Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[nemue]

Kira and M'noke are with me now for a month.  Kira's aggression is just increasing.  I tried keeping Kira in the cage, as suggested, until she came around.  But she has started to turn biting into a game, she will nip and then run, knowing full well she's going to get her face blown in.  Yelling "no" doesn't help either.  Yesterday, while I was cleaning the cage adn trying to keep her in, she kept coming back to me and biting, and each time was harder.  finally she bit so hard and broke the skin and gave me a pretty deep cut. 

We decided that she needed to come out and have a run.  I guess that means she won this round.  It was not fun watching her stay inside, and even M'noke was affected.  I think she was silently protesting, because for the last two days she didn't come to me to go out.  Once we let Kira out, she joined in and they had a lot of fun running laps around the room. 

There must be another way that I can win her over aside from this incessant fighting!  Any suggestions?    She's a pretty stubborn little thing.

We did fix the door to the room, so she can't get out now and isn't as obsessed with pulling it open.

Thanks for any help!

[Debbie.nl.ca]

I think you may need some one on one with her, and if she is not going to play the game don't let her out.
I had one that took over 6 months to come to me.
I have another that sprays me all the time. I am now taking her out in a smaller cage and spending time with her alone.
It's hard to say what will work, but I find if I just ignor them they seem to want my attention.
No treats if their not good either.
keep at it!

[ChillinChinchillas]

I have had chins that were agressive temporarily, and some that just stayed in a bad mood. You can usually win them over with a lot of patience and love. You might not ever get her to be sweet and cuddly, but you can most likely, over time, get her to settle down a bit. If she is acting aggressive, I would go in there and talk to her daily, but not let her out to run around. After you spend a few days talking to her and maybe sneaking in a treat, let her run around and see how she acts. If she is aggressive, put her back in the cage, but still talk sweetly to her. This should help build trust. Normal animal instinct has her nip when she is frightened. In the wild, biting would either frighten off the attacker or infuriate it. If you stay calm, and show her love and care even when she is being a meany, I think it might work wonders. It has worked for me a few times, but all chinnies are different. Good Luck!!!

[Leslie]

I have a chin that used to bite me all the time.  We used to let him out in our kitchen and I would sit with him and he seemed to think it was the best game ever to bite my toes.  He started to do it so often we had to stop sitting with him during playtime, just supervise from a far.

He was bitey in the cage as well, when we would pet him.  Probably a good way to stop that is first assess the situation.  If you have people over or music playing or a vacuum on or something, that's not a good time to touch her.  Then I find that crouching down so you're eye level and not looming over the chin helps.  Is your cage up off the floor?  They feel more comfortable looking out at you instead of up at you.  Then do a lot of talking to your chin so they recognize your voice, in a calm quiet manner.  Then start opening the cage and don't stick your hand into the cage, just sit there with your head at the door level and wait for the chin to come by and check you out.  Maybe make a fist and put it just outside the cage so if she tries to bite your hand she won't get much skin.....lol.  Once she's okay checking you out and seems calm, try doing a bit of a scratch around her ears.  If she tries to bite you still, it's too soon.  And I wouldn't so much yell NO and say it forcefully, then close the door and walk away.  Yelling might just make her more skittish.  These steps may take weeks or months or longer, be patient.

My boyfriend and I followed this procedure for a couple years after getting Ninja, and finally now we have a good relationship with the chinchilla, but he will still bite anyone else that tries to touch him.  They don't understand the quiet voice, bending down, slowly moving thing.  Seems like a lot of work but it's well worth it now.  We can give Ninja chinnie massages, he loves to be scratched more than anything in the world, he'd sit there for hours, smiling away, if we had the time.

I should mention that we still can't pick him up out of his cage without getting bit.  There are just certain things we know not to do, for safety's sake.  He comes out with the dust bath or on a good day he can be coaxed out....with a lot of patience.

Good luck!

[ChinchillAZ]

If she broke skin through the gloves, please get thicker gloves.  (Like gardening gloves or something that has some protection for you.)  If she's biting and running, continue to not react and don't "chase her" with blowing.  She may eventually get tired of the running off and start biting and not let go.  When you don't pull away, her game will be ruined.

You may want to try moving Kira to a carrier while M'noke is out running.  If possible, take her to another room where she can't see Kira out playing and have your husband supervise Kira's playtime.  While she's in the carrier and doesn't have as much room to get away, try talking to her calmly.  Do this every day for about a week and then slowly start to put your gloved fingers near the carrier door so that she can get used to this.  After about a week of talking to her calmly with your gloved fingers near the carrier door, try putting your gloved fingers inside the carrier.  Progressively but slowly work on getting your whole gloved hand in the carrier for her to explore.  Once this is working and she isn't behaving aggressively, start the whole thing over without the glove.

[Jenova]

This is very important. You're not having any luck so you might want to change your strategy, I'm not a qualifies psychologist but I am in my final year of my degree and I know a little bit about behaviour. Obviously I'm no expert but the first thing we are taught is never punish, only reward. Chinchillas act like little kids so maybe a little bit of kid conditioning will help.

Ignore her when she's bad, don't even pay her any attention, that's what she wants. But when she's good, when she's doing things you want her to do, reward her. Cut up the raisins into little pieces so you can give her a few treats in one day without over treating her. Really when she's paying you attention and not biting you treat her, if she lets you pet her and doesn't bite treat her. If she bites or does anything else you don't like ignore her. If you tell her off (by blowing on her or saying no) she is getting attention for being naughty and she is probably thriving off that. She will continue to be naughty just to get that attention. I know if I tell Cheech not to do something it only makes her want to do it more and the more I tell her not to do it the more hyper and naughty she gets. So I try as best as I can to ignore the naughty stuff and reward the good stuff (obviously if it's dangerous to her or me I have to intervene). For instance I would sit outside of her cage with my legs by the door and a raisin and when she hopped onto my lap she could have the raisin. I rewarded her for doing what I wanted her to do, which was give me a cuddle. Now I can carry her about the house with me which only a few months ago was unthinkable. If you reward her she is more likely to repeat the behaviour again to get another treat. At first treat her all the time she does something good, but over time start to treat her less and less, give them randomly for good behaviour. As always patience is the key. Like I said, I'm not qualified, but this is what I would do. Good luck!

Here's a Wikipedia entry, although it's a little bit confusing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operant_conditioning

[nemue]

Thanks everyone for their advice.  I've been a bit sick this week so haven't check in. 

I had called the pet store last week, and they were very concerned and called a pet behaviour specialist.  I followed that advice as much as I could, and I know some people here might not like it, but I have to tell you, it worked!  They told me to pick her up and hold her (wearing gloves and continue to hold her even if she bites).  I had my husband help me, and we gave her treats and talked to her.  I only held her for about five minutes each time.  They said to do it for a week, but I can't catch her anymore... she's smart!  But, she hasn't tried to bite me, and her behaviour is calmer.  It's not that she's scared, but is just calmer.   I also gave them treats for other behaviour, so they knew I wasn't just a big grabby giant and both of them are coming around. We have been able to give M'noke scratches, and Kira short pets. 

My cage is off the floor, and I always greet them on the same level.  Kira was only aggressive while in her cage, not out of it, but she was obsessive with getting out of the room, which has changed.  I think she was afraid of something while in the cage (when I picked her up I let her come out first then distracted her with a treat--I didn't want to irritate the fear that was already there).  I understand the cage is her sanctuary, but I still need to safely clean it and feed her!  Now when I go in the cage she just watches me or moves out of the way.  Hopefully this will last.  She's also becoming more affectionate, and after holding her I've let her run around and she comes up to me often. 

I don't know what this means, but yesterday I was laying on floor (I do this to be less intimidating and give them treats when they come up).  They had reached their treat limit, but I was still laying down as I wasn't feeling well.  Kira came up to my face and started licking me!  I was afraid she was going to bite, but I don't think that was her intention!  Has anyone had a chin do this? 

I honestly think this helped.  Maybe witht he psychology aspect, I told her who was boss?  I am just letting them out now.  I can't pick her up any more as she just grabs the treats and run, and that's fine.  I just lay on the floor and pet them as they come up.  I don't mind if theyr'e never super cuddley, but we do need to be friends! 

I'll keep you posted, as I'm sure she will change as time goes on!

[BrightEyed]

I think it is to more or less show them you are their friend and you won't hurt them. It sounds like things are starting to get better. good luck.

It also sounds like she was grooming you which is a great thing. A lot of my chins groom me. Nibbling on my hair or eye brows and acting like they are kissing me. They have never done this and bitten me.. they act like they are careful not to hurt me. They groom eachother in the same way. Let her keep doing it. I even put my face into their cage and they love to come up and do it now. They all are very affectionate.

[Jenova]

I'm happy it's sorting out. Maybe they'll get cuddlier. 

[nemue]

I think things have improved with Kira.  She's still crazy, but at least hasn't tried to bite when I clean the cage or feed her.  I think she understands now,and she's at the point where M'noke was a month ago, so I think she'll come around.  M'noke lets me pet her, and briefly hold her, so things are definitely looking up.  I haven't held Kira since those two times, as I can't catch her anymore, but if she's not biting that's ok with me!   

[ChinchillAZ]

That's wonderful progress!  Congratulations!   

[Asikovsek]

I have found with tempermental chins that something has happened or is happening to upset them.  Chins can be like people that if they are not happy with their conditions around them they will act out.  One of my chins was very tempermental because she didnt get enough exercise like she wanted.  She was nasty and I was nothing but kind to her, but I pampered her a little and she did  a 180.  I bought her a nice wheel and started letting her out to run around more.  Sometimes chins are trying to give you messages.

[nemue]

I think she was like this before I got her.  When they were getting her out of the cage at the store, she bit the store clerk!  I half thought of saying I didnt' want her because of that, but then didin't! 

They have a wheel now, although not a good one,and I"m going to get them a safer one, as they love it.  She hasn't bitten me for a couple weeks, or even tried.  Now when the situations come up that she used to bite me (when I feed her, or clean the cage), she just moves out of the way.  I think she's getting to trust me, and I"m letting her do things on her own terms.  When she's out of the cage she always comes up and gives my face a good sniff, which I think is affection! 

They've always had plenty of run around time, except when I tried to keep kira in the cage, but I think that just made her worse.  She needs her run around!  She has so much energy, she needs to burn it off! 

[nemue]

I thought I'd update everyone on how Kira is doing.  We had such trouble in her first month, and now she's a very changed chinchilla.  I worked with her to train her not to bite, and blew in her face every time.  She mostly did it when I put my hands in the cage, so I respected that she needed to feel safe in there.  I only went in the cage to clean it and feed them.  Still, this is where the problems layed.  I got bitten badly once, but she didn't do it again.  the next time I cleaned her cage she sat on the top shelf and barked at me.  The next time she just got really excited.  They both still get excited, but they are calming down and understanding it.  They, of course, don't have a problem with me feeding them any more.   

Kira is a completely different chinchilla!  The arrival of the wheel helped a lot, adn I was really patient with her.  I am able to pet M'noke, and she also sits on my shoulder for about a minute at a time!  They are both all over me when I'm laying on the floor, and lick my fingers clean after having raisins, with no danger of biting!  I think Kira is about a month behind M'noke in coming to be my friend, and may never be as affectionate, or affectionate with anyone else.  But I admire her spunk.  I think they used to chase them around the cage at the pet store, which is why she had this aggression.  I am now able to pet them through the bars of the cage, which I couldn't do before without fear of losing a finger!   

I am reminded of how far they've come every time my husband comes in the room.  He only comes in about once a week, and they are shy of him.  They don't want to be petted or sit on my shoulder.  He doesn't believe I can pet them!     When he's not around they spend half the time on my tummy or jumping off it (today they jumped off me together, I believe they conspired to do this, as someone gave out a squeak before they leaped onto my tummy at the same time!)   

thanks everyone for all your help, I know in a few months time they are going to trust me completely and we will be great friends! Sorry this is so long, but I wanted to you all to know how much you helped turn this angry little girl into a fur-ball of love.   

[Sweetnessheart]

I was so glad to read your post.  Chinchillas are such neat animals.    It just takes them time to trust us and become friends, but it is all worth it.  Your husband will see their sweet side soon.  Before long they will be climbing all over him too.