Introducing new chips and taming the old one!

[Velcropants]

Hi all,

Long post here!

I managed to luckily pick up two new hand reared chippies (after almost a year of searching) and I plan on introducing them slowly to the lovely belle. Belle hasnt been as friendly as she used to be since myself and the gf tried too clip her nails a few months back (she still accepts food from my hands but the moment you touch her she freaks and runs away) so I thought introducing some hand reared chipmunks might show help calm her down.

I also took belle for her first vet visit last week and as it turns out she perfectly healthy, and the vet found a way to tame her....basically rub her belly if you can get near her. Myself and the gf were shocked at such a simple answer! the vet also recommended keeping belle in the tiny travel cage for the next week or so and almost exclusively hand feeding her and trying to rub her belly. Its been a few days in the small cage so far, she despises it although shes calmed down a lot in the last 24 hours, and she is running to my hand for food now, but she still scarpers when petted or touched at the moment. (i still dont know how the vet did it)  I'm hoping to try for another week maybe and if it doesn't work out then accept her as she is and start introducing her to the new chips. My heart breaks keeping her in the small travel cage for so long, but if it helps her to be more friendly ill try! Anyone have any comments on what I'm doing whether its good or bad for her?

Belle:


Speaking of the new chips they've been much more friendly, they are a male, harrisson (ford!),  and female, eevee, of about 8 months old. first time i put my hand in their cage I was greeted with licks and sniffs! They both dont mind being petted and can be picked up with a few tries!

I really am starting to see that different chips have very different personalities. Harrison likes to run in his wheel, and is not too bothered with treats but at most times sits in the corner of the cage quietly and just watches. I think hes still a little nervous, I let him out once and he hid on the wall in the most inaccessible places for hours with no intention of coming out. I may leave it another while before I let him out for a run again! Eevee on the other hand runs to me looking for treats as soon as I walk by, if there is none, she just happily goes back to the nest box or towel and sleeps for the day. Very easy to bribe with food so very easy to put back in her cage!

Harrison (Left) and Eevee (right)

I plan on introducing the 3 soon into belles old larger indoor avery. Their cages are beside each other for the past week but they haven't had any physical contact yet. I'm planning on one of two things, either letting belle into their cage for a day or so before moving to see how they get on, or just moving in all three at once in a week into the larger and cleaner avery so they all have a fresh start. I have three next boxes set up in case they all like their own space. Would any of these two methods be the best way to go about introducing them? Or would anyone have any other suggestions?

I just have one final query for you all. Belle has been on her own for past year and is signifigantly larger than the other two (about twice the size). Would she be any danger to the two new chips or vice versa?


Thanks for your time!


Velcropants

[tarcus/Kevin]

Belle should be no threat to your new offspring and I would suggest letting them all out at once in the vicinity of the newly cleansed cage so they can all go and explore it together. I would also add a further nest box and ensure that all the boxes are at the same height. Chances are they will all sleep in one box from the off but they need to be able to make a choice. happy days ahead   

[Velcropants]

Hi Tarcus,

just a quick update to say thanks for your advice. I waited another day or two after I posted and stuck them all in together. They're all settled in the same cage now, and sleep in the same nest box usually. The new girl Eevee chases Belle around a lot but I haven't seem them cause any harm, and my new boy Harrison is tremendously quiet but loves running in his wheel all day. I actually think that Eevees a bit pregnant since shes gotten hugely fat compared to the other two. Either that or shes simply just eating all the food, which is possible she is the dominant chipmunk of the three, sleeps all day and night, and only comes out for food!


Velcro

[pinkpill]

is belle a cinnamon?? as she looks very ginger

[mik]

dont mean to be cheeky but i think they need bigger holms  to run about for excercise

[pinkpill]

he said theyre in temporary cages i think then theyre all going in a bigger 1 together

[mik]

ok sure wasngt being nasty just when saw cages

[pinkpill]

things are easily misread i often ask questions when the answer is always in the text, but he did say about the vet saying to keep his origional chip in a small cage for a while to tame it, and i recently learnt that this method has been used to tame vicious and unruly ferrets
sometimes we can feel guilty with the methods we use in training our pets, but they do sometimes work out for the best in the long run

[sarahowen1]

lets hope for some cinimon babies from belle, keep the gene alive

[pinkpill]

ah she is a cinn then she's a lovely colour