Hi Martyn, i suppose i didn't contact you because i feel really guilty, embarrassed and sad about giving them up and think that i have let them down, i thought i had made the Chips a good sized aviary with plenty of space, they all had plenty of food, a good variety of fruits and nuts. I spent alot of time with them getting them used to me and eating from my hand. Nutkin was a little timid but with some time i soon had her eating from my hand, Willow was bold, Nutkin though was not wild like Hermione was when i got her, she was just abit nervous. Everything was fine until i let Amber into the aviary, there was now four but i still felt there was lots of room for four. Amber was attacked not long after being let out into the aviary, i hoped it would calm down but it didn't. I decided to give Willow and Nutkin another chance, i wasn't prepared to give up on them so i separated them off from Amber and let Amber just live with Bailey. Willow and Nutkin could still see and smell her, they were caged inside the aviary. Things seemed to have settled down so i let Willow out first and gave time for Willow to get used to being in the aviary again with Amber and Bailey, things seemed better. After awhile i also let Nutkin out so i now had all four living together again and things were ok, there was no major incident. I thought i had done things right, introduced them gradually but then things must of gone wrong and sadly Amber paid the consequences. I do feel responsible, if only i hadn't put them back in, i thought they would at most injure her but never thought they would attack her so severely. I suppose i wanted to give them a chance. After Amber's death i realised i saw danger signs but ignored them, their previously attack on Amber must of been a sign and the fact they chased her around all the time, also they had shown aggression to Bailey in the past, chased him around. If i'd paid more attention to this i'd have realised they were just telling me that they didn't want to share their home, they don't like other Chipmunks.
I wasn't sure about breeding, i'm not very knowledgable about breeding i just thought it was a possiblity but if aggression to other Chipmunks really won't pass on to their babies then they could go to a breeding home but the main problem really is that i don't feel they can live with another Chipmunk.
Its this really that means i don't have room for them, i've already separated other Chipmunks which are now living indoors and theres not room for another large cage which i feel they need. I would like them to live a good life, don't want them living in a small cage. They are nice Chipmunks i have no complaints about their behaviour with me, both are friendly.
Thanks for your offer of taking them back, its good to know i have that option.
I will keep you updated on what happens.
Jen
