DevnChip
Well-known member
Hi all! I'm Debbie and I have to finally admit I am owned by a chinchilla. 
I'm a long time bird person that has recently become a chinchilla person. Chipper came to me about a year ago and he's well entrenched in my life at this point. A co-worker had this friend who got Chip for their 4 year old and then thought better of it. I resisted at first in taking him because I'm allergic to fuzzy things but, well, he's so darn cute! You know. You have one. So I sneeze. I have tissues.
I have to admit as well that I never thought they could be so full of personality. When you see them in the pet stores (I'm told that's the worst place to get one) they're so bored and bummed looking. Part of that is daytime is their sleep time, I'm sure, but it left me with the assumption that they don't make good pets. Boy did Chipper change that!
It took Chip all of 5 minutes to figure out that I was no threat and his main source of raisins. I fed him way too many that first week while I was learning about him. By the end of that week I could pick him up. I sometimes take him up to my master bath to run around at the end of the day when I get home and he wakes up. I love how he runs up the walls. It's been about a year and he's just getting used to me picking him up to take him there. He knows where he's going, I think.
In two weeks I was able to scratch the side of his jaw but not touch him anywhere else. I forget when that changed. I'm now able to touch him everywhere but his backside. He grunts at me when I do that and it's only been about two months since he stopped also running away when that happens. I took the attitude that he would tell me what he wanted and he does. Chipper calls the shots. If he wants me to touch him, he'll come to me and let me. If he doesn't, he won't come and I don't chase him. He was always curious and from the first would run up to me and over me during play time, but he distrusted my hands. When he grunts I withdraw and give him space. He believes me now. And he loves his scratches! Who says a chinchilla doesn't like to be petted? Chipper is all over it!! He tilts and twists and even stands up for belly scratches. My patience paid off in spades for both of us. :dance3:
So I'm pretty settled having done this for a year and having a happy chin as a result. I'm currently training my husband how to offer scratches and treats so Chip can enjoy both of us. After all, if he was opposed to Chip staying I'd still just be a bird person. I'm here to gather the pearls of wisdom offered by other chin people that isn't in the text books. Since chinchillas live as long as parrots, I figure I can use any info I can find. Thanks, in advance, for everything.
I'm a long time bird person that has recently become a chinchilla person. Chipper came to me about a year ago and he's well entrenched in my life at this point. A co-worker had this friend who got Chip for their 4 year old and then thought better of it. I resisted at first in taking him because I'm allergic to fuzzy things but, well, he's so darn cute! You know. You have one. So I sneeze. I have tissues.I have to admit as well that I never thought they could be so full of personality. When you see them in the pet stores (I'm told that's the worst place to get one) they're so bored and bummed looking. Part of that is daytime is their sleep time, I'm sure, but it left me with the assumption that they don't make good pets. Boy did Chipper change that!
It took Chip all of 5 minutes to figure out that I was no threat and his main source of raisins. I fed him way too many that first week while I was learning about him. By the end of that week I could pick him up. I sometimes take him up to my master bath to run around at the end of the day when I get home and he wakes up. I love how he runs up the walls. It's been about a year and he's just getting used to me picking him up to take him there. He knows where he's going, I think.
In two weeks I was able to scratch the side of his jaw but not touch him anywhere else. I forget when that changed. I'm now able to touch him everywhere but his backside. He grunts at me when I do that and it's only been about two months since he stopped also running away when that happens. I took the attitude that he would tell me what he wanted and he does. Chipper calls the shots. If he wants me to touch him, he'll come to me and let me. If he doesn't, he won't come and I don't chase him. He was always curious and from the first would run up to me and over me during play time, but he distrusted my hands. When he grunts I withdraw and give him space. He believes me now. And he loves his scratches! Who says a chinchilla doesn't like to be petted? Chipper is all over it!! He tilts and twists and even stands up for belly scratches. My patience paid off in spades for both of us. :dance3:
So I'm pretty settled having done this for a year and having a happy chin as a result. I'm currently training my husband how to offer scratches and treats so Chip can enjoy both of us. After all, if he was opposed to Chip staying I'd still just be a bird person. I'm here to gather the pearls of wisdom offered by other chin people that isn't in the text books. Since chinchillas live as long as parrots, I figure I can use any info I can find. Thanks, in advance, for everything.
