Sleeping places for Chins

[CountryExotics]

Hey everybody... I was wondering do Chins have to have a box or something they can hide in to sleep?? I have a hammock but I read that they like to have a box or something that covers them from the top to sleep in so they feel protected... I dont see my girl sleeping much in the day and I was wondering if thats why.. If so I need to run out and get her one I know I appreciate my sleep.. Thanks in advance
CHinny Hugs and Nibbles :hearts:

[JSpitz]

I don't think its necessary but most of my chins will sleep in their houses. I built my chins wooden "houses" (there is no front or back just top and sides it looks kind of like this [__]) and I put them in the back end of their cage, most of them love to sleep in them and one or two love to sleep in front of the door to their cage out in the open even though they have a house. So I assume that they like to sleep in their house. Also, my chins love to chew on their house (I forgot which wood I used but I just searched for safe woods here) and sit on their house. So it's a multi-fuction thing.

[Lutra]

Actually it is necessary. A chin can easily get stressed without one. It not only provides a secure safe place for them to sleep, but also a little safe haven to run to if they are scared. As for not seeing her sleep, that could be it. New chins won't let you catch them sleeping or getting really comfy unless they're very safe feeling and comfortable with you and their environment.

[KrptcMschfMkr128]

My chins would be lost without their houses, I think... Another nice thing I've found they like in the cage is a piece of large PVC pipe that they can jump into and onto... I highly suggest not putting it in if you have a very chewy chin though...

[Karin]

i'm going to disagree as well..
we're talking about a *pet* chin.. just to clear up any debates that may come from breeders/pelters who don't use home's..;)
i find a safe and secure place for your chinnie to hide/sleep very necessary... do you have other pets?? those can add on to your chinnie's lack of sleep and stress.. you can so easily and cheaply get a wooden house, a huge chew tube, pvc, hammock, etc... it allows darkness if your chin prefers it, security that nothing's gonna get me in here, etc.. mine wouldnt be caught out of his hammock when its sleeptime, but he runs to his fiddlestick house when he see's one of the dog's wandering about, storming outside, or i got alot of noisy company here..

[Emilys_Exotics]

I've got a few of the large chubes for houses for my chins right now. Also, the way the shelves are configured in the cage I made, there are small spaces of overlap that create a hidey spot. My chins hide in these spots, and also sleep in the open--whatever they prefer, and I think also a bit depending on temp. (they are more out in the open when it is a tad warmer). In the original cage I had for them,they often slept in the open from the beginning, but did need their hidey houses when they were nervous of the cat or I walked by too quickly. I think they would have used them more if they hadn't already been used to me. I took care of them in the pet store for about four months before I bought them. Also, they were pretty used to all sorts of animals walking by their cage as well....

Emily

[Gumby and Elmo]

Yeah, you better get her a hidey house, they like to sleep in an enclosed area, I have a wooden house ( it has holes and everything, my chins are still in the procss of re-making the wooden house) , and a clay hidey house, so if they want something a little bit coooler, they go into the clay house, but otherwise, they like the wooden one.

[jessica_4482]

I've probably got the wierdest chinchilla in the world. He loves his sleep box but he would rather it be upsidedown with the top open so he can peek out at you while he's in there. He loves to play with it though push it around the cage, sit on it, crawl inside thru the top and come out through the door. But he rarely sleeps in it he rather sleep behind it or on the second ledge of his cage. I would never take it away from him because when he's truly spooked he does hide in it and he enjoys being in there when there is hay inside to munch and nest in.

[The Animal Farm]

Yep, hidey houses are a necessity...nuff said. I have two for my lil heathens in each cage. Nice big wooden one and one similar to a chube but square. They love to re-decorate and fling everything around. I've found they'll fling the lightweight house and leave the wooden one alone. No more turned over wood house with poos!!

[Lauren_201]

Chinworld.com has some really neat hide-boxes that attach to the cage, you can put them up high or down low, and they are really good prices too. I haven't bought any yet, I plan on it when I get my new cage. Right now both my chins have plastic igloos from Petco. They haven't chewed them yet, I have lot's of wood toys and pumice stones for them. When I first got my boy I didn't have a house for him, and he seemed very unhappy. When I bought his igloo he just seemed at home. He loves it. It's his safe place, and I never bother him when he's in it. My female has always been out-going. She sleeps everywhere. Whatever strikes her mood.