Hi all,

I posted previously about housing my new chins together but after this weekend I have a few more questions if anyone can offer advice please? I am not completely sure of these guys background and want to do the best for them.

In order to get them used to me I have been sitting with my arm inside the cage, that went ok and they would take food from my hand. I didn't want to push things too soon but the chins are currently in small cages in a cooler back room of the house and in order to exercise them I need to take them to the bathroom. That has meant that I have to put them into a carrier to move them and so pick them up ( I have used a pet carrier and an indoor rabbit cage for this to see if either is more agreeable to them!).

Picking them up is difficult because they won't come to me to be taken out, will they do that eventually or do I need to get hold of them if I want to check them? It seemed to stress them, which I really do not want to do, but I needed to check them over (and I am glad I did as one of the adults has white teeth and one may have been sexed wrongly).

Can you help as to how best to get them in a position where I can move them around without upsetting them?

I am now in a position where one chinchilla that previously let me stroke under his chin keeps pushing my hand away and his partner runs to the other side of the cage, will this be overcome in time or will we keep going back and forth each time I pick them up?

Also, I have ordered one cage whilst I figure out the second but it is very large to give them plenty of space, so I will not be able to reach the chinchillas within it. Being able to reach them within their current cage if I need to means I can take them out for exercise or to check them but the new cage means I will be reliant on them coming to me. I would much rather that they had the run of a big cage with lots toys and came to see me of their own free will but how do I make that work?

Thanks.

all i can say is keep offering treats from your hands they will eventually come to you!!!! you are totaly right chaseing them around the cage isnt going to help it will stress them out.... i wouldn't advise a HUGE cage i have a 3 tier cage that has several doors wer i can reach. also has been amended so i can close off parts of his cage to make it easyer to catch him. this can be done by placing a book of something over the top of the ramp.. as for the chin tickeling then yes its just a stage she is in she will get back into the habit of wanting a fuss.. but always remember they dont always want to be cuddled and touched...