Grabbing at the Base of the Tail

[Pollux44]

Just about everywhere I've read that if you are tryin to catch you chinchilla, you should "grab him at the base of his tail". Chinchillas have fragile rib cages, and this seems like the only option to capturing your chin on-the-loose.

Although I've been told, it's proper. It just seems a little inhumane to me at times. Does anyone else feel this way? Seems like a violation on my part.

[bear]

nope, doesn't bother me. you should see what people do when they groom for shows! ;) ;) ;)

[foxbite2]

I never catch my chins like that.. I always manage to trick them somehow. I thought I read a thread where someone tried catching their chin like this and it turned around and bit him so hard it drew blood... Pollux was that you that wrote that thread?

[chin_gal]

I have only had to do that like twice when every other attempt to catch them failed. It worked all right...but the chinnie HATED it. I now use a pillow case to catch the hard to catch. ;)

[TashaR]

Doesn't bother me either. In an escape situation, it's safer for the chin to be grabbed by the tail then hurt his or herself by being out. At a show, you don't want to be smooshing and kissing on your chinnie, you need to hold the chinchilla by the base of his or her tail so that you don't mess up their fur.

[Vyxxin]

It's not inhumane if done properly (which requires experience) It takes time to get the technique down. If you grab to close to the chin it can sip fur, if you grab to far from the chin the tail could break. But if you grab just right, it's not painful. I do it but I wouldn't recommend it for just anyhow...see it done first. Oh, and even if you grab it just right, if they can get ahold of something with their feet you could still break their tail.

[cherylv]

I have one of those closed in chin baths that I keep just for the purpose of capture. Mine can't resist baths and will go into it every time. I use just a simple metal tray for their regular baths.

[Spoof]

Tail, ear, if they are running for the door anything works.

I have noticed that using a net/cloth scoop of sorts is a lot easier way to do it with spastic chins, and it keeps them calm. :)

[chin_gal]

Tail, ear, if they are running for the door anything works.

I have noticed that using a net/cloth scoop of sorts is a lot easier way to do it with spastic chins, and it keeps them calm. :)

Ouch...I don't think I would like to be grabbed by the ear. I don't know about that. But I do think doing it by their tail is fine. Again, something like a pillow case...or like cherylv said, a bath house, is much easier and a lot less stressful. :)

[KatesCritters]

I used to pick all my chins up bodily, but don't see anything wrong with tailing them. I've noticed that chins that have been picked up by their tail all their lives, actually prefer it to being held around the middle. I once went over to a rancher's place and handled some of her chins. I scooped them up like I did my chins, and they all freaked out. The rancher gave me a funny look and said "don't you know how to pick up chins?" as she held one by the tail and used her chest to let it rest it's feet on something. Different people, different ways of doing things.