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Post by randomname on Oct 16, 2016 9:30:59 GMT
Yeah, he has an angry looking face, those eyebrows don't help! He's not though, he's a softy. I thought he was a bit shy, but after 11pm he is just the same as Sir Patrick Stewart. I think he's just grumpy during the day. When I put the wheel in last night Sir Ian McKellen was the first to check it out, no fear. Then he went upstairs, told Sir Patrick Stewart & they both came to investigate. So far no running on it, but am sure that'll come in time.
Now all I have to do is suss out photobucket & I'll be winning!
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Post by randomname on Oct 18, 2016 9:59:24 GMT
Oh dear. Just had a bit of a setback. I startled Sir Ian McKellen & he went psycho! He's definitely the guard chin during the day, he snoozes on the highest available platform with one eye open while Sir Patrick curls up in a nest box sound asleep. I was in the corner of the room, near the cage. Don't think he saw me come in. I was bending over, as I stood up, he went off it. He ran around like a loon, was charging the bars at me & chittering his teeth. I tried speaking nicely to him & he calmed down, I slowly raised my hand so he could sniff it (I thought he might not know it was me) but he went crazy again, trying to bite me & attacking the bars. I thought i'd better give him some space, so went back 15 minutes later. Had to fill the food bowls & forage, & he was very very defensive so I kept my distance. Have done a little research, seems he was just guarding the home, doesn't necessarily mean he's aggressive. Be just my luck to have got a mental one though!
Have read covering the cage will help, but not sure what to use. Obviously nothing with strings or fibres. Maybe a fleece blanket rather than a sheet do you think? Have also ordered a 150 x 150 run so am hoping the degus use it through the day, & the chins at night. Might help Sir Ian McKellen feel a bit less cooped up & less scared. Little devil is SCARY when he goes on one, did NOT enjoy that.
This morning has been the weirdest one I've ever had, then this on top - doesn't bode well, might go back to bed & start again!
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Post by deguconvert on Oct 18, 2016 15:41:28 GMT
That sounds absolutely awful!! WOW! How the day has improved for you?
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Post by goolover on Oct 18, 2016 23:04:07 GMT
Oh dear, knew those brows spelt trouble rofl. Had a weird day with my young goo's too, working themselves with me, had to tell them all off. They have chewed away at the door frame and created a hole so was trying to block it and they were clawing and getting my fingers in their teeth and dragging my hand away from the hole so had to keep shoo'in them away until they know who's boss lol....wonder if its a full moon thing going on!!!
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Post by deguconvert on Oct 18, 2016 23:41:43 GMT
They certainly knew that you were going about ruining their escape route!! Mischief makers!!
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Post by goolover on Oct 19, 2016 18:00:33 GMT
Indeed deguconvert.......I got tufftuffed at and a how dare you stare rofl. They will just have to make other plans to escape the goo room!!!
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Post by deguconvert on Oct 19, 2016 19:08:39 GMT
You can be sure they have a plan B and possibly a plan C in the works already!
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Post by skardsen on Oct 21, 2016 11:52:49 GMT
Fluff isn't aggressively defensive but she often does stand guard during the day. Day time is when chinchillas feel most at risk of being attacked by predators, and the one guarding will get like that if what they perceive to be their burrow is being invaded. However she is VERY vocal and gives warning bites if she's in their cube and I reach anywhere near it. The bites are quite gentle though and it's more like she's putting her teeth on me as a way to tell me that's off limits, not to actually try to harm me.
While getting that kind of reaction is quite alarming, try not to be too shaken up by it. Sir Ian's very likely highly stressed right now because of the move to a new home. Chins get distressed over changes to their normal lives and it can take months for them to feel settled again. They're the complete opposite of degus in that regard. I've had to learn to just leave the girls alone during the day, even if they're awake they don't like contact with me for any reason until night time rolls in. They become much more friendly with me around 7 or 8 until the sun comes back up.
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Post by moletteuk on Oct 21, 2016 16:45:18 GMT
Have things calmed down now, Random?
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Post by randomname on Oct 24, 2016 22:40:18 GMT
Hi sorry guys, been an terrible week. Some friends had a horrific house fire, someone got really badly burned. Just been trying to support them, not had any time for anything except feeding the furry ones. Yes moletteuk things have settled (kinda) Sir Ian took a couple of days to lose the attitude, but he's ok with me now. skardsen is 100% spot on - think Sir Ian has been very stressed about the move, then I scared the poop outta him by popping up unexpectedly in the corner (don't think he saw me come in) Ultimately I think we both freaked each other out! Sir Patrick is as friendly & soppy as ever, seems to sleep totally dead to the world, nothing disturbs him. Sir Ian is the nervous, half awake watch-chin. I have been giving him a little more space, & he seems ok taking treats or food from me again (took a couple of days, he'd grump at me if I came near at first) They both beg for a treat when I feed the degus (around 8am) so I give them a little something, but they want to be left alone all day until about 9pm. That's when I feed them & clean if necessary. Totally different to Dave who wanted ear scratches any time you walked past, day or night. That must have been because he was on his own. These boys probably don't need it cos they have each other. Think Sir Patrick is going to be fine, but Sir Ian will take a while to learn to trust me. He hasn't gone crazy again, but I'm much more observant of his body language & watch for cues of his grumpiness now. Have put in a 16" metal wheel & a flying saucer. Sir Patrick has been on both, but only for 5 mins at a time. Haven't seen Sir Ian on them, but he might be at night. Their poops are looking much better, still a little small & dry but not by much. Seems like everything is settling down for them very slowly. Would love to let them out for a run about, but no way to do it safely. Am working on it though. The run has arrived for the degus, but it's not high enough to give the chins room to zoom & bounce, so no good for them.
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Post by skardsen on Oct 25, 2016 12:44:25 GMT
Mine use the wheel every day but not for very long. I don't think chins have as much of an instinctual drive to always be running like degus do. They tend to use it in short bursts.
Have you heard them talking yet? They sound so sweet.
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Post by moletteuk on Oct 25, 2016 12:45:47 GMT
Gosh, I'm sorry about the fire! Glad the gents are settling again.
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Post by randomname on Oct 25, 2016 13:13:22 GMT
skardsen you mean apart from when Sir Ian Mckellen was shouting obscenities at me?! (there's a sentence I never thought I'd write lol) They are pretty quiet when I'm around, but I do hear them talking to each other late at night. Probably plotting to kill me! When they're on different levels of the cage they call to each other "Are you there" "Yes, I'm here" kind of thing. Never heard that from Dave (obviously) so it's been cool to hear it. I was a bit scared that the incident with Sir Ian might spark off some fighting between them, especially as Sir Patrick s still very friendly with me, but so far it hasn't. Good to know that about the wheel, makes me feel better about spending £50 on it! Am trying to find things to stop them getting bored, there wasn't much to do in their cage. Might take a while but am sure we'll gel eventually (hopefully) Now just got to get the goos living together...
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Post by deguconvert on Oct 25, 2016 15:21:02 GMT
I too am really sorry about the house fire! How is the person that got badly burned? Are they one of your friends? I hope they didn't lose anyone, or any pets? Everyone must be exhausted.
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Post by randomname on Oct 25, 2016 19:16:57 GMT
Not good DC, he has 90% burns, has been in a coma for 2 weeks. They tried waking him up yesterday & he did respond, so that's a step in the right direction. He will face amputations & years of recovery if he survives, so any outcome looks bleak sadly. He's only 18 as well, breaks my heart. I've known his Nana & Grandad (whose house it was) for 23 years, they've already lost a son (who was one of my best friends) to murder & a daughter to drugs, so I can't imagine how they're feeling, but they are the strongest family I've ever met, so I hope they can get through it. Dot has lost all her stuff, smoke & water damage. Luckily she was downstairs so only had smoke inhalation. One of the other grandkids/young men was burnt, but not too badly, is ok. Just awful for them. Sometimes i wish I could magically take someone's pain & carry it for them. Luckily Dot's not much into pets, so none were there. Makes my anxiety spiral out of control (my eldest is 18, so it hits home) thinking about it. Went over a fire plan with the kids (the goos & chins have wheelable cages near the front door, so hopefully can get them out if we have to. The bunnies are outside & the dogs would be easy, just have to catch the cat! It's just the stuff nightmares are made of.
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Post by deguconvert on Oct 25, 2016 22:40:17 GMT
It most certainly is!! I will be praying for your friends, their grandsons, and for you!
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Post by randomname on Oct 26, 2016 1:06:28 GMT
Thank you, that's very kind. I'm fine, but they really need all the positive vibes in the universe.
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Post by skardsen on Oct 26, 2016 1:23:55 GMT
A truly horrendous thing to happen to anyone. I can't imagine what he must be going through.
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Post by randomname on Oct 26, 2016 2:14:20 GMT
It breaks my heart to see them go through even more horror & heartache, they've already been through more than anyone should have to in a lifetime. Thank goodness a neighbour saw the flames & went in to save them, a truly selfless & heroic guy. There are some amazing people out there.
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Post by randomname on Feb 9, 2017 13:22:35 GMT
@darhchinci - hi again! I love you being here, I've got so many questions for you! These are my little friends, can you tell me anything about them? I know NOTHING about colours or types. Was told they're Wilson Whites, is that right? Does that mean anything special I should know? & can you tell me why one has eyebrows & a grumpy looking face?! He's such a softy I don't know why he would have such an angry looking face! Edit - should add that the pictures are on page 1 of this thread
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