Picking up

[Chisu]

Though i feel like an expert, which i kno im not! I need some help form those more experienced.

My Chia recently started to bite me when i hold her. I can't pick her up out of her cage anymore i have to move the cage to her play area and let her out herself. It just all of a sudden started to happen and she bites hard. Im thinking i must have done something to her to cause her to do this but im not sure what. I kno they have looong memories, so how would i go about letting her know i won't harm her?

Also I have this granola bar that she absolutely loves to death and you can do anything to her while shes eating it. I.e pick her up, hold her, carry her, etc. would this be a useful tool? or do you think that it might be a bad influence to her behavior?

[JBBinTex]

I'm sure the more experienced people may have better advice, but here is mine anyway. First, how long have you had her? She may need to settle some more. From your sig line she is still pretty young. You mentioned long memory...has she been sick and needed meds or food fed to her? As for me...I would buy a pair of gloves if you are worried about the bites. I would still pick her up. I have a 3 month old that nips and occasionally draws blood. I just pick her up anyway as she is not running away and hiding from me. She usually wants me to move my hand so she can crawl out of the cage. I feel like if I give in and move out of the way or move her cage to the play area so she can just crawl out...it is reinforcing (sp) the negative behavior. OOhhh...I bit mommy and now I get my way. This has worked for me so far as the bahavior is subsiding. I don't bribe her at all. I wouldn't force it though if she acted scared or was trying to run away. There should be one of the more experienced people along any minute....

[Chisu]

Oh good idea about the gloves. Yeah i really don't want to reinforce her behavior :-\ but she will come to the door and want me to move so she'll get to come out. everytime i put my hands in there to pick her up she moves to the back of her cage and make a squibble noise to tell me she doesn't like it. But when i put my hand in there and scratch her shes fine.

[Karin]

even though i've not had this problem, i strongly agree with JB..

letting your chin have that wonderful goody just so you can hold her? nooooooo
obliging her by letting her come out on her own terms? nooooooo
as JB said, this to me would encourage bad behaviour...
when i got dusty, the breeder warned me that he would bark at me.. to not let it phase me and to carry on with whatever i was doing...
i apply that to EVERYTHING concerning dusty...
though we have to earn there trust, you got to stick with it and let your baby know, i am the mom and you must allow me to hold you, get you out of the cage..
if something ever happened bad, (god forbid) you have to be able to control her and examine her..
dusty can't stand hair ring checks.. oh well.... its crucial and it's going to be done..
stay persistent with her!!! show her that she is going to be held, and that she will be let out on YOUR terms.. chins do get moody, and am sure can hold a grudge..:p but they get over them both....
also, as JB suggested.. try gloves till you get a grasp on the situation..

[Chisu]

You both are wonderful for replying so quickly! the advice will be followed and i'll let you guys know of the progress. Thanks so much.

Please anymore advice is greatly appriciated.

[foxbite2]

I used to wear gloves when I first handled my 9 month old.. one good bite on the neck from her taught me to be more careful with her... I agree with the advice above.. don't back down and give into her, but protect yourself. Being bitten is not my idea of fun. My girl has since given up on the biting, but replaced it with spraying. I won't let her out of her cage UNLESS she jumps into my hands. She tries like the dickens to bypass the being held in my hands part, but she does eventually come into my hands, because after a few times of me closing the door on her while she watched her sister play, she decided it was better off to suffer being in my hands for a few seconds being kissed and made a fuss of, then sitting in her cage by herself.

[Chisu]

Well i just tried using gloves and well it didn't go well... she kind of bit them but then she sprayed them. this is the second time shes sprayed at me. how can i discourage that behavior? so im not sure what to do.

[Midwest Exotics]

i wouldnt suggest gloves for taming many animals, i believe it makes matters worse. Especially with a chinchilla that likes to nibble on new things. She will then nibble the gloves making it 'ok' to chew on your hands.

Giver her time, let her jump into your hands without chasing her around the cage, trust me, they are curious animals & she WILL do it on her OWN terms!
When you hold her you can use some hand sanitizer that wont taste very well to her & will make her want to avoid biting you at all cost. You also need to remember not all chinchillas like to be held & that may just be her way of telling you she doesnt like it & will not stand for that.
Maybe it hurts her or is uncomfortable to her? How are you holding her? around the tummy, or are you just letting her perch on you?

All that can make a world of difference.

Good luck with her.

[Chisu]

well i just hold her lightly around the middle and let her back feet rest against my other hand. is there a special way i should be holding her? sometimes i rest her feet against my chest. well she used to like being held... thats what makes me think i must have done something for her not to like it anymore. :-\ im abandoning the glove idea...she just doesn't like them.

[JBBinTex]

I have never used the gloves before, just heard a few of the more experienced people mention them. I just picked her up and she stopped. Now she will get a good hold every once in a while when she wants me to move my hand, by I can deal with it. On the hand sanitizer thing....if it tastes and smells bad, wouldn't that make the chin more likely to avoid being held? Just wondering. It really just takes time.