forced to pick him up to treat his condition. I went and did this to the chins after just 1 day.
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Post by randomname on Sept 16, 2016 17:55:44 GMT
It'll be fine, they know you don't intend any harm. They'll be jumping in your arms in no time I'm sure. I'd use the goo method - pretty much the same for any animal - just let them out to play & sit with them with some treats, chins are naturally pretty friendly, they'll soon be chin rubbing you & begging for behind the ear scratches (wait til they smile at you when you do it - it's awesome!) Have you looked at their feet at all?! Looooove chinny toes - proper weird looking on their back feet
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Post by skardsen on Sept 16, 2016 18:14:24 GMT
Yeah I love their furry feet. Especially Floss, since her pink toes match her little pink nose. I have to ask though, I never see either of them get up to much activity (maybe it's just when I'm asleep?). I don't think I've seen Floss drink at all. They mostly just sit still for long periods of time, hop around a bit, eat something, then go back sitting still. Is this normal or should I be worried? Perhaps they're just getting used to the changes? They look quite perky when they're busy with something.
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Post by randomname on Sept 16, 2016 18:37:35 GMT
Pink chin toes - sqeeeeee! They do doze a lot, especially through the day. I liked to give Dave an igloo from little pet warehouse so it was nice & dark for him. Do your guys have a dark place? At night I could hear Dave bouncing round his cage like a loon from upstairs, can you hear your two? Sometimes a squeaky wheel or rattly cage is quite comforting! I don't know what amount of water is right for a chin, think it's less than a goo though. Hard to tell who is eating/drinking what with more than one isn't it? I'd forgot, & got used to knowing exactly what BB eats. I have no idea what the babies eat or drink - but know they're all eating & looking great, but who knows if there's a seed hog among them? I'd say this first week won't be much indication of their normal behaviour, maybe give it a day or 2? There should be some manic moments when they bounce from ledge to ledge in a circuit round & round (known as a furry wall of death) (This is why you shouldn't move things around too much, they like to stick to the same circuit) Had totally forgotten about that til now - was so funny to watch Dave wizz round. They can get HUGE circuits around your house if you let them out enough, same one every night. Use the sand bath as a reward for going back in the cage, they loooove it so much it often works better than treats. Soon you'll be able to lure them back by just showing them the bath wherever they are & they'll follow you back to the cage for it
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Post by skardsen on Sept 16, 2016 18:57:58 GMT
Funnily enough, right after I posted, they suddenly became very active. They've been bouncing around all over the cage for about 20 minutes. I don't have a proper hideout for them yet, as I can't order anything until Monday, but I made a makeshift one out of a cardboard pet carrier and some toilet roll. Floss seems to love bouncing in and out of it, and if I didn't know any better I'd swear she was playing peek-a-boo. They're definitely not driven by food but they're eating fine; I'll remember to use the sandbath as a reward. I have it constantly in their cage at the moment. These two also play with their hanging toys more than the degus do and they really love willow sticks. Floss likes to carry things around so I'm thinking about getting her a Fuzzbuddy. Their previous owner said they're both really nippy, but neither of them have given me so much as a caution bite. All they do is give my hand a gentle, inquisitive nibble when I hold it out. I think they do that due to their poor eyesight, but I could be wrong. Photo didn't turn out too well, but she was looking right at me when I tried to take the pic. The flash spooked her a little though. I think today I'm not going to pester them with anything, just going to let them relax and hopefully get them feeling more at home. They're in the same room as me so they always see me, so the idea is to have them feel like me being around is normal.
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Post by randomname on Sept 16, 2016 19:15:24 GMT
oh gosh, soooooo gorgeous
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Post by skardsen on Sept 16, 2016 19:27:20 GMT
From what little I understand about chinchilla colours, she's homo beige. She has little freckles along the back of her ears. I'm going to order one of these for them on Monday, hopefully they'll use it. www.fuzzbutt.co.uk/lux-cubes/
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Post by skardsen on Sept 16, 2016 20:25:53 GMT
I know I shouldn't play favourites, but Floss is so adorable. The colour of her coat perfectly accentuates her eyes and pink nose/ears. Plus you can tell she's still a bairn. She's not that much smaller than Fluff, but enough where you can tell the difference.
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Post by natnat899 on Sept 17, 2016 17:16:30 GMT
You can hold a chinchilla by the base of its tail, but never let it dangle like the first picture, it is dangerous! I personally prefer to scoop mine up and hold them against my chest, it does sometimes require a little timing to get it right. Generally with pickle I let him jump on me, we have an understanding that when I want him to go back into the cage, he usually will. The only time I hold the base of their tails is when they are on my shoulder, peanut has a habit of jumping from any height and also trying to push pickle off. And if I move I like to make sure they don't fall off, or try to jump into an object next to me. It is rarely I do that and even then I only use a light grip. Below is a good description of the 2 types of ways you can hold a chinchilla, and also the risks of not handling them correctly, I believe some of the information on there is a little out of date, but it's still got some good info: www.chinchillachronicles.com/holding_a_chinchilla.html
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Post by skardsen on Sept 18, 2016 10:51:56 GMT
natnat899 Thank you. Still kind of picking up everything on the fly here, so this is all very helpful. I held out my arms last night and Floss cautiously walked up and down them a few times. That was how I got the ball rolling with the degus so I really hope this is something positive.
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Post by natnat899 on Sept 18, 2016 21:30:38 GMT
Chinchillas are very curious, mine become very interested if I start playing with some hay or a toy (and also when I clean the cage!), I find when I curl my hand into a fist they like to groom and lean/snooze on it. I used to feed them shredded wheat each night and they would have to jump on my hand to get the treat (I stopped because the elderly woman we lived with kept feeding loads of it to them.)
Once you have established a bond, you may want to let them out. It can be tricky to get them back in, so I highly recommend preparing yourself with several methods. Playtime is a great way to bond, mine love to climb all over me and it really is a pleasure to watch.
My chinchillas are active during the night, I haven't established a routine with them, and I have only just started working regular hours. It is possible to fit them in to a earlier routine, so they are awake more in the evenings than nighttime. There are many ways to do this; feeding them earlier, sand baths, playtime etc.
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Post by skardsen on Sept 18, 2016 23:25:49 GMT
It might have been early days, but I let them out tonight. Fluff just sort of explored the room for a bit, but Floss was running all over, bouncing off walls and examining everything. At one point she jumped on the bed and sat next to me for a little bit. I just left the cage door open so they could go back when they were ready. I'll try getting some shredded wheat to see if they like it, 'cause I definitely need something I can use as a reward.
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Post by Emziedee on Oct 8, 2016 12:49:07 GMT
I just watched that lamb video LMAO!!! 😂😂😂😂
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