Picking up Chinchilla?

Question

I've had my chinchilla for a year now, and when she's in her cage, she lets me pet her and she always comes up to my hand when I open the cage door. When she's outside of the cage, she let's me pet her too. But when I try to pick her up, she runs away, or when I put my hands around her and try to pick her up, she yelps and runs away, often releasing a little fur, but not always.

I know it takes time and everything, but I want to be able to pick her up when I need to. Why doesn't she let me even though she seems to enjoy contact with me? Any tips?

Answer 1

Chinchillas don't really like to be handled trust me I have two.

Petting is another story of course. So don't pick her up it is obviously stressing her because stress causes their hair to fall out. try food. when i want to take my chinchillas rocky and bullwinkle out of their cage i have saltless sunflower seeds and dried raisins in my lap for them to snack on that'll buy you a lil time. hope this helps=]

Answer 2

You could try picking her up by the base of her tail. If you do pick her up by her tail, though, be SURE it's at the base, where it's strongest.

Answer 3

Chinchillas just don't like being picked up, period. So they're going to run, because they feel threatened, which is why she's releasing her hair. Try coaxing her with a piece of apple or carrot, or a raisin. (Do remember that raisins should only be given in the most restricted quantities and should never be given nuts of any sort because long term feeding can cause health problems.) Try holding onto the food when she begins to eat so she has to stay there. Then, gently scoop her up. Do not grab around her, as this is what is upsetting her. Make sure you're supporting her whole body. Then raise her up to your chest, and if she doesn't mind that, you can flip her vertically so that her back is to your chest and her feet are on your hands. This usually works with my chinchillas. However, if she still won't stay in your hands and wriggles around, try holding her by the base of the tail when you support her. I will sometimes put my chinchillas on my shoulder when they don't want to be held. This way I can still move them to their cage and they don't feel threatened by being held.

Answer 4

Chinchillas are a prey animal and it knows that it will make tasty morsel for many other animals. , Rabbit Breeds Therefore, you can expect it to be nervous, jumpy and maybe even terrified of you. Even if the chinchilla came from a breeder, it does not mean that the chinchilla will jump into your arms and you will live happily ever after. Some chinchillas will never let you snuggle and hold them for long. That is just a fact and you must accept that. Most of the time, you can get a chinchilla to jump on your arm when you come to take it out of your cage and to come when you call his name. That does not always happen either.

Whatever the chinchilla’s personality is like, we must never chase, him handle him roughly, hit him, or raise your voice to him. If you do you may lose his respect and confidence forever. When you first take your chinchilla home, put her in the cage and let her be by herself for a few days with you only doing the basic daily chores. For the next five days or so, sit for a while each day and just softly talk to your chinchilla. Continue to do your daily chores. Then, for the next week, just put your hands near and then in the cage while talking softly to the chinchilla. When you think that you have gained his confidence then see if the chinchilla will jump onto your arm to be taken out. If not, then keep trying until she does.

Never pick up a chinchilla by the tail, it is not a good idea because you may damage the tail. Don’t hold on to the chinchilla too hard because she will slip or lose some hair to get away from you. Do not pick up a chinchilla by the ears or you can cause severe damage. When you get used to your chinchilla and she to you, you may look into a chinchilla’s mouth to see the colour. A chinchilla should have yellow teeth. Baby chinchillas may take a time to develop this. If a chinchilla does not have yellow teeth, then consult an exotics’ veterinarian for help. Also make sure that the ears smell okay. If not, also consult a vet. There might be an infection.

The correct way to hold a chinchilla is to put one hand behind it, put your hands under the feet so that you can hold the entire chinchilla and lift it up. Be very careful about squeezing a chinchilla because you can break the bones. A chinchilla is a very delicate animal when it comes to holding and that’s why children are not to do it without adult supervision. chinchillas do not usually bite hard, but if you accidentally hurt it, a chinchilla can give one very good painful bite. Never grab a chinchilla’s neck or head.

A Chinchilla is very social and needs to interact with you every day but will be scared when you first bring him home. The first day leave him alone to get used to his new home. On the second day talk to him softly and place your arm inside the cage. Don't try to hold your new pet or take him out until he has begun to trust you. Use treats to get him to come to your hand. It may take a few days but with patience your chinchilla will soon be meeting you at the cage door. Once he has learned to trust you its OK to take him out to play. Remember your chinchilla will chew on anything so keep him away from electrical wires, plastics, and your favourite furniture.