calcaneus
Active member
Hello all,
I recently acquired two mature standard chinchillas from my parents - the family pets, who sadly have been a bit neglected after us kids got swept up in high school and then moved out. There's a male and a female, brother and sister, who are both about 12 or so. Since they were born so long ago and I've been out of the house for so long I can't even remember their names, so I'm thinking up new ones for them! We live in Williamsburg now, and I'm new to the area myself so I'm trying to figure out resources for them.
The female has an old injury her back leg on the left side that I'd like to get checked out with a vet - she can't put much weight on it and sometimes she's sitting with her foot almost sideways underneath her. I sort of doubt there's anything that can be done for her at this point, and I think surgery would be too traumatic for her, but I'd like to check for my own piece of mind. Is there a master list anywhere here of chin-expert vets? She is fairly adept at moving around her cage with the leg as it is, so I'm not sure how much pain it's causing her.
The male has always been quite friendly and inquisitive, and the female always a bit skittish, and now is understandably very opposed to people touching her. I've been trying to get them used to the new house, allowing them to run around briefly on the workbench where their cages are and trying to find a room in the house that is easily chin-proof and that they will enjoy. I tried letting them out on the back porch - it's completely screened in and I checked the screening three times before letting them out! - but they didn't seem to like it, possibly the insect noise and other nighttime sounds were frightening to them? I think the bathroom, though small, will be the next place I try. I also wonder if I should let the female chin out until I get the leg problem checked. She generally doesn't like roaming like the male does, except a few days ago when I think she was in heat. I definitely am not going to let them breed, but I wish the male at least could have a cage mate, as he seems vivacious and like he's trying to get companionship out of the female when they do interact (even when she's not in heat!).
I'd like to eventually is change their cages a bit. The current cages have pine shelves but a wire floor, which I know isn't best for their feet. Is there anything that could be put into their cage and rolled over the wire to adapt the cage floors? What sorts of woodchip/shavings do people usually use for their cages?
I've seen a lot of grousing on here about how bad pet store chin food is for them, and I know the stuff they've been raised on (Sunseed Chinchilla mix) has raisins and other things they aren't supposed to have. Are there any online sources of high quality chin food that people overwhelmingly suggest? Where do most people get their supplies? I believe there are a few chain pet stores and possibly some smaller ones here, but I haven't yet found one where people seem particularly knowledgeable about chins. Are there any guidelines of how to change the food chinchillas are given once they are used to a particular sort? They also get timothy hay every day and a bath with pumice dust.
Anyway, I'm looking for advice about how to introduce change to their lives and how to make them feel secure about their new home. Their moods seem to fluctuate wildly in the week I've had them, but I presume that's to be expected. I've definitely been caught by the chin bug again and love having them around!
Female: http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w178/boudiceaborn/SDC13070.jpg
Male: http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w178/boudiceaborn/SDC13071.jpg
I recently acquired two mature standard chinchillas from my parents - the family pets, who sadly have been a bit neglected after us kids got swept up in high school and then moved out. There's a male and a female, brother and sister, who are both about 12 or so. Since they were born so long ago and I've been out of the house for so long I can't even remember their names, so I'm thinking up new ones for them! We live in Williamsburg now, and I'm new to the area myself so I'm trying to figure out resources for them.
The female has an old injury her back leg on the left side that I'd like to get checked out with a vet - she can't put much weight on it and sometimes she's sitting with her foot almost sideways underneath her. I sort of doubt there's anything that can be done for her at this point, and I think surgery would be too traumatic for her, but I'd like to check for my own piece of mind. Is there a master list anywhere here of chin-expert vets? She is fairly adept at moving around her cage with the leg as it is, so I'm not sure how much pain it's causing her.
The male has always been quite friendly and inquisitive, and the female always a bit skittish, and now is understandably very opposed to people touching her. I've been trying to get them used to the new house, allowing them to run around briefly on the workbench where their cages are and trying to find a room in the house that is easily chin-proof and that they will enjoy. I tried letting them out on the back porch - it's completely screened in and I checked the screening three times before letting them out! - but they didn't seem to like it, possibly the insect noise and other nighttime sounds were frightening to them? I think the bathroom, though small, will be the next place I try. I also wonder if I should let the female chin out until I get the leg problem checked. She generally doesn't like roaming like the male does, except a few days ago when I think she was in heat. I definitely am not going to let them breed, but I wish the male at least could have a cage mate, as he seems vivacious and like he's trying to get companionship out of the female when they do interact (even when she's not in heat!).
I'd like to eventually is change their cages a bit. The current cages have pine shelves but a wire floor, which I know isn't best for their feet. Is there anything that could be put into their cage and rolled over the wire to adapt the cage floors? What sorts of woodchip/shavings do people usually use for their cages?
I've seen a lot of grousing on here about how bad pet store chin food is for them, and I know the stuff they've been raised on (Sunseed Chinchilla mix) has raisins and other things they aren't supposed to have. Are there any online sources of high quality chin food that people overwhelmingly suggest? Where do most people get their supplies? I believe there are a few chain pet stores and possibly some smaller ones here, but I haven't yet found one where people seem particularly knowledgeable about chins. Are there any guidelines of how to change the food chinchillas are given once they are used to a particular sort? They also get timothy hay every day and a bath with pumice dust.
Anyway, I'm looking for advice about how to introduce change to their lives and how to make them feel secure about their new home. Their moods seem to fluctuate wildly in the week I've had them, but I presume that's to be expected. I've definitely been caught by the chin bug again and love having them around!
Female: http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w178/boudiceaborn/SDC13070.jpg
Male: http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w178/boudiceaborn/SDC13071.jpg
