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

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.

1

General Chat / Chirping chinny.

« on: August 19, 2015, 02:15:17 PM »

I have three male chins, all housed together. The calmest one has started kind of chirping at me if I'm eye-level with the shelf and talking to them. It's not an angry 'cack' or teeth chattering, but it's not quiet communication beeps either, like they do when they are playing. He doesn't seem to be distressed or in pain, but I've had my one chinchilla for several years and he's never made any noises like that. It's hard to tell what 'normal' is when they all have such varied personalities and habits! Has anyone experienced this or know what it means? Thanks!

2

Q & A / Re: Added two chins to my family

« on: February 27, 2015, 08:18:39 PM »

Pretty straight forward, then. Thanks!

3

Q & A / Re: Added two chins to my family

« on: February 25, 2015, 01:57:27 PM »

Within the last few months. I just want to know what behaviour between my new additions and my original is normal as I'm slowly integrating them into my family. I've noticed some mounting (my older one to the younger ones) but I'm gathering that's just dominance. There's been no real scraps during playtime, just annoyed barks when my older one... how do I describe it. It almost looks like grooming? He'll nibble their ears and stuff, too.

4

Q & A / Added two chins to my family

« on: February 24, 2015, 11:46:24 PM »

Recently added two young male chinchillas to my household, in addition to my four year old male. They seem to be getting on great, but I would like to know what behaviours to be aware of/ try to nip in the bud, and what behaviours are natural and I should leave alone. Thanks!

5

Q & A / Possessiveness/ jealousy?

« on: November 26, 2013, 07:28:44 PM »

I recently moved in with my boyfriend, and brought my chinchilla with me. My fluffball seemed to take the move well, but I've noticed a new behavior. When interacting with my boyfriend while I'm not there, Chester is calm, happy and receptive to interaction and affection. But if I'm there (not even necessarily right next to them, even if I'm in the house!) Chester gets abnormally aggressive toward my boyfriend. Barking, grabbing onto the bars of his cage and kind of headbutting. I've never seen him exhibit this kind of behavior with anyone else, friends or roommates.

Has anyone else experienced this? I know bonding can take a while, and we spend time with Chester both together and individually, but this is still super weird. Thanks, chinlovers and chinfriends!

-Mogsy and Chester

6

Health / Chewing on foot?

« on: November 01, 2012, 12:04:53 AM »

My chin Chester has been chewing at his foot a lot lately. There is some rough skin there, I guess just from climbing all over the inside of his cage. Is there any way I can gently remedy this so that he doesn't outright chew the rough patches off and cause potential bleeding/ infection?

7

Health / Re: My Chinchilla's fur is coming out??

« on: May 05, 2012, 07:14:47 PM »

Not sure about the seizures sadly, but Chinchillas shed when the weather gets warmer. With all the hair Chester's shed lately, I could make a whole nother Chinny!

8

Health / Re: Chinchilla not eating..

« on: March 22, 2012, 03:53:33 PM »

It'll take a while for them to relax, and if you haven't had a Chin before, you're probably not sure what to expect as far as food consumption goes. Your best bet is to get a pellets only food, or they WILL pick out the good stuff. Your new chin is probably pretty anxious. I remember going through that with Chester when I first got him, too. Try not to worry about it, keep giving your new fuzzy friend lots of love and attention, and things should smooth out. If she stops eating all together, though, maybe seek a vet. Good luck!

9

Health / Spring Fever?

« on: March 22, 2012, 02:15:43 PM »

The last week or so Chester's been going absolutely nuts (And driving ME crazy in the process.) He just won't settle down. He's getting twice as much playtime as usual, he seems overfilled with energy and is almost constantly chewing at the bars of his cage and making little beeping noises. He's also started making these weird... warbling noises. Not sure how else to describe it. Naturally, I've had a look over him, and he seems otherwise physically fine. Eating, drinking pooping, all that good stuff. Is it possible that he's just getting "lonely"? Is there a certain season for that? He's about a year and a few months old now. This is all a very recent change in behaviour, and it -is- springtime. Any suggestions? 

10

Health / Re: Hair pulling?

« on: March 10, 2012, 09:08:23 PM »

It's possible. There's just such a large patch missing. How much do they tend to lose when they lose hair if they get scared or something? There's about two inches of bare tail on the one side. The exposed skin looks fine, too.

 And as for the stress theory, I don't know how he could be stressed. My house is quiet, there's no other animals, company is rare. He gets plenty of attention, and naturally always has water, food, etc. If he -is- stressed, I have not a clue how to make it even less stressful for him.

This also seems to be a recent thing. I pay pretty close attention to any changes in him, both physically and behaviour-wise. I noticed when I got up this morning.

11

Health / Re: Hair pulling?

« on: March 10, 2012, 06:20:16 PM »

It's one rather prominent patch of hairlessness, about 2 inches at the tip of his tail on one side. I don't think it'd make sense for hair to fall out in just that one spot like that, but I guess it's possible. 

12

Health / Hair pulling?

« on: March 10, 2012, 01:47:55 PM »

I took Chester out to play, and noticed a patch of hair missing from one side of his tail near the end. The rest of him is fine, and I've never actually caught him pulling hair before. He seems otherwise fine, eating, drinking, pooping and playing. The skin of the bare patch seems fine, too. He has wooden chews, as well as the wooden planks in his cage to nibble. My house is never really loud/stressful, and he gets frequent attention. Could this just be boredom/ loneliness when no one is home or sleeping?

13

Health / Chester's eating(?) his dust during baths

« on: January 31, 2012, 08:51:31 AM »

I gave Chester a dust bath this morning and I was watching him as he played. I noticed that he'd occasionally stop rolling and take some of the dust into his mouth, appear to "chew" it, at which point most of the dust seemed to fall out of his mouth. He did this multiple times. I don't know whether he's lacking something in his diet, or maybe he likes the taste? Or maybe he's just being regular weird Chester.   

He always has a full supply of Tim hay and regular food (Both of which are Living World brand, if anyone is familiar with that ) as well as a good supply of clean water. He's been on the same food since I bought him over half a year ago.

Anyone have any thoughts?

14

Health / Teeth chattering

« on: January 06, 2012, 06:01:34 AM »

I've heard that teeth chattering can be a sign of aggression/being annoyed, but I've also heard it can be a sign of happiness. I've heard Chester chatter his teeth when he's annoyed that I'm scolding him for trying to chew on the bathroom baseboards, but sometimes he does it when he's just playing and doesn't really seem to have a reason to be upset/ annoyed. Is there a difference between these two in terms of how they sound?

15

Health / Kind of an awkward question...

« on: January 06, 2012, 05:27:35 AM »

I took Chester out for a playtime and when he was jumping around and up on the counter I noticed a dropping stuck to the hair right under a very likely sensitive male organ of his. He doesn't seem disturbed by it, but I was wondering if I should just leave it alone and wait until it gets unstuck by itself, or maybe see if I can take a warm, wet washcloth and try to remove it?