don't know what to do

[cloudchaser]

I need help here. My first two chins (Morrgina and Thantos) still will not let me handle them bite at anyone that reaches into the cage and are still chewing their fur. I don't know what to do I give them an hour 1/2 play time each (apart). Oh Thantos's new thing is he sits in his cage and chatters his teeth...he has even went after my 14 year old daughter. No one can be in the play area or they are being attacked by them. I don't want to give them up but I think I need to find them a new home one that is more quite then my house. (3 kids and 4 dogs it can get noise here at times).

Please any suggestion on what to do...should I find them a new home or is there something I can do to help them. BTW the other chins are still not in the same room as these two because of the way they act.

[Jen and her hooligan]

I think you just need to give it some more time before you make a decision. For a chinnies way of thinking it hasn't been long very long that they have been with you, it can take years for them to chill out. Those two have some hard times memories to overcome.

[Inked Up Tara]

Yea I would just give them time and patients, and maybe only one or 2 people should try and handle them so they can trust someone.

[cloudchaser]

right now I'm the only one handling them because my 14 year old is afraid of being bit at again (they drew blood on her). I'm the only one that will put my hands in there and be attacked...I'm also the only one that will go into the play area and set.

[Inked Up Tara]

I know Dawn has been working with her one chin Spice for quite some time now, and is making progress, but it has taken time, and they need patience. Slippers was like that but not to that extent, he just would guard his food bowl.

I would sit and talk to him each night and take a few oats in with me at play time and that helped.

[Jen and her hooligan]

I have heard some members will use gloves, when handling some of the angrier chins. It might help because you won't be so afraid, and they won't sense the fear and anxiety in you. Your anxiety and theirs can feed off each other I think.

[tagna]

Time, time and more time. You haven't had those chins all that long. It can take years so I would just give it more time.

I'm still working with Loki and Hestia. They came from a rescue and Loki has a lot of trust issues. She screams if I try to handle her. She's coming around.

My one bunny took 5 years before she turned into a sweety. I had just about given up on her but now she's not biting me and looks for attention.

[Carol~Anne]

Keep in mind Marilyn that these two came from an awful environment and were totally neglected and practically abandoned into the wild when you came along and saved them.

As others have mentioned, time and patience is the key. Maybe fore go playtime for a while outside the cage(s) and give them more time to adjust to their cages and their stuff you have in there for them.

I'd also speak softly to them, don't try and pet or handle them but do offer them a few oats out of the palm of your hand.

I'd also put a quiet radio station on for them at night when you go to bed and that will keep them company.

Not sure how noisy the dogs are and how close they come to the chinchillas but that definitely could be stressing them out even more. Is there a quiet corner they can be at away from the dogs?

[dawn]

I would give it at least 6 months before considering re-homing. There are cases that the chin just can't stand the owner no matter what they do. Dante was a case in point, his old owner had him for 4 years, he was a rescue then and he hated her guts, bit to draw blood, attacked when a hand was in the cage, till the day I adopted him, fast forward 2 years she came to visit, picked him up and he bit her and drew blood-he never so much as thought about biting me. She cried that he hated her so much and still remembered her.

[partygirlha]

Dawn - that poor woman.

[cloudchaser]

Jan 27, 2009 17:04:50 GMT -5 Carol~Anne said:

Not sure how noisy the dogs are and how close they come to the chinchillas but that definitely could be stressing them out even more. Is there a quiet corner they can be at away from the dogs?

The dogs are not that bad they bark when someone comes to the door but over all they are quite. They have been trained to stay away from the cages and they know where their boundaries are.

[cloudchaser]

I don't want that to happen to me that is why I asked for your guys help opions on what I should do. I want what is best for these little guys. Being what has happen to them before I got them I want to make sure they are very happy and show them that not all humans are like those stupid people that use to own them.

[Carol~Anne]

As weird as this sounds Marilyn, you might be trying too hard. They've come from such an awful environment and you have them now and things are looking up for them but they still don't trust you or anyone for that matter.

If you keep feeding them and giving them their basic needs, they will come around in time and will associate good things with you. Small steps, very small steps.

A few oats and maybe some crushed rose hips in the palm of your hand is hard to refuse, even for the most untrustworthy chinchillas.

Refresh my memory: are these a male and a female that you separated? If so, then that's a huge adjustment for these guys too. Hang in there! I've had Feeney since the beginning of October and he just started to come close to me at playtime and stare at me. Loves his oats from my hand though.

[saras]

I agree... chins take a lot of time to get used to stuff sometimes... they just aren't used to getting the proper care and attention and are just unsure of it. When you go to let them out for playtime you should put your hand in the doorway and open so that they have to hop on your hand if they want out. That will also build trust along with the treats from your palm.

[partygirlha]

I agree with eveyone - time, time and more time. It's OK if they don't get play time if all it does is stress them. Mouse used to just hide during play time so I stoped for a while. trust me he let me know when he was ready for a real play time. And only in the past few days has he let me pick him up for play time with NO fight (hell tonight he let me hold him for a few minutes (not the first time but it's still unusual). "TTT" Time, Treats, Time

[rockysmom]

I agree about the gloves. I bought a pair of think leather gloves from Wal-Mart to handle Rocky when we first got him which was almost a year ago. He drew blood last time I handled him for playtime and dust bath so it looks like I'll be breaking out the gloves again. Little booger.

[tinam]

Sorry but I was going to say the same thing. Just let them be for awhile. Everyone will come around in their own time. Maybe they need six months or so to adjust. It will be worth it!

[secondchancechins]

Maybe try some of the suggestions on our "gaining your chins trust" page? www.geocities.com/secondchancechins/gainingtrust.htm It does take time and a lot of patience, especially if the chins came from a bad/unpleasant situation.

[cloudchaser]

Hello everyone I thought I would give you an update on these two. The little girl is starting to come up onto my arm but will only let me hold her that way and still won't let me touch her. She will come to the little sound I make for the chins and see what I have for her LOL. Yesterday she was sitting on my arm and looked so happy until my husband came near us and she sprayed...needless to say husband was kicked out of the room until was done with cage/playtime. Instead of play time I have been going to thier cages and just sitting there with my arms in there for them to run all over. They are slowly coming around.

Thank you everyone that encouraged me not to give up and give them time.

[mistywaterwoman]

Yay for progess!! In 6 months, you won't even recognize them. They will be total sweethearts.