face16505
07-03-2006, 04:52 PM
I have read so much on this site today I am almost overwelmed with the amount of usefull information. So, I joined. Here is my story..
About 3 months ago my best friend calls me from her job (a local pet store) and sais "hey, you still interested in getting a chinchilla?" So of course I ask why and she goes on to tell me that their is a really sweet four year old chin whose owners are moving and he can't go. They were hopeing the store could find him a good home. So, of course I ask how much? She sais Free, with cage, accessories, food, hay, dust bath, and treats. So I say ok. I go pick him up, bring him home, and set him up in my office where I can keep an I on him and he would have peace and quiet untill he got adjusted. (I'm gone during the day so he'd have quiet time and I shut the door so the cat didn't bug him. Oh, I also have central air).I was spending time reading and trying new adjustment techniques to see what he would respond best to---go figure, FOOD! About three more weeks go by and again, my friend calls and sais, "hey, there is a posting on our buliton board for a breeding pair w/ 2 daughters...FREE W/ all of the above. She gave me the number and I called and asked all kinds of questions to the owner and I thought that she wasn't real knowlageable. So I go out and see the family and after I saw where they were, how dirty their cage was, and how miserable the little ones looked, I had to take them, even it was for a little while to give them a good home untill I could get them well enough to place, or find permanent homes for.
So, I now have:
Rudy: The solo Standard 4 y.o. male who dwells in his 4x4x3 condo. He is healthy, affectionate and loves treats!
Gizmo a.k.a. Gizz: Mother, 5 y.o. Black Velvet Female who shares the top three tiers of thier condo with....
Rose: Baby, Standard 1 y.o. Female. She is very sweet and quiet. She is also very inquizzative. She can't resist something new.
Q: Father, Standard 5 y.o. Male lives below them on the bottom level. I do have a wood plank blocking them off so he has shelter from what may fall from above.
Lucky Lucy a.k.a. Lukey: Daughter, Standard 2 y.o. Female is in a seporate cage next to her family so she doesn't expierence seporation anxiety. She has had an attitude since day one. I sepoated her before so she would calm down, so I could get near her to put my hand in the cage in attempts to get her used to me with out pressure. I needed to be able to at least be able to pick her up and examin her. After some prgress I was feeling bad for her alone so I thought I would put her back with her mother and sister. Well, she was very agressive towards them if the came near her. Barking and biting at their faces.(no one got hurt!). I removed her and put her back in her cage alone. Cuddled with Gizz and Rose to reasure their trust, since I did put Lukey in there. A week later I tried again. This time she seemed happy to see her family and didn't have a problem for about three days. Then she was getting agressive again. Once again back into the cage for some more cooling off time. Seven days later, I put her with her family and things are going good. Well, I know this was my mistake, But this is where I'm at now.....
I let Q up to socialize with the girls (family of four reunion). Every one was getting a long fine. I was up late on the computer in my office one night last week. I went to get a drink and on my way back in, found Q dismounting Lukey, his daughter! AAAaaahhhhhh!!!!!!!!!
I immediately took Lukey out and seporated her again (after she sparyed me). I sent Q back to his level and put the plank back so he couldn't get back up to the other girls. Since this, they are all in the same places as descibed. No one has been moved because Lukey is becoming increasingly more aggressive. Two nights ago I stook up from my chair and was about agood 18 inches from her cage and she barked at me and sprayed me. I gave her the benefit of the dought and thought maybe I just starteled her. But when I went to let her sniff my hand thru the bars and let her know it was ok, she got me AGAIN! As I went to move away she sprayed me a third time! At that point I just left as quickly as I could to go wash. I am hoping she is not pregnant, but signs show that there is a good possibility. I didn't find a plug, but Q was cleaning his gear. I know to keep a close eye on her, measure her weight and notice any changes in behavior. That is why She is seporated. I even trimmed her wiskers today to see if that is going to have any impact on her attitude.
Having a long weekend with the holiday, I decided to do some more research (Knowlage is Power!). I came across this sight and joined. If any of you other expierenced chinchilla rescuers are interested in giving helpful hints I would appreciate it. If you are willing to be a mentor I promiss I will do the right thing for my chins. I'm not completely ignorant, I just would feel more compfortable with some guidence thru this adjustment/pregnancy? period. I too have worked at a pet store and have owned several animal species, all of which well always healthy. Rudy is fine, but the family of four I already know, are going to cause me some sleepless nights and stiff shoulders. I really don't like to see animals suffer. THey have some health concerns but nothing major, how ever I still have questions.
Thanks alot! Christine
About 3 months ago my best friend calls me from her job (a local pet store) and sais "hey, you still interested in getting a chinchilla?" So of course I ask why and she goes on to tell me that their is a really sweet four year old chin whose owners are moving and he can't go. They were hopeing the store could find him a good home. So, of course I ask how much? She sais Free, with cage, accessories, food, hay, dust bath, and treats. So I say ok. I go pick him up, bring him home, and set him up in my office where I can keep an I on him and he would have peace and quiet untill he got adjusted. (I'm gone during the day so he'd have quiet time and I shut the door so the cat didn't bug him. Oh, I also have central air).I was spending time reading and trying new adjustment techniques to see what he would respond best to---go figure, FOOD! About three more weeks go by and again, my friend calls and sais, "hey, there is a posting on our buliton board for a breeding pair w/ 2 daughters...FREE W/ all of the above. She gave me the number and I called and asked all kinds of questions to the owner and I thought that she wasn't real knowlageable. So I go out and see the family and after I saw where they were, how dirty their cage was, and how miserable the little ones looked, I had to take them, even it was for a little while to give them a good home untill I could get them well enough to place, or find permanent homes for.
So, I now have:
Rudy: The solo Standard 4 y.o. male who dwells in his 4x4x3 condo. He is healthy, affectionate and loves treats!
Gizmo a.k.a. Gizz: Mother, 5 y.o. Black Velvet Female who shares the top three tiers of thier condo with....
Rose: Baby, Standard 1 y.o. Female. She is very sweet and quiet. She is also very inquizzative. She can't resist something new.
Q: Father, Standard 5 y.o. Male lives below them on the bottom level. I do have a wood plank blocking them off so he has shelter from what may fall from above.
Lucky Lucy a.k.a. Lukey: Daughter, Standard 2 y.o. Female is in a seporate cage next to her family so she doesn't expierence seporation anxiety. She has had an attitude since day one. I sepoated her before so she would calm down, so I could get near her to put my hand in the cage in attempts to get her used to me with out pressure. I needed to be able to at least be able to pick her up and examin her. After some prgress I was feeling bad for her alone so I thought I would put her back with her mother and sister. Well, she was very agressive towards them if the came near her. Barking and biting at their faces.(no one got hurt!). I removed her and put her back in her cage alone. Cuddled with Gizz and Rose to reasure their trust, since I did put Lukey in there. A week later I tried again. This time she seemed happy to see her family and didn't have a problem for about three days. Then she was getting agressive again. Once again back into the cage for some more cooling off time. Seven days later, I put her with her family and things are going good. Well, I know this was my mistake, But this is where I'm at now.....
I let Q up to socialize with the girls (family of four reunion). Every one was getting a long fine. I was up late on the computer in my office one night last week. I went to get a drink and on my way back in, found Q dismounting Lukey, his daughter! AAAaaahhhhhh!!!!!!!!!
I immediately took Lukey out and seporated her again (after she sparyed me). I sent Q back to his level and put the plank back so he couldn't get back up to the other girls. Since this, they are all in the same places as descibed. No one has been moved because Lukey is becoming increasingly more aggressive. Two nights ago I stook up from my chair and was about agood 18 inches from her cage and she barked at me and sprayed me. I gave her the benefit of the dought and thought maybe I just starteled her. But when I went to let her sniff my hand thru the bars and let her know it was ok, she got me AGAIN! As I went to move away she sprayed me a third time! At that point I just left as quickly as I could to go wash. I am hoping she is not pregnant, but signs show that there is a good possibility. I didn't find a plug, but Q was cleaning his gear. I know to keep a close eye on her, measure her weight and notice any changes in behavior. That is why She is seporated. I even trimmed her wiskers today to see if that is going to have any impact on her attitude.
Having a long weekend with the holiday, I decided to do some more research (Knowlage is Power!). I came across this sight and joined. If any of you other expierenced chinchilla rescuers are interested in giving helpful hints I would appreciate it. If you are willing to be a mentor I promiss I will do the right thing for my chins. I'm not completely ignorant, I just would feel more compfortable with some guidence thru this adjustment/pregnancy? period. I too have worked at a pet store and have owned several animal species, all of which well always healthy. Rudy is fine, but the family of four I already know, are going to cause me some sleepless nights and stiff shoulders. I really don't like to see animals suffer. THey have some health concerns but nothing major, how ever I still have questions.
Thanks alot! Christine