Water bottle guards

I am having some metal water bottle guards made. The picture below is what they look like. They have a screw, washer & wing nut. I will be selling these for $8.50 each. They will be available to ship next week. I will bring some to the Washington Show.

Attached Images

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Chinchilla and Bunny?

My brother bought a rabbit a few months ago and he keeps suggesting that, if introduced carefully, my calm and passive chinchilla Marshmallow could become a companion for his rabbit when they are out for playtime. My two chinchillas do not get along and although one appears perfectly content to live in solitude, Marshmallow often acts lonely and so I think a friendship may be good for her. However, thus far there has been strictly zero contact between the rabbit and chinchilla; I do not allow the rabbit in any areas of the house my chins ever come in contact with. This has mainly been because I am fearful of them contracting Pasteurella, which I know rabbits are prone to carry.



Anyways, my questions are:

1. How contagious is pasteurella, after all? As in, can the rabbit be allowed into the chinchillas' playroom if they are not currently inside of it? If the rabbit did carry pasteurella, how long would the objects it comes in contact with be contaminated?

2. How likely is the rabbit to carry the disease? And if the rabbit did test negative for pasteurella, would it be safe for me to introduce him to my chinchilla? They would only ever be out together during playtime and they would never share food.



Sorry, this is a lot. Thanks in advance for the advice!

water bath tips?

looking for tips on how to give a water bath to my poor chinnie Tripp.



has anyone done it before? i know to blow dry him dry (on the cool, low setting). i'm worried i wont get him dry enough. how long should i expect to be blow drying him?



can i use johnsons' baby shampoo? ive used it on my guinea pigs before and know its gentle for them.



(tripp has his underside/bottom covered with urine stains and mats due to a combo of neurological problems and seizures. ive tried other options to clean his fur, with no real results.)

New chin!

I just got my chin about a week ago, and I'm worried she's not happy. She has a big cage, toys galore, a wheel, hammock, and lots of ledges to jump on. I'm worried she's not happy because she barks at night between 1 and 6 am, she seems to sleep a lot day and night, an she bites at her cage. Since I only got her a week ago she's still getting use to me. I can't pick her up, but when I stick my hand in her cage and let her come to me I can pet her. I'm worried she's not getting the attention she needs because she's still scared of me, and playtime is hard because I can't pick her up. Am I doing something wrong, or am worrying for nothing? I love my little chin and want the best for her and for her to be happy.

Looking for couple that went to Atlantic show 2014 seeking standard female

Your welcome to move the post where it belongs.



Juanita and I were approached by a nice young couple at the Atlantic show this spring that were looking for standard females in the Virginia area. I believe you were from the Charlottesville area.

I'm pretty sure you stated you were a forum member. If so, and you are reading this, please contact me as I might have something you would be interested in after the show season.



Alex

Does size affect production?

I'm curious as to what breeders think about whether size, especially in males, has an effect on overall production especially in a run system or colony system. Do larger animals breed less? slower?

Largest Chins?

How big are the largest chins on record? What are the weights of some of your largest?Pics would be appreciated too :)

Supplements

I've heard that some people give out a particular supplement each day of the week... Is this necessary? If so, what supplement do you give your chin each day? And what is your supplement schedule?



Thanks xx

Stratton's Chinchillas winter sales list

Stratton's Chinchillas has some juniors and kits available now. If you have any questions feel free to email or pm me. Located in Addison, Ny only 3 miles from the PA line.





B8 Pink white male 8/17/12 $100

C18 Standard e/c v/c male 7/13/13 $75

D5 Standard e/c female 6/2/14 $100

D12 Ebony male 6/30/14 $125

D23 Standard e/c male 8/16/14 $75

D21 Tan female 7/31/14 $150

D22 Ebony female 7/31/14 $125

D13 Standard e/c v/c female 7/13 $100

D14 Standard e/c v/c female 7/13 $100



http://s1175.photobucket.com/user/Br...atton/profile/

When re-homing a chinchilla...

When you re-home a chinchilla, or any other pet, make sure you see what they will be housed in.



I had a chin that needed a new home and a lady contacted me. we had talked and she seemed to know her stuff. I did however make it a requirement that I see the cage BEFORE they take the chin, as i do with any i re-home. If i don't agree that the cage is the right fit for the pet i won't sell till they get the right type of cage. She happily sent me this picture of the intended cage for my chin.

-----> http://www.pinterest.com/emilylililove/ehhh/ <-----

(i uploaded it to pinterest because i have had issues with pics)

I was HORRIFIED! how can you think this is OK for a chinchilla if you have done research?!?!?! I could not in my right mind let her get a chin from me. I told her she needed a better cage and she told me she would just get a chin elsewhere. I feel so bad for any chin she buys. :(



So again, please make sure you make sure they have decent housing for your pet!

Cage decorating?

I want to redo my chins cages and would like to have some ideas. Any and all will help. Also if you know where online i can get quality chin toys for the cage and playtime at reasonable prices. Preferably in bulk so i can make my own but also would like some already made toys for a good price. Also where i can get good wheels and not spend a fortune for my ten babies.

Thanks in advance! :)

:useless:

Christmas for your chins?

What will you be getting your chins for Christmas? Or other holiday hat you may celebrate.



I will be ordering TONS of toys from chinchilla city.



I already know I am going to spend WAY too much! :/

How much do you feed your chin(s)?

I have read only give them 2 table spoons daily where as others say feed unlimited. I was wondering what do you do?

How Often Should I Weigh My Chins?

I just bought this SCALE and was going to start weighing them but was wondering how often i should do it? I was thinking daily weighing for at least my 2 month old but was wondering about the rest.

Also how much weight change is bad (+&-)?

Chin Safe wood list?

Somewhere around here there is a list of Chin safe wood. I can't seem to find it again.

Help Anybody?

Thanks

Heart murmur causing deep breath?

First of all, just want to say English' s not my main language, so if something sounds off, it's mostly because of that



OK so Pedro, my adopted chin, turned 9 years old 5 days ago. I noticed him seemingly taking very deep breaths yesterday, kinda like how a person breathes after efforts. I took him out for his usual play time, nothing abnormal in his behavior, aside from the breathing. Do you guys think his heart murmur would make him breathe like that? I never really noticed till today... It's his breathing that bothers me, I'm planning on going to the vet if nothing changes overnight



2 days ago, when I was about to refill his water, I noticed it wasn't empty like usual (almost empty, he drinks and pees a lot, well a lot more than Kahlua) and I noticed he didn't eat that much. But since sometimes he doesn't eat much the pellets and eat more of his hay, I thought it was fine.



Same thing yesterday. But tonight, I noticed a bunch of small droppings too... So I figured I might give too much of that shredded wheat (not the sugar mini wheats, a non sugar one). Any idea?

Shop vacs?

Which would you recommend getting?

How much HP would be best to suck up all the hay and such?

lava bites?

anyone have a suggestion for the cheapest place to buy/order lava bites? a few of my chins LOOOOOVE these but everywhere ive seen them so far it's over a (dollar or 2) per lava bite! with 5 chins i try to keep the cost down....

How long have you been a chin_parent?

how long have you been a chinparent?



i got my first, Zoey, in the summer of 2007 so I'm 7 years strong! Have had a total of 7 chins in that span (R.I.P molly and maddie!) but im still learning every day!

Chins Birthdays

Do you celebrate your chins birthdays? If so, how? I am thinking of doing it by getting them special toys or something on their birthdays and would like ideas?

Possible drool after teeth filing....?

Eeyore just got his teeth filed yesterday morning, this is about the third time he's got it done and has done very well each time. He's taking his critical care really well today, as he did yesterday too. Is it a bad sign if he is drooling a little, or can that just be because he's a little sore from the filing?

Male : Female Ratio

Just for fun & out of curiosity.

Do you have a male, female, or both?



I have 1 male.

Fur Biting

So I just recently acquired a 7 year old chin that is a fur biter. She basically looks like she just had a fight with a weed eater. The previous owner is a vet tech said that it's a genetic disorder. Is this true or is there a way to stop her from doing this?

Female Chin Suddenly Peeing Outside Litter Box

Hi All,



I have had my female chin for almost a year now and from the beginning she has always used her designated litter box to go pee. Even when she is out of her cage playing, she will go back to her cage when she needs to go.



However, in the past two weeks she has peed twice on my bed. I have been laying on the bed both times she has done it and she seems to sniff around for 5+ seconds and before I know it there is a wet spot.



I know we can't control where our chins pee, but she has always been so good about using her litter box, so I wonder if it could possibly be a behavioral thing?



Does anyone have any idea what this could be about?



Any insight is appreciated, thanks!

Happy Chinchilla Thanksgiving!

After spending a lovely evening on Fifth Ave with my adorable sister, we sit down for a slice of cake and a spot of tea.. and then, we reflect on the chinchillas we are thankful for! :)



To read more about my Chinchilla Thanksgiving, visit http://ift.tt/1yhvoeO



Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!

Signs of fur having been damp around eye

I have a 13 year old female chinchilla. I noticed the fur around her eye was a little darker than normal and looks like it may have been damp. I felt the area around her eye and it does not feel damp or wet.



I took some photos. One photo looks like she is squinting really bad but its just a photo that she is blinking from the flash. She is not squinting like this normally.



Does this look like enough of a concern to take a trip to the vet?

Concerned about chinchilla

Hi,



I came across this website when I first got my chinchilla which is almost a year and a half ago and really found it helpful in keeping my chinchilla healthy and happy.



I have decided to write my own post as I now have a problem that don't quite fit what others have had so please bear with me while I try to explain.



For about the last week I have noticed that my chinchilla's poo has become soft to the point that if he steps in it it squashes beneath him however it isn't constant it seems to be a few out of many and didn't happen on consecutive days. I know this is really dangerous for chinchilla's so have been monitoring him closely. I have also noticed that he has hair on the outside of it sometimes too and that they can come out attached.



Yesterday I noticed that it was squishy again but this time it was in clusters (only 2 lots) so made an appointment at the vets. His poo has always been a very dark brown colour slightly moist but is formed correctly though can be a little on the squishy side sometimes but not if he steps in it.



I feed him beaphar care plus and timothy hay. I always boil his water before giving him any as I heard this helps kill anything bad which he could catch.



As for treats I limit him to a papaya piece about 4 times a week however I found out someone in the house had been giving him them too.. After I found this out I stopped all of his treats to see if it helps.



Another thing is he doesn't seem to be eating as much hay as he used to but this started a long time before his pooing issues (he still eats hay just not as much) he is still eating his food and is drinking plenty.



One last concern is that he does not seem to be pooing anywhere near as much as he should. He used to go everywhere now I rarely seen any on his shelves in his cage or when he is running around.



I have just bought a new cage for him and he has been in it about 4 days so I don't know if that could have any effect on it?



I had my vet appointment today and they didn't really say anything other than I should limit the amount of food I give him as he might not be getting enough roughage and that if it didn't improve in a few days to take him back and they will xray his teeth to see if there's any problems with that.



Is there anybody that could possibly shed some light on what is going on with him and I would welcome anyone who has had any of the same problems as this to let me know what you came back with.



I am very sorry for the long scrambled post and thank everyone who reads it :).



PS I do not give Widget anything that isn't wooden except for his fleece blanket.

Mated pair needs new home

I have a set male and female chinchillas that need a new home. I have 2 chinchillas that need a new home. Both 5 years old. It will be $50 for both chins. $25 a piece.



If you want supplies and a cage i am asking $150 and this includes the chins too. Will come with 3 dust bath houses, a water bottle, food dishes, a chew toy, bag of hay cubes, container of food, container of hay pellets, hay and a cage. cage is pulled apart and ready to go. It is a ferret nation single level.

Rabbit food?

I have heard rabbit food is OK for chinchillas. I was wondering what everyone here thinks. I was thinking doing a mix of chinchilla pellets and rabbit pellets. would this be OK?

Chinchilla going vacant?

My little boy lives alone but has lots of toys. Recently I've noticed his fur isn't as fluffy (we give him daily dustbaths) and also that he goes into these vacant trances. He just stands there for ages and when I normally stroke or tickle him, he nibbles my finger and runs around it but he just stands there, not moving and I can't even see him breathing. If I move his paws up and down he doesn't object and just follows them. Eventually he will go back to normal and start nibbling my finger but I'm worried as my second cousin does this as she has epilepsy. Should I take him to a vet? He's eating his pellets and drinking normally but he hasn't touched his hay for a few days...

Baby Care?

I recently rescued four chinchillas and one of them is a baby (i didn't know there was a baby till i went to go get them). The people said she is 11 weeks or so born labor day weekend, but she seems to be too small to be that old. I was able to take her to another chin owner and weigh her, she only weighs is 95 grams. They were feeding all four hamster food. Could this be why she is SO small? Second is she old enough to have dust baths?

She is alone and doesn't have any other chins in her cage. Will she be warm enough? Will she be fine on chinchilla pellets and regular water? How much food should I give her? Is it the same as adults (2 tablespoons)? I am giving her alfalfa hay for added nutrients. Also any other advise would be nice as i have never had experience with babies.

Vinegar in the wash?

I often use a 50/50 vinegar/water solution to clean things for my chins. I also use it in the wash when its time to clean some fleece. I was wondering how much vinegar ppl use in the wash. Since it uses several gallons of water, 50/50 aint rly on the menu. Ive always just eyed it, but i was wondering'

1 year old beige female chinchilla

She is about a year. The only reason she needs a new home is I have several other chinchillas and they stress her out WAY too much and i don't want her to stress herself too much. I bought (rescued really) her from a home that didn't take care of her. When she came to me she had mold on her (it is now gone). She is skittish and i have been working with her. MUST HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH CHINCHILLAS! She will not go to a home where you have no idea how to care for her. She needs LOTS of patients and time. She is a sweetheart but is very stressed.



*It is $75 for her. She will come with about a weeks worth of food, some hay, hay pellets, hay cubes, treats, dust, and a weeks worth of the multivitamins. I give it to all my chinchillas, its less than $10 for a bottle of 60 and i break them in half so they last for twice as long. Its Oxbow multivitamins.



*For another $50 (so $125 total) i will include a single level ferret nation (its from a double but will have solid grate and pan and will come with a base). I will include a water bottle with the cage.



*If you do not buy the cage from me i MUST see a picture or the actual cage she will be in. If i do not see this you will NOT be taking her. If i deem the cage not suitable you will NOT take her



*****any hay, food, dust or treats included is only a small amount. you will need new food and hay within a week*****



*just because you come to see her doesn't mean you are going home with her*



I have been having issues with uploading pictures so here are some links so you can see her:



~http://ift.tt/15onZ35



~http://ift.tt/1yStXC2



~http://ift.tt/15oo0Uu

What treats do you give your chins?

What treats do you give your chins? How often? Where do you buy them? Price? Do you use treats to teach them tricks or just as treats?







I use cheerios for training them but they only get one a day if that. I also use dandelion drops a few times a week. Other treats i have used are rose hips (don't know where to get at decent price), sunflower seeds, raisins (small amounts), dehydrated banana and cranberries (i dehydrate my own), shredded wheat, cheerios and in the past i gave air popped popcorn. Yes i know some of these aren't healthy, I am looking for healthier treats. That is why i posted this.

Baby Chin Not Growing... PLEASE HELP!

I got my Sassy at 10 weeks old and she is now 5 months. She hasn't seemed to have grown much and is half the size of all my other full grown chins. I do notice she isn't the size of other 5 month old chins either. There is a smaller breed of chinchillas, the costina. She does have shorter fur than my others.

Quote:

The Costina is the smallest size of the chinchillidae family... They have short fur, which is not as compact as the Lanigera or Brevicaudata breeds due to them not needing the extra warmth living in the lowest regions of the Andes Mountains of 3,000 feet about sea level. Costinas have a 'pointy' head shape leading to a 'rat-like' nose and have longer ears and tail than the other breeds. They are slightly more 'highly-strung' than their cousins and rarely found within the pet industry.

This is where i read it :

http://ift.tt/1C9hAqK





I feed her oxbow brand pellets and alfalfa to try to get her to grow but she simply isn't. I was even wondering if there may be something wrong. Does anyone know?



You can see pictures of her here:



~http://ift.tt/1y7VL5Y



~http://ift.tt/1C9hAqQ

Raisins or no?

i was wondering who here gives there chins raisins and who doesn't...

I can't see my own avatar or pictures...

I can't see my own avatar or pictures but i can see everyone else's. is there a reason for this? I also have troubles uploading some pictures too. :( Can someone please help?

What cage do you use?

I use ferret nation and critter nation but was wondering what everyone else uses.

Water

How often do you change the water in the water bottle? Is it ok to just rinse it out and refill. Or do you have to clean it with vinegar water? I empty and refill every other day. Is that ok, or do I have to empty and refill everyday? It's just that she doesn't finish her water in a day, and I don't want to waste it.

Hay cubes

I used to give my chins hay cubes as a treat. They do get regular timothy hay. They seem interested in it then they wouldn't touch it again. The cubes will be at the bottom of the cage peed and poop on. People that just feed cubes do you just keep throwing them away after a couple of days. It seems 50 lbs in 2 months is a waste for about 55 chins.



Hay they don't eat gets thrown out every day.

2015 California ECBC Sanctioned Show - Jan 24-25, 2015

2015 CA Group ECBC Sanctioned Show

January 24-25, 2015



Ventura Harbor at the Sheraton 4 Points

1050 Schooner Dr.

Ventura, CA 93001



Judges: Rich Ryerson and Maxine Lynch

Trainee: Tiffany Whitlow



Show chair: Cara Beasley



*Multiple ribbon*

*Registry show*

*Combined pelt show*

*Standard live animal show*

*Mutation live animal show*



We hope to see you there!

Protecting Chins from Curious Cats

Hey all, I've been scouring the internet for awhile now looking to see if there is some way to protect my chins from curious kitties. Right now I live in an environment where the two cats I own are very docile and show no interest in my chins. I may here in the next year or so find myself moving in with someone that has two wonderful cats, but also rather curious and playful. I'm worried about having them out in the living room for fear that they'll try and stick their paws in the cage. There is another room we can put them into, but then they would be rather isolated. I want to avoid that if possible.



If anyone has any ideas or experience with the matter please let me know. I do have some time to figure this out and I just want to make sure my chins still get love and attention.



Thanks!

Naming my new chin

I recently got 4 more chins and i am now up to 10.



I have found names for all but one male. I have 3 picked out and can't decide please vote for your favorite!



He is black with a white belly. He is 5 years old.

First Time Chin Owner

Hi all!



We just got our first chinchilla about a month ago when we heard of a chin owner that was sending theirs to the shelter due to allergies. Since then I've been on a crash course learn-a-thon of chin care. We knew little of chins but I've always wanted one since I am also nocturnal, averse to heat, and of Chilean descent.



His nickname is 'Truthless', and he is a white mutation of some sort. I was hoping to get some opinions on that. Also if there are any other Utah owners out there with supply tips I'd appreciate it.



He is downright spoiling us as he is amazingly tempered for a chin from what I understand. He was jumping on me by week one and since then has begun to play on my shoulders and allow me to remove him from the cage and handle him a bit without complaint. He is also a very behaved chewer and unusually quiet. He will click his teeth on occasion but I have only heard him bark once, almost inaudibly, and quietly squeak once directly into my ear.



I initially thought he was a Wilson White from pictures I've seen, but I recently saw a photo of an odd chin belonging to a mosiac breeder that looked just like him. Utah seems devoid of anything but hobby/accidental breeders so the odds of a mosiac seem a lot more likely. Wish I knew where he came from but we didn't know the owner and they didn't seem to be very informed.

It Sickens Me!

It's really sad how some people treat their chinchillas.

I rescue chins, unfortunately i am full with ten chins right now :(, and the condition of some of them are horrendous.



I have ten chins. all but two were rescued from bad homes. The other two, Batman and Jekyll, i got from a breeder and they were and are perfectly healthy. In fact all my current chinchillas are healthy.



One of the chins i have, Sky, came to me covered in mold we took her to the vet and got it taken care of. Sadly her companion was so sick they put him down as they wouldn't have been able to save him.



Next is Pepper. He came to me from a home that had a four year old that chased him non stop and he had TONS if fur gone (now is growing back). The sad thing was the owners acted like they didn't care and this was fine for him. He is still timid but doing MUCH better.



Then we have Jekyll/Hyde. they were housed in a SINGLE ferret nation with 6 others with no wheel or any real toys. Both of there whiskers are chewed off to about just a half inch from their faces. Sadly i could only rescue the two, the lady wouldn't let me take any others.



After them i got a set of four chinchillas (Coco, Butterfly,Lucky and Duece) from a really nice family that could no longer take care of them so they surrendered them to me. they had rescued three of them (the female was pregnant, there's the fourth) from a person that kept them in a medium size dog crate (all three) and fed them hamster food. They never got out and they were covered in matts.



Last is a pair i rescued and have been adopted, Artemis and Luna. When i got them they were malnourished and very anti social. now they are healthy and love playing with the adopters dogs.



I have gotten chins before from people who bought them because they are cute. Then they get them not knowing what to do or proper care then they wonder why the chin is sick or not happy.



When I got my first chinchilla I researched for WEEKS before i got mine. I wanted to be prepared and i was. This also allowed me to double and triple check that i had everything i needed for my new baby.

2014 Secret Santa...

2014 CnH Secret Santa is on! :1present:



Details on the official thread -

http://ift.tt/1FiOuSb



:1santa10:

New kit - intoduction question

Hey all, so we just picked up our 3rd chin (9 week old kit) and we're hoping to eventually pair him with our 1 year old chin. I've read up plenty on intro methods & procedures, but couldn't find any advice based on age; at what age would it be appropriate to start attempting an intro? I know the 6 month mark is a big one for kits as far as new freedoms, is this a recommended starting point? Or should I wait for him to get a bit bigger than that? Our 1 year old isn't very large, and has shown interest in our oldest chin (who's unfortunately a satisfied loner) but I know that it's still a roll of the dice as to whether the two will get along or not. Any input is appreciated! We're not trying to rush things, just curious.



P.S. here's his 'welcome home' photo op! (the plastic-bottom cage is getting swapped for a FN181 as soon as it gets delivered)

Has my chin had some sort of fit?

Hi, recently adopted two chins, keep them in a cool room, with a three tier cage, we have been getting to know each other slowly and at their place.

I have made a run for them out of card board boxes so they can come out of their cage in their own t time while i sit and wait. This seems to be going down well.

Today though, as if out of nowhere my one chin seemed to be hugging the floor and appeared to have lost her balance! I helped her back into her home where she stumbled about looking dazed, at one point i was talking gently to her when she even let me strike her for a good 30 seconds, doesn't usually like that. I sat with her by the cage for some time, fanned her in case she was hot, although the room was not at all heated, and i was fine with a jumper on.

I have left her quietly in her cage now after half a raisin in case of low blood sugar levels.

I guess as a fairly new owner, i am asking if anyone else has had a similar experience? I cant see where she would have found anything nasty to eat as i was sat with them, and didn't appear to be any large jump which could have injured her.



Any support of feedback would be appreciated, i shall check on her frequently...

Chinchilla and Rabbit

Hey all!



I have been doing a lot of research on this and have yet to find a definitive answer. I know I can't put them in the same cage or get them running around together due to disease and potential physical injury. Can I though, in their separate cages have them in the same room?



The room is quite big so cages wont be next to each other, hopefully stop random dust/hay/evil glances from getting to each other. We are about to start a major decorating and remodel of our home and would like to keep them here...wouldn't trust parents to look after one as they are prolific treat providers haha.



Anyway, thanks for reading!



Mark :)

Uh Oh I made my hanging hidey house wrong please help!

So i bought a sewing machine about a week ago for the primary purpose of spoiling my furbabies. well I've been making easy things like hammocks and liners so far and I tried to make a hanging hidey house but I made it WAY to big and I made it out of one layer of fleece because I didn't feel safe using cotton. Anyway my chin loves it but because it's too big it sags down a LOT when he gets in. Is there anything I can do to salvage it without having to make a whole new one?

biting hedgehog..

Hello, I recently purchased a 9 month old male off of Craigslist. He's generally sweet, and loves my boyfriend. However, when I get near him, he will run up to me lick me hard and then bite. Any idea on why he is acting this way?

Chin biting and change of behavior

I have a chin who is a little over a year old. I've had him since he was four months. He was very sweet. Recently he has been biting to the point of almost bleeding every time I take him out and he's now biting the carpets. He has plenty of chew toys in his cage. I'm at a loss for why his behavior has changed. Please help

Is she Choking?

The video is here

http://ift.tt/1xmxOVF

Please check it out and give some input as well as if i can do anything. The chin vet doesnt come in until 1pm. I will be bringing her in, even if its an emergency visit. We moved into our new house yesterday and Tainga chewed furiously on cardboard on the ride over. Im worried that she got some lodged in her throat =[

chin coughing?

So, we just moved into our new house today. I knew it would be stressful for my chins to move so they will not get playtime until I feel they're adjusted to the new environment. I have 4 chins. 2 are acting like nothing happened, one is clearly a bit startled and one keeps making strange cough like noises. For the cart ride I had them in a cardboard box, with plenty of holes. I held them on my lap, without the car heat being on. The chin that is coughing was vigorously chewing on the box, the other three were calm. I'm worried that maybe she was panicking while chewing and breathed some cardboard into her lungs, is that possible? It seems to be happening less and less, but I've had chins for 4.5 years and have never heard the sound so I'm scared. Could it just be from nervousness? Has anyone experienced anything like this? If you've heard a chin sneeze and imagined what their cough would sound like, that's what noise she's making. Anyone want to share their moving experience would also be appreciated. Thank you!

Muff Shaking off the Stress of the Week!

http://ift.tt/1y1CvYB



Hope you do the same as well and enjoy your weekend :)

Feel free to subscribe for continual cuteness! :thumbsup:

How Long?

How long does it take before you can:

Add a profile picture?

Add a signature?

Post new postings w/out moderator approval?





:hmm:

My Babies:

Sassy,Sky,Batman,Pepper,Jekyll,Hyde

my chin has a scratched nose

I just came home and noticed the chins cage was open. I think my brother let them out by accident. but when I picked up my chin that escaped idk if I scratched his nose or if he had the scratch on it and I didn't see. he has a minor scratch on the bottom left of his nose. it is not bleeding or have any discharge, and a much smaller one right above his nose, there is some hair missing but not a lot to where I was like WOAH! that's a lot no it is very little hair. he is acting fine eating fine. I did get a tissue and wet it a bit to get off any dirt or dust so it doesn't get dirty. and maybe from wiping and rubbing his nose I did make it bleed a bit but then the blood stopped. will it heal on its own? do I give him dust baths? right now money is tough so I cant take him to the vet. if it was very serious to the point where he was very lethargic then I wouldn't care right to the emergency vet, but hes active. I just wanna know that he will be ok.

Chins + rats = not a good idea

I had rescued 2 rats that were in a bad home. i thought they could get along with my chin. I was sadly wrong. the one attacked my chin. nothing happened except my chin sprained her shoulder and got scratched. i was scared because for the next week she wouldn't move much but i knew she was eating and drinking. she would also let me hold her for hours a day, not normal for her. She quickly recovered though and nothing is wrong now. It was heartbreaking and i feel like a bad chin parent but now she seems to love me more than she used to. she loves to cuddle with me and popcorns when i pet her, she didn't do this before either. I love all my babies. I don't want to hear that i am a bad person!!

My Babies:



Degus: Lily,Rose

Hamsters: Nibbler,Who,Serenity

Chinchillas: Sassy,Sky,Batman,Pepper,Jekyll,Hyde

Hello!

[FONT="Comic Sans MS"]I have 6 chinchillas, 2 female and 4 male. I rescue abused, unwanted or homeless chinchillas and give them a forever home with me. The only chins I have that weren't rescues are Sassy and Pepper.





Other pets:

2 Degus both female. If you don't know what they are you should look them up, they are great pets. 3 hamsters, 1 male syrian, 1 male dwarf and 1 female syrian.



Sassy was born May 27, 2014 (my birthday). She has her own double cage, critter nation bottom and a ferret nation top. She is grey and a violet carrier.



Sky was born December 25, 2013 (yes Christmas). She has a double ferret nation to herself. Sky is beige.



Batman was born October 19, 2010. Pepper was born July 9, 2012. They share a double critter nation. Both are dark standards.



Jekyll/Hyde were born June 15, 2014. They share a double ferret nation. Jekyll is hetero beige and Hyde is charcoal.



I own 6 sections of ferret nation and 4 critter nation in total and I paid under $500 for all my chins and cages.



I make most of my toys. I also make my own kiln pine ledges. I don't use the shelves in my cages because i have TONS of ledges. I also make my own hideaway houses. I also use cardboard to make toys as well.



The treats my chins get are: raisins, dried banana, popcorn, cheerios and shredded wheats. They get hay from a local farm, vet said it's fine. They also get hay cubes and pellets.



They each have their own dust bath houses and get dust baths daily. I get Oxbow brand dust.



I have a "pet proof" bedroom dedicated to their cages and it's also their playroom.

Batman/Sassy/Pepper have playtime 7pm-10pm nightly.

Sassy has to have playtime with them or she just sits by their cage crying. I am positive she is in love with the two

Jekyll/Hyde/Sky have playtime from 10pm-1am

Sky refuses to play with the other three so she plays with these two.



I feed my chins Oxbow brand food pellets. I also give each if them half an Oxbow multi-vitamin daily. As of now Sassy is being fed Alfalfa hay with regular hay because she is really small, even for a 5 month old.



I treat my pets not as pets but my children.

My Babies:

Chinchillas: Sassy,Sky,Batman,Pepper,Jekyll,Hyde

Hamsters: Nibbler,Who,Serenity

Degus: Lily,Rose

Scared/Stressed Chin... PLEASE HELP!!

When I rescued Sky she had TONS of matts on her belly and i went to try to get them out and she bit me. I finally just took her to the vet and they took care of it.

Now she doesn't want anything to do with me or my roommate. She pees on me and my other chins when they come near her. She will even sit outside the cage of my other female and pee at her. She doesn't bark but makes the coughing warning sound when I'm even near her cage, putting food or changing water in her cage.

Anytime I pick her up for playtime she releases fur and when i do get her out she just runs, hides in a corner and does nothing.

It's been almost two months since i got her and she does't seem to be improving. I work with her everyday for at least an hour. I give her treats, put my hand in/around the cage so she can sniff it but she bites it, not hard, it's actually more of a warning nibble.

She "throws" her food, hay and droppings out of her cage.

She also sits in he cage and chatters her teeth all the time.

I knew she wasn't treated well before I got her but maybe she was abused or something.

What do I do?

Proud Mommy Of:

Chinchillas: Sassy,Sky,Batman,Pepper,Jekyll,Hyde

Degus: Lily,Rose

Hamsters: Nibbler,Who,Serenity

Attached Images

Sky (1).jpg (157 Bytes)

Cage?

What is the best cage for the price?

I use ferret/critter nation cages and was wondering if there was something better.

Proud Mommy Of:

Degus: Lily,Rose

Hamsters: Nibbler,Who,Serenity

Chinchillas: Sassy,Sky,Batman,Pepper,Jekyll,Hyde

Female Doesn't Like other Females? PLEASE HELP!!

Her name is Sassy, her name says it all. She is 5 months old and is "in love" with my 4 males that i have.

I would like to cage her with another female but anytime I try to introduce my other 1 year old female, Sky, Sassy attacks her.

i really want her to have a cage mate so she isn't lonely and i will NOT cage her with a male as i don't want her to get pregnant.

I have tried putting Sassy's cage next to Sky's, but they sit at the sides peeing on each other and Sassy tries to bite Sky through the cage. They are in ferret nation cages. It got so bad i got a critter nation so Sassy couldn't reach out and hurt Sky.

I have had her since she was 10 weeks and the first night i had her she fell in love with the two 14 year old females, Coco and Violet, i had. Within a few weeks they were caged together. they passed two months ago and ever since she doesn't want anything to do with females. I took Sassy to the vet to make sure she was OK and they said she is fine.

Is there anyway i will ever be able to cage her with another female or will i have to get a fixed male? I will not fix her as i have read its really dangerous.

Could it be her way of "claiming" my males? Could she be upset with losing Coco and Violet?

HELP!!! Bringing home a new chin on Sunday

So excited to be bringing home a new chin on Sunday morning, he is 6 months old.:clap1:



However, after a year of researching.....now that I'm under the pressure I feel as though I know nothing.:hmm:



I have already purchased the following.....

*Cage - Ferret Nation 1 level (will be adding the 2nd level within the month)

*Bass Stainless Steel bottom drawer for the cage

*Oxbow - Food, Timothy Hay (breeder said that's what he's on now) and Poof Blue Cloud Dust

*Pine Shavings

*Chinchilla Bath House

*Lixit Glass Water Bottle



I know I definitely have to purchase a hut/house and a litter pan.......

With that being said I'm hoping to get some feedback on some safe stuff (including those two items) that I can purchase at a local Petco, Petsmart or Kahoots pet store until I can order online and get things shipped to me ordered online.



I'm also going to cover all the shelves/platforms with fleece until I can get some chinchilla safe ones online as well.



Any and all feedback would be welcomed.;)



Thank you!

Hi. Looking for a breeder.

Hello all:

I am currently looking for a breeder of chinchillas. Our 18 year old son has wanted a chin for YEARS! We would like to locate a breeder in our area, or at least only a short drive away :-) We would like to get a baby, male chin.

We live in the Hampton Roads, Va area.

Any help or guidance is appreciated!

Thanks,

Theresa

HELP!!! Bringing home our first chin on Sunday morning

So beyond excited to say that we are bringing home our first (and only) chin on Sunday morning. He is a 6 month old Mosaic. :clap1:



However, even after researching and reading for over a year.....now with the pressure on, I feel like I know nothing. :hmm:



This is what I have so far.......

*Midwest Ferret Nation Cage - 1 level cage (adding second level within the month)

*Bass - Bottom level stainless steel drawer

*Oxbow - Food, Timothy Hay, Pine shavings (breeder currently uses) and Poof Blue Cloud Dust

*Chinchilla Bath House

*Lixit 32oz Glass Water Bottle



I'm going to cover all current shelves with fleece until I get the Bass bottom drawer as well purchase some great shelves/platforms for him online.



I know for sure I need a hut/house and a litter pan immediately..............

Anything (including those two items) anyone can recommend that is SAFE and successful that I could find locally at a Petco, Petsmart or Kahoots pet store until I get stuff purchased and shipped from online vendors???

(We're located in San Diego, CA)



Would love any and all feedback. :thumbsup:



Thank you all so much!!! :wave3:

Chin forums not showing up?

Ok so I log on today to check out the forum and the forums about chinchillas aren't there? It just says chinchilla forums, then forums and no topics or anything? Is it just me or is it happening to everyone?

Meet my chins

When I got my 2 girls Moxxi (smaller one) Bella.











Moxxi

help convincing? hehe

Does anyone know how I can convince my mom to spend 200$ dollars on a critter/ferret nation cage? I want it SO BADLY for my little chinchilla, but when I said it's 200$ She's like :eek: xD any advice much appreciated!

critter nation or ferret nation????

First of all, I need some help. I can't decide which one is better.. Ferret nation or critter nation?? I heard good about them both, but I want to pick the perfect one. It will be for my single chinchilla. Any suggestions? Also anyone know where I can get a cheap one since its Black Friday? Btw I live in Canada.

Excessive Bar Chewing

So recently I got a new cage for my girls (3 chins), hoping this would limit their bar chewing. Thinking it would give them more space, less stress, just overall more room. But the bar chewing hasn't stopped. I was told it was to do with stress, and not enough toys.



But I always spend so much on them every month on toys, and trying to make them happy. They got plenty of willow sticks for them to chew, and I also got them kiwi that apparently they are nuts for. I also got them custom chinchilla toys which are on chains, and other toys as well from chinchillas2shop.



I was also told they don't need so much time outside of the cage. I get them into a routine and get them out every other day for 20-30mins. I used to take them out for 45-1hr before I was told to reduce my time. They usually have a bath during playtime about 3 times a week. If I take them out too long they start to chew up the bathroom. And my 1 chinchilla gets too tired, and which can cause her to have a seizure. I'm thinking of not taking them out anymore or rarely taking them out. Might make them think they won't be coming out. I don't like this idea, but might have to do this.



I've had 4 females all chewed the bars, 2 males where 1 chews bars, other one hasn't yet. I give these chinchillas everything, I buy them tons of toys. And I even change up the toys so they won't get bored of the same old ones. I've owned chinchillas for roughly 2 years and I can never solve why they bite the bars so much. I would like for them to stop as I can not move them into another room, because I live with smokers.



Anyone else deal with this, and what ways could help me solve this?

Toofer the Baby Chinchilla Playing in a Doll House

http://ift.tt/1uaAenU



Put some clips together to make a cute little video with some party time music. Don't worry, she had plenty of breaks in between shots and got to cuddle with her mommy! She was unexpected (previous owner had told me the mother wasn't pregnant), but she is getting the best care I can give her along with her mom, Vanilla. She is healthy and always looked out for. (If anyone would like to talk about their kit experience, that would be appreciated! I'm learning everyday!)

Just thought I would share for anyone who likes little kits!!

Looking for a reputable chin breeder in the Orange Count/LA area

Looking very seriously for a reputable breeder in the Orange County/LA area that have chins they are ready part with. Looking to purchase just one, preferably around 6 months old.

Thank you!!!

Red spot/ Rash on the knee of my chinchilla

Hi there, very sorry if my formatting is incorrect but this is my first time using this board.



I have three male chinchillas, and got the first one around 9 months ago. They live in a 6' cage that has marble tiles on two levels and for the other two levels I use fleece lining, eat oxbow pellets, and fresh timothy hay. They have a ready access to water and I have cut off treats completely about a month ago. My mosaic and standard are rescues.



Yesterday my mosaic, waffles, ran into the cat's bowl of water. (I have a baby gate up but they are getting better and better at getting over it, I now put the water up during playtime). I noticed right away, and my boyfriend and I went to blow dry (no heat) him. When we did we noticed this bald patch on his knee, with a red mark on it.



Yesterday the mark was in a different spot (towards the top of the bald spot) and horizontal, and maybe 4 mm wide. It looked like a cut in shape, but there was no broken skin.



Today this is what it looks like. It has moved entirely, and still no broken skin. This chinchilla is a nut and likes to run into things wildly during playtime. I don't think that bruises can generate and disappear this quickly though?



http://ift.tt/1F3RnpO





We live in Georgia, where about a week ago the humidity dropped to between 40-45%. Before that however it was quite high. They get dust baths every time they come out for play, about 4-5x a week. Are these conditions for ringworm? From the images I see on google, ringworm does not look like this.



He has zero change in behavior, eats normal and runs around like a bat out of **** when he can. He runs on his wheel just as well. If he hadn't gotten wet I never would have seen this, or known any better.



I plan on keeping track of it for another few days before I take him to the vet but if anyone can recognize the condition or situation that would be so helpful.



Waffles has a great personality, especially for being a rescue and I don't want anything happening to my baby. =[



Thank you so much for any input!

Black Friday Sales

Are there ever any good deals on supplies/cages for Black Friday?

Wooden ledges

Me and my friends just got a 4 month old chinchilla named stitch (girl). She is still little so we have in a smaller cage. I was wondering where you buy the wooden ledges and shelves because we will be getting her a new cage. Hopefully a Ferret Nation! I can order them online (I have paypal) and would like to get a good deal. I know some people on here have stores and wonder if they sell them. I already ordered some sticks from someone on here and they were very affordable.



And one more question. If we get a FN will a single be big enough?

If you need more info just ask.

Chinny Holidays!

Christmas is just around the corner! I did some decorating over the last few days.. Of course I had to include my pets in the fun too! (:



I thought it would be cute if everyone posts their holiday chin photos here! Did you do a Christmas themed photo shoot? Snap a cute holiday photo with your chin? Please share!



Here are Elijah's holiday photos. He is in love with the little stocking. He had so much fun running around with it after pictures lol.

My package arrived!

I'm super excited. :D it only took 3 business days to get here.



Pet stores don't carry ledges or chin-chillers around here. I ordered them online! 2 chin-chillers (one for each level) 2 sleep n ledges, and 1 lava ledge. No more ramps in his cage. (:



Eli was so curious about his new things, he was so cute! He inspected each item, used them a little, and now he is fast asleep on one of his chillers. :cute:







Now that I know what the shipping is like, I'll be ordering a couple more ledges & maybe a couple fleece items. ;)

seeking a friend for 8 y/o female chin - new england area

i'm located in southeastern MA, but totally willing to do some driving for the right fluffball. hoping to find a female or neutered male close to lilac's age. i would love to give a second chance to a chin who needs to be rehomed. i'm happy to pay a reasonable purchase/adoption fee.



my plan is to set up another prevue 490 cage next to lilac's. if all goes well and they get along, i'm going to cut doorways in the sides of the two cages to combine them and create a giant chin palace. if things don't work out and they end up not getting along, then i'll just keep the separate cages and they'll have separate playtimes. i also have a 16" chillawheel to put in the newcomer's cage. lilac has yet to master the concept of wheels, which is why it's not in her cage right now. maybe a friend could teach her!



the cages will be kept in my kitchen, which is air conditioned in the summer and generally kept at 65F in the winter. i feed oxbow pellets and timothy hay, and there's a steady supply of pumice stones/apple sticks/chin-safe wood accessories for chewing, no fruits or other sugary treats.



i have a small dog who occasionally stands below the cage and whines at the mysterious fluffy thing [that's the full extent of their interaction], so this would not be a good home for a chin who is stressed by the presence of dogs.

Humidifiers in the winter

So my room is insanely dry and my parents were gonna buy a humidifier for me to use during the winter. However my chinchillas are with me in my room and I was wondering if it's a bad idea to get a humidifier. Obviously if it is a bad idea I won't get one.



Just thought I'd give you a brief description of my room to fully explain the situation. I live in the basement of my house so its one large room. My bed and bedroom area are on one end of the room and the chinchillas are in the complete opposite where the living room area of the basement is.



If I get a humidifier and only use it on my end of the room is that ok?

Is she sick?

So I got my baby hedgehog three weeks ago and she is nine weeks old now. I realize now that's too young. She's pretty jumpy and scared most of the time.but she loves being held in her blanket. But I can't get her to eat dry or alive mealworms, any type of fruit or vegetable or hedgehog food she'll eat expensive cat food but she won't even look at good hedgehog food. She ran on her wheel at first but now she doesn't, spending day and night asleep and now she's pooping and peeing in her bed too. Also she has a bad habit of biting me. I'm very gentle with her and I hold her well. She's also in a quiet dark room. What should I do?

MCBA Ohio Chapter Show

MCBA Ohio Chapter Show

December 13, 21014

Jenera Park hall

18800 State Route 698

Jenera, OH



Hotels close by:



Comfort Inn Bluffton

117 Commerce Ln Bluffton, 45817



Fairway Inn

855 State Rt 103 Hancock Bluffton, 45817



Judge: Jim Ritterspach



Registration: 7:00 a.m.-8:30 a.m.

Grooming: 7:00 a.m.- 10:00 am.

Classification: 10:00 a.m. with the show immediately following



Cost: $4.00 per animal



Trophies will be given for:



Grand Show Champion

Reserve Grand Show Champion

Champion Female of Show

Reserve Champion Female of Show

Champion Male of Show

Reserve Champion Male of Show

Color Champion Females (7)

Color Champion Males (7)

Reserve Color Champion Females (7)

Reserve Color Champion Males (7)



Lunch provided at a cost of $5.00.



Set up will be Friday night at around 7 pm.

Tips for Chinchilla Playtime!

Hi all! I've wrote a big long post about chinchilla playtime basics!



I wanted to share my basic points with you!

* Get to know your fluffball

* Be present at playtime

* Set your boundaries

* Chin-proof the playroom

* Train

* Enjoy and take your time



The entire article can be found here:

http://ift.tt/1HlgCYz if you'd like to delve in further :)

Introducing Much Older Chin with Young

I know there's no guarantee the you can bond two chins together but has anyone had success with a much older chin with a young one. I have a 13 year old and just got one that is only about a year. The old guy seems like Im king here and just makes noises as the lil fella will pass by as for the youngster he wants to dash after my old guy as soon as his back is towards him and pull some hair out. They are side by side one another when they are in their cages so I know they know each others scent.

guinea pig fleece items for chinchillas

Sorry if this has already been asked. tried looking for it.



http://ift.tt/14JEne2



Are some of these items safe for chinchillas? I know some of them might have foam in them or something but if the chinchilla doesn't chew on the fleece to get into it would it be ok? Thanks~



Trying to find new items for their playtime.







Oh, otherwise does anyone know what you can use to make the fleece item and keep its shape?

Useful Items In Stores

I thought it might be helpful to add a thread where we can post useful items for chinchillas and their habitats that we find in common stores. There is so much garbage sold out there it could be helpful to point someone in the right direction by telling where and what we currently find in common stores that would be a better choice.



I saw these stainless steel bowls in the bird section at Petsmart today. They have plates with a wing nut to keep it mounted on a wire cage. Preferable to the similar plastic ones.

http://ift.tt/1xn4Bh7





To the best of my knowledge, these grapewood bird perches that are sold in Petsmart are also ok for the chinchilla cage. They have two large washers and a wing nut to attach to a wire cage. The packaging says they are heat treated.

http://ift.tt/1yRu7JA





This chinchilla food sold at Petsmart is a good choice.

http://ift.tt/1xn4DWe





This fish bowl sold at WalMart makes a good dust bath container. It does not tip easily. It is glass so do not leave your chinchilla unattended with it and use it on a main bottom level. I tried the candy jar idea but it tips forward too easily so I prefer this over that.

http://ift.tt/1yRu6Fv





Please feel free to add your suggestions.

Questions with Bene Bac, Baytril, and Simethicone

So I went to the vet for a check up for my chinchilla and her then 8 day old kit, and because her poop was soft and I saw she had a little diarrhea. I looked up some exotic vets in the area and was glad to see that a local exotic vet had very good reviews. I went in and they checked the mom and kit, saying that they looked good but mom just had a little extra gas. She checked some fresh droppings from the pet carrier and later said there was nothing there such as parasites.



So the vet gave me some medicine for the mom.

Bene Bac (1 gram per day for 10 days)

Baytril (.25 cc every 12 hours for 7 days)

Simethicone: Infants' Gas Relief (The brand is Well at Walgreens. She instructed me to get this myself, and give her .3 cc every 12 hours for 3 days, which has already passed so she is done with that)



I started the medication on November 15th when I woke up, and it is now November 18th (the end of day 4).



I've noticed that the mother chinchilla isn't eating nearly as much as she used to, or drinking as much. I filled her water up a day and a half ago and it looks like she barely touched it. She is a little grumpy after I give her the medication, but she usually eats a lot of hay and some pellets. For the past day and a half she hasn't seemed as interested and seems to be sleeping more than usual. She used to poop A LOT, and now its seems weird that she isn't pooping as much as she was before. At the current moment she just woke up (11:24 PM), and seems like she's a little bit active.



I just looked up the medications I'm giving her and I see that some people are against it. I'm going to look at her tomorrow and see if I can get a check up for her at the vet tomorrow if she doesn't look well. Does anyone have experience with these medications or know what negative effects they can have? I know it's stressful for her to take the medicine since she just had her kit not to long ago and she really doesn't seem to like taking it from the little syringes while I hold her close so she can't run away or hurt herself. I'm just afraid that this is doing more harm than good. The kit seems healthy and is gaining roughly 2-4 grams a day so I'm assuming she still is nursing from the mom.

(After about 5 minutes of looking around for mom, it seems like she went back in her house. A week ago she was excited to get out and stretch a little, but now I' worried that she is in worse condition than before.)

Need Diabetes help

Need some help. I have been taking a chin to the vet since the end of last year for loss weight. She had a spur right bottom 1st molar. He trimmed it. We have been going back for weight loss Feb, June, Sept and yesterday. I had x-rays done, and blood work and he checked her teeth while she was under. X-rays were fine and visual look in the mouth was fine. Tonight I missed his call so I listen to the voice mail blood work elevation for liver enzymes high, elevation glucose 360 high, white blood count is low. He said to see about the sugar count could be due to stress but to make sure it's not diabetes a urine test will tell. If it's diabetes what medicine would help. He thinks that it's not common in chins. If I had some information before I call him tomorrow that will help us both.

How often do you offer a Dust bath?

Just curious! Different sources will recommend different frequencies... I've heard suggestions of once or twice a week, every other day, and even daily.



I am doing the in between, offering it every other day, which also = 3-4 times a week. (:



What do you guys do, and what do you believe is best?

:hmm:

Does your chin do this?

Attachment 21709



Carl does this a lot. Just wondering if anybody's chins do this as well. He normally does it after playtime.





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Attached Images

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1416289208.892516.jpg (12.1 KB)

Bulk Hay?

An idealist possibility arose that if it happened it would see me living pretty far off the normal path and pretty far away from main stores and what not.



So it got me thinking about my chins hay. Hay and litter and the only main two things i go to stores to buy now. Litter obviously has a long shelf life, but it got me wondering about hay. Is there a way to buy hay in bulk amounts (maybe a months worth at a time or such for my 5 chins) and still maintain its freshness and nutrients?



Ive always just bought two 40 oz bags of oxbow western timothy hay at a time these last many years. (i don't like the consistency of there larger bag. Often it seems more like grass then hay; therefor i stuck to two 40z instead) I currently don't know of any pet stores out in the area being looked at, and im not eager to drive 1-1.5 hours to a store. And that's one way, and that's not even including my disability which makes it implausible.

Is his tail short?

Eli is my first chin, so I'm not really familiar with them in person.



I've just noticed that his tail seems a bit short in comparison to other peoples chinchilla photos.. It's making me wonder if something happened to it, before he was in my care. What is normal? Is there different tail lengths, or is there a standard size?



Here are a couple photos with his tail visible. :cute:

Elijah's Photo Thread

Hi everyone! I'd like you to meet my new baby, Eli :hearts:

I will continue to update this thread as I get new photos. It's hard to get really good photos, because he doesn't sit still for long, lol!

Hello from a new member!

Hi, my name is Melissa.

My teen son and I are so happy to have found your group while researching chins.

We have been researching chins off and on for over a year now.

Your site has been an amazing place to read first hand questions and answers. So we now feel like we are at the point that we would truly love to get a chin as a new family member. The only problem is we want to purchase a healthy one in the right manner and can't seem to find a reputable place to do so.

I am here in hopes that someone just might be able to help us in finding our new family member. As well as using this site ongoing for so much helpful information.

We are so thankful we found you all.

Two Chins in Need of Better Home Environment

Hey guys, I've owned my two chins for the past 7 years or so and they're perfectly healthy little guys. The downside is that I'm going to be moving out of the house soon and I don't want to put my little critters through the stress of constantly moving/I won't have the emergency funding like I used to for potential vet visits.



I have two chins, Zia and Dusty, that need a new home. Due to the nature of chins, I'll only give them to those who are experienced and at least a little trusting. Dusty is around 7, and Zia's age is unknown since she was a rescue from a girl across the street. They are housed separately and have different personalities. Zia's a bit lazy (I think she's getting quite old) and Dusty should have been named Sparky. Both look like standards, but Zia is definitely a couple shades darker.



I live in the Western Maryland and Northern Delaware areas so if you are even remotely interested just send me a message and we can possibly work things out. Pics will follow when I go back home next week.



I'll check my messages about once a week so if you don't hear an immediate response, don't worry!

Seeking a reputable Chinchilla breeder in San Diego, CA

Seeking a reputable chinchilla breeder in the San Diego, CA area or near by.

Seriously looking to purchase a healthy chin the right way for a family pet.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.😊

Hello!

I am a proud new Chinchilla owner! I want be a part of a community that has the same interest and admiration for chins. :)



My chin's name is Elijah - Eli for short. He is a standard gray and between 6-7 months old. I will share pictures of him soon, in another thread.



I am looking forward to meeting everyone & their furbabies!



:wave:

New cage!

Finally got Carl a Midwest critter nation double unit small animal cage. I've been looking at it for close to a year now and finally have the money to give him a decent cage! The cage his old owner gave me for him when I first got him was so small! Granted it had 2 levels but it felt like he had no room to really run around when he got the energy. (Besides playtime when he gets out of course) So I bought him the one he has now, 3 levels. Still too much plastic for my liking. Now, he's getting a cage I deem good enough for him 😄! I will post pictures but I just wanted to share my joy and happiness. I can't wait till it arrives and I get to put his little furry body in it!





I learn new things about chinchillas every year. I thought after 2 years of researching chins before I got Carl, I "knew" everything, but I didn't and this site helps so much. Everybody here has helped me become a better owner every day. I no I've done a lot wrong when having Carl. I'm not the best owner. But I try and I fix my errors. Having less plastic in his life is just another thing I'm fixing 😊





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Help! Chin mom attacking her babies...

I am relatively experienced hobby breeder however I have never had this happen before. This morning I found one of my females with 2 perfect babies. As usual I weighted them and put them back. Everything seemed fine, but all over sudden the mom started chasing and biting her babies. I took them out right away and saw a little blood on one of the babies lips.

I am afraid to put them back... I tried twice and she keeps attacking them... After that I put them with another mommy who had 1 kit recently. She was very friendly and accepted them. Should I just leave them with her or try putting them back to their mom later? They are 52 and 55 grams each born sometime early morning. Looks healthy, mom seems fine. I don't know why she is so aggressive towards them though...

"Oregon Chinchilla Breeders Association" ?

I found this "Association" on Facebook, is it legit? I've never heard it mentioned on the forum, and don't see any actual sign up or web site for it.



They did mention a show in 2011 though.



Thoughts?

Advice

I know that a lot of you think breeding is not a good option but I believe that that is something I would like to do. If I do decide to become a breeder, what advice would you give me? What should I expect? And lastly, where would I find a male hedgie as a stud since I don't have one?



Many Thanks,

Jocey

Eye Irritation

Been in this section far more then id like this year...



So i went in to feed my chins this evening and i noticed the skin surrounding chicos right eye was discolored. It actually took me a minute to notice that his fur there seems a little wet at one point.





Right eye ^





Left eye^



Im guessing he had some kind of irritation today. Im just wondering for specific things to watch out for in case it gets worse.

How old until baby chins need/can be taken out for exercise/play?

I have two kits just about 7 weeks old, and I was wondering how old before they need to be / can be taken out of the cage for play time / exercise?



I read somewhere 6 months but I figured I'd check here

Question and Advice

I have a chin (2 1/2 years old) that was diagnosed with a URI 9 days ago. Symptoms were loss of weight (from 830g to 698g), a snort like sound when she breathes (only sometimes), nose swipes (more than the usual amount), and harder inhales (like she has a stuffy nose). Xrays showed lungs were clear, no sneezing, no coughing, no nasal discharge. We assumed we caught it early since these were the only signs. In fact, some were surprised that they even diagnosed it without more pronounced symptoms. She was given Baytril but because it was early and Baytril can be so hard on them, we opted for Trimeth-Sulfa. Today is day 9. She is no better but no worse. She is eating, drinking and playing (no dust bathes). At this point, do I go to the Baytril, go back and get another round of Trimeth-Sulfa? Could this be something else? Allergies? Asthma? Are those even an option? I am not hand feeding because she is eating on her own and not losing anymore weight. I was so encouraged because I thought we caught it early but now am perplexed. Help!

ADMINS: If this does not constitute an emergency, please move to the appropriate section. Thanks.

Hair ring

Just after I got my male chinchilla I started to read about hair rings. I wasn't aware of hair rings before I got him, so I felt a little guilty because I though that I knew almost everything I needed to know about them! And well, he isn't showing any sign of it. He doesn't have trouble peeing and he acts like he always does. I have seen him clean himself like 2 times this month, is it a sign of a hair ring or just that I won't have to check him because he can remove them himself?

I have tried to check him once but he didn't like being held, and I almost had to start all over with him from the beginning.

(I have only had him in a month!)



Thankful for every answer! (Hope this is the right category to post the question in!)

Humidity

Is 29% to much humidity for my chin?

His cage is sitting by our bathroom door

Sometimes it is higher than that







God Is Good And His Love Last Forever

How-To Guide to Chinchilla Photography!

Hi all!



I know it's your relaxing weekend, but I've written a How-To Guide for Chinchilla Photography! Read my techniques for how to best capture your babies! :-P



http://ift.tt/1wGUNub



Then give it a shot and let me know how it goes :-D

Chin pees in wheel

Hello!



I have been a chin owner for 2 months now and I have a problem. We bought her a silent spinner wheel after her comfort wheel broke and she loves it. However, she's taken to peeing in it regularly and sometimes running in it before it seeps through the holes causing it to get in her fur. Is there any way I can get her to stop? I don't want this to lead to fur rot or any problems.

Weird noise/shaking of head

Lately at night i've been hearing carl make this noise. I thought it was his sneezing but its not soft enough. Its like this sharp noise, almost between a bark/screech. Its hard to catch on recording otherwise id post. I'm going to search the sound thread to see if i can find it and update, but finally i was able to catch him in the act and hes been making that noise PLUS shaking his head a little. From what i've noticed,it happens more towards the night. Normally when the lights off in my room and im trying to go to bed. Its the same noise he makes when i give him a treat after i've done my nails. He dosent like the smell of the nailpolish. I normally wash my hands several times if i have to feed him after doing them. No smell has changed in my room. I try not to use air fresheners/sprays in my room because i dont want him inhaling them. However, because its cold outside i've had my window closed and the heaters been on, do you think that could be the reason? Theres no correlation to the heater being on/off and him making this noise but my room door is always closed so if that is it, maybe the smell of the heat from the vent is lingering? Does anybody else's chinchilla make this noise? Im planning on making an appointment for a yearly check up anyway but is this something i should call ASAP and get checked out? I did put my fingers on his mouth and he didnt squeak or show signs of discomfort (I wasnt squeezing or anything, i believe my vet checked his teeth the same way) I havent noticed him pulling at his whiskers or eating any less. Ive been giving him hay almost all the time because I was stupid and didnt realize he needed them for his back teeth (not even sure if his past owner gave him hay but he gets it now) He still eats his treats fine and drinks water as far as i can tell. :( any advice?

can chinchillas eat alfalfa timothy hay cubes?

I recently bought my 2 chinchillas alfalfa timothy hay cubes. I perfer the cubes because it makes less mess. Ive been doing some research and have read alfalfa can cause urinary problems for adult chinchillas. But havent been able to find anything regarding alfalfa timothy hay cubes specifically for chins. I also feed them loose timothy hay. Any help please? Thank you!

Chin biting

I have had my chin for almost 2 months now and he had warmed up to me fairly quickly. He would let me pet him and take him out of his cage with almost no problem. I went away for 3 days last week and now that I am back he tries to bite every time I get close to him, almost as if I have lost his trust. He is still eating and drinking, etc. so I don't think he is sick. Is there anything I can do to help our relationship get better again?

Chinchilla doesn't like to eat hay?

Hi there,



My chinchilla seems to not eat very much hay. I give him fresh hay every morning, only about one good handful because I don't want to be wasteful. Whenever I go look in his cage it seems like he hasn't eaten any hay. He'll eat pellets all day long, I always see him at his dish, but I've only caught him holding and nibbling hay a few times. What should I do?

Thoughts/experiences with Baytril for bacterial enteritis?

Hey all, I apologize for the long post but I'm a bit nervous after our recent vet visit today & hoping to gain a little insight from you! We moved from Louisville to Tallahassee 3 weeks ago, and both of our boys handled it exceptionally well; no behavioral problems, watched their diet/poos carefully for the first 2 weeks with no issues, no visible stress.



The last few days, Gizmo's soft poos started. His diet & water intake have been normal, no languid behavior. He only gets treats (rose hips) once in a blue moon, I took away his pellets for a bit & offered plenty of hay, and I even gave him a probiotic cookie just to rule out a dietary cause - no change. The only change diet-wise has been that we switched the boys over to Brita filtered water since we've been down here.



Upon closer inspection of the poos, it had a slightly shiny appearance and a bit of an odor, so I whisked both of them off to the nearest exotic vet in the area. She seemed quite knowledgeable, and despite the boys protesting she gave them the full exam with a clean bill of health except for Gizmo's poo. She ran the sample to the back for a while, and said the results showed no indication of parasites, but that she noticed a higher quantity of 'rod shaped' bacteria than is normal. She said she didn't think it was anything to worry about, but then filled a prescription for Gizmo - a 7 day course of Baytril (0.3ml, 2x a day) "just in case it's the beginning of something worse". On the label, it stated that it was for 'bacterial enteritis', which I'm assuming is what she was referring to when mentioning the bit about rod bacteria.



Now, I've never had any experience with antibiotics for the boys & I generally trust vets, but I always read up on anything before I give it to my chins. From what I've read, Baytril sounds like a pretty heavy antibiotic, and there seems to be some pretty mixed feelings on it. Granted, I'm not a vet and likely have no room to doubt, but I was just curious what your experiences/opinions might be with Baytril or bacterial enteritis. Tomorrow Gizmo starts his regiment (she didn't dose him at the office), so I just wanted to get some extra input before I start him on it. It's likely that I'm just being overly cautious, but it never hurts to double check, right? These little buggers mean the world to me. Thanks in advance!

How long do you leave things?

How long do you leave wood things in their cages? Vincenza doesn't chew her ledges or pee on them but I sand them down weekly when I clean her cage.



But she's had her house and some of her ledges for 3 years!



Do you do a remodel every so often? Or let it go until it's too unsanitary/chewed up?

Birthday chin!!!

Today is my fireball's FIRST birthday! Unfortunately, until my next payday I can't spoil him :( Anyone have any tips on something I can make? I heard you can make "cake pops" using coffee filter paper? Is that safe for him to munch on with some pellets and a treat inside? Any other ideas? Homemade treat recipes that require things I may already have in the house? I'd highly appreciate it! :)

types of hay?

i'm looking for opinions from those more knowledgeable than myself.



my chinnies seem to not be interested in timothy hay. ive tried every brand i can find. but they eat a little bit and the rest just get flung all over the cage.



when i tried orchard grass hay, more was eaten. not all, but more. i give a handful and about half this time was gone.



how important is the TYPE of hay they eat? i know alfalfa is sweeter and supposed to be to used less often... but what about the other kinds i see in the store? oxbow has timothy, orchard grass, oat hay... i cant remember if theres more.



input please?

whiskers?

has anyone ever had a chin that got a whisker (or 2 or 3) that got chewed off, bent, or otherwise messed up? Did it cause any changes in behavior, movement or such?



ive heard of cats balance being thrown off due to loss of whiskers, just wondering if it happens to chinnies too. my chin has one chewed off and one bent, both on the same side.

General Chin Diet - Blog Entry

Hey guys! I just updated my blog with an entry all about what I feed my chins. If you have a spare moment, feel free to read it - and to agree, or disagree with the points. http://ift.tt/110BzXS



Thanks :)



Lisa

Teach an old chinchilla new tricks?

About 3 years ago I got Carl. Because the owner wasn't sure exactly what age he was, she gave me an estimate. 3 years later he's know around 6/7 possibly 8. It's a guessing game that I'm not fond of. When I got him, she gave me everything she has for him to me. About a year after getting him, my mom purchased a wheel. It's a standard metal wheel. I have mixed feelings about the thing because it's not smooth. It has small little boxes all over. While Carl's hand/feet can't get stuck, the little holes are big enough that he could get a toe stuck. Not only that but after giving it to him, it was clear he never saw one. I woke up often to find him ONTOP of it after he tipped it over!!! I finally took it out of his cage and it's been sitting for the past year. Any advice? Should I repurchase a plastic saucer instead? Do you think he'll eventually learn? So many questions all because I want to spoil my little boy!





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Glass Flying Saucer Wheel

Hi, has anyone tried this wheel before?



http://ift.tt/1B9PD1N



I wont have to install it like with a flying saucer, so it seems pretty convenient.



Hope to get some input on this before i buy it.



Thanks!

Genetic/breeding research

Hello everyone!

So right now I am looking for good places to do some research. Genetics has always been an interests of mine, so I would love a good source where I can learn about the different phenotypes/genotypes. If anyone can direct me on where to go, that would be great!



I have been searching the forums, but I feel that the results are so random that it makes it harder to piece information together... So that's why I'm asking for a specific source. Thanks in advance ^.^

Wood bridge attachment

I made a wood bridge for my ferret nation cage. What is the best way to attach it to the cage? Pics would be great for anyone that has one.

Petsmart Hate Thread

Breeders in Iowa?

I have checked everything I could find and the few I have found listed for Iowa either have stopped breeding, no longer exist, or there is no way to contact them. Are there any reputable breeders left in Iowa? I don't have a problem with driving a few hours, but when you live smack dab in the middle of corn and pigs in the middle of the state you have to drive several hours just to get out in any direction!

What's the minimum temperature that it's safe to keep chins in?

I'm familiar with the max temperatures that chins should be kept in, but what about the coldest?



I ask because I'm realizing that the new rental I've just moved into has very poor insulation. It's freezing in here and it's not even winter yet. What would ya'll say is the minimum safe temperature for chins to be living in?



My little dudes have fleece liners as well as a fleece covered tube and fleece hidey house, so that should help keep them a little warmer. But I need to know if I should move them to my boyfriends (much warmer) house when the temperature drops.



Thanks!

Question on Critter Nation Cages

I need to get a bigger cage for my chinchilla. I was looking at this Critter Nation cage:



http://ift.tt/1B2UNMJ



I know some people have it, and need a specific question answered: is it possible to block off the entrances between the upper and lower tiers? I would like to get a cage where this is possible, so that I could clean the lower level without having to get someone to take him out of the cage and babysit.



On that note, does anyone have any suggestions for cages besides this one? I'd prefer to spend $200-250, get a large, tall cage, with a solid (not wire) bottom, with the ability to block off certain levels to isolate him. Additionally, I would actually prefer a cage that had two separate doors, instead of one large door, so I have more control when trying to take him out of the cage.



Thanks!

Metal Litter Boxes?

My chin has taken to chewing on his litter box when he wants to come out of his cage and since it's plastic, I really need to get a new one. Has anyone heard of metal litter boxes or what do you use for a litter box?



Also, side note, does anyone else have a super demanding chin? When he wants out, he wants out. Even if I'm sleeping, he'll start chewing the cage doors and the litter box. He's a pest... but I suppose that's what you get for loving a chinchilla :P



(I don't think this posted already, sorry if it did!)

Chinchilla Names

I was reading a post in the faq about chinchilla names websites and found that most of the sites were deleted or the name page deleted. I have a website in my favourites from several years ago when we were naming our guinea pigs and there was so many great ones it was so hard to choose! I was browsing through all the animal names and they have a lot of chinchilla names. If you don't like them names try browsing through the other small pet names as they are quite nice aswell.

http://ift.tt/1ujb8rX

The chin names:

http://ift.tt/1xIwJcs