New Chippie Shy

[cm2108]

Hi Guys/Gals,

I've just recently picked up a chippie who is around 2-3 months old. He had been living in a smallish cage with his sister outside, next to other chippies (not in same cage). We collected him about 10/11 days ago, and as soon as I introduced him to his new aviary cage (7ft tall with 3-nest boxes & plenty ledges, toys, etc), he basically had a look in each nest box and plumped for the top one. Since then, he has spent most of the time in there. He does come out, when we are not around, but since we are not there, I don't even know for how long this is. As soon as we walk back into the room, he shoots back into the nest box. I've tried opening the sliding door at the end and giving the bedding a little push, to get him to come out, but he tends to sit further back and you can see him shaking a little.

We had two Chippies previously, which we lost within weeks of each other, earlier this year. We only had them a couple of months, and the previous owner only had them a week, but his dogs wouldn't leave them alone, so we bought them from him. He didn't know how old they were, but I assume they were a good age, as they were all over the cage doors as soon as you attempted to open them and they would also run down your arm and sit and eat from the palm of your hand, if you stuck your arm in the cage. They loved getting out in the conservatory and it took me the best part of 2-hours on Hogmanay last year, to get one of them to go back in its cage.

Basically I'm looking for some advice on best methods to try and get this wee fella to be a bit more active/tame and to come out of his box a bit more. We have tried to coax him out with bits of fresh fruit, but we are having to leave on the shelves for him to get, once we are out of the room. Should I just continue as we are at the moment, in the hope that he comes out in his own time, or should I try to force the issue a little, by maybe taking out the nest boxes for a short period of time during the day? I realise that it s probably a major change for him in the last 10-days, but I would like to get him out into the conservatory, so that he can get a run about in the bigger space.

Any advice on dealing with a young Chippie would be appreciated.

[peter01]

I recently got 3 young babies too and had the same question really, it just took time and patience for me, a lot of time spent with them and plenty of monkey nuts with them just being young they will be scared and probably not used to humans just yet, he will come out in her own time (hopefully) and get more used to you and learn to trust you. He probably feels comfortable in the nest box and as time goes on he will want to explore hope this was of some help, all the best with your chippie

[cm2108]

Cheers Peter!

Hopefully it will only be a matter of time. I will be in the house for most of the day on Saturday, so I am going to see if I can get him to come out into the conservatory for a run about.

[peter01]

Welcome, hopefully it will go well for you and he's soon running around you like a mad man haha, good luck!

[Marci]

I have the same problem with my cheekychipmunksse chips.  Lilly will be out in her cage but when I stick my hand in to give her food, she will take it and then run away.  Remy and Martyn will immediately run into their tunnel when they see me.  Lilly was born this spring and Remy and martyn are a year old.  They arrived about 7 weeks ago from the UK to the US. 

I discussed this with Holeigh who provided great advice.  She told me that they need to be in the same small room as you and allow them to come to you by bribing them with treats.  I haven't had a chance to do that yet and I am hoping her advice is correct.  This is what I did with Buddy and now he is so bonded to me.

Marci

[cm2108]

Cheers Marci,

He was out tonight when I came home from work, but as soon as I attempted to set foot in the room, he was off into his box. I cut up a grape and sat it on the shelves and checked a few minutes later. He was sat happily munching away at the fruit. I just left him alone to enjoy. Hopefully it will just be a time thing. Going to try and persuade him out of the cage, into the conservatory on Saturday, for a run around.
Will let you know how I get on!

[cm2108]

Bye the way Marci,

Like the names, Remy & Martyn......

[peter01]

The first time mine came to me, was when they i just sat still inside the aviary and waited for them to come to me, they must have got curious and though oh i seen him give Lilo monkey nuts so lets go have a look see if he has any  hopefully all your chips get used to you soon! along with mine

[Nick]

I've spent hours in mine waiting for them, in the end they just cant help them selves......it worth the wait.

[peter01]

Yeah, well worth it as when they are tame and trust you, it makes having them even funner

[Marci]

CM2108 - My niece used to call Buddy by the wrong name, Remy, and I liked it.  So I knew if I was going to get a female, I would name her Remy.  Since Cheekychimpmunksse took  the time to ship me the chipmunks all  the way to the US, I had to name the male after Martyn especially since they are a breeding pair and live together!  I never even had Remy Martin but I understand it is an expensive cognac. 

I need to find the time to be in a confined room which is chipmunk proof to tame the english chips.  I agree with the posts, this is the only way to tame them. 

Marci

[cm2108]

Managed to get him into the conservatory last Saturday for an hour or so. Wheeled the whole cage into the conservatory and then took the top section off. This allowed me to drop his nest box onto the floor. I then slid the door up at the side of the box and gave the bedding a little push. He shot out the box and under the base of the cage. After a little while, he started climbing up the outside of his cage and managed to jump onto the window ledge. He had a wander around there for a little while, but didn't really venture far away from the vicinity of the cage. He did climb up the wall of the conservatory and stayed there for about 10-minutes. anytime I went near him with treats, he shot back under the cage. I suppose it will just take time and a big effort on my part.

[pinkpill]

cute pic scaling the wall

[cm2108]

Guys,

What a difference in the last few weeks!!! No longer do I have to carry the top section of his cage into the conservatory and then try to get him to come out. I simply open one side of his large runaround ball and he quite happily hops in and I can just carry him into the conservatory and let him loose.

He's an absolute nightmare now, if you take any food in with you. I hide some of his seeds in various places and take some in a plastic tub. I move the tub from hand to hand, and he runs up one arm and then the other, trying to get into the tub. I have recently tried to eat a coconut bun and a magnum ice-cream, whilst sitting in there, but he wouldn't let me enjoy in peace. He was all over me like a rash!! At one point he was sitting on the end of my hand, licking the ice-cream. We love sitting in there, watching him try to bury his stash in various corners. Last night, he even buried some seeds n nuts in one of my daughters slippers, whilst her feet were still in them.

We let him out for a run around for a few hours each day at the weekend and usually most nights for an hour. I even carried his cage outside last weekend, to give him an hour in the fresh air.

Will try and post some more pics soon! Thanks to all of you who said it would happen with a little perseverance and trust. We're certainly reaping the benefits now.

[peter01]

Great to hear, glad he's warming to you and he can get out for a run and play! my chipmunks love ice cream too, especially strawberry haha, hope everything continues to go well