Baked chipmunks

[Nate]

We've had the hottest days of the year down here in London so far. My chippies really slow down in the hot weather and i was wondering what everyone does to help keep their chippies cool. Nearly all of mine are out on the sun decks, although it's boiling the seem to enjoy lying flat in the sun.

I put out wet leaves of lettuce from the fridge and have the windows wide open with fans on. I used to have air conditioning but the bills were nearly £400 per quarter, so this year I'm trying to do without. I also bought an electric water bowl, it's intended for cats but the munks prefer to go to that their water bottles.

[stephen1970]

it was really hot here in Scotland today as well, my chippies disappeared underground for most of the afternoon and were back out around 5pm then they were back in bed before 730pm (since I put them outside they have been going to there nest about 730pm) I also gave them really cold water in there bottle.

[jennyb]

I do the same give them cold water. We have air conditioning which they don't seem to like very much. My male Ginger Nut is now seven and he loves to sunbathe. I tried ice cubes but they didn't like those much either, the cold on their paws. In the warmer weather i tend to find they eat less but the female is as active as ever she don't slow down and she's also seven, Ginger is less active but then again he's getting on in age.

[jcoombes2002]

That is so nice to know, Zippy our male slowed down completely and it scared me I thought he was a gonner it is our first summer year with them although the girl (squeak) didnt mind she went in bed early, but Zippy just goes and hides behind the chest of drawers or he was behind our sofa which I had to move but he didnt move so we were a bit worried.  We cannot leave the window open really as we are on the third floor but they do have their water and the windows are on latches is there anything else we can do?

[Nate]

I read that chipmunks are good swimmers, so I once filled the bath up with cold water to see if any would take a dip. No interest.

Two other things I do for them, I noticed they liked wet washing, so when hot I will put out cold wet towels, and always try to keep their digging pots nice and wet.

I know my place now, I am only here to serve their wishes 

[DizzyMoo]

Late response but advice all the same

Ice cubes are a good thing but to boring , so what i do is place fruit in before freezing, The chipmunks have fun licking the ice to get at the fruit . Another option is a small slab of marble , place it in your fridge for a few hours to cool & then somewhere flat inside the cage they will sit/lie on it. Of course plenty of fresh water cool water . A piece of cucumber is good as is mainly water too , of course becareful with 2 much green veg as it can give the poor mites the trots .

Hope this helps some of you too x

[Nate]

Hi Lyndsey, and welcome aboard, great to have another experienced chipmunk person in the group.

I found the ice cube idea on your site http://mychipmunks.piczo.com/?cr=6, but the slab of marble and frozen fruit ideas I'm going to try, if the sun ever comes out again.

[DizzyMoo]

Hello, I purposely didnt mention the site as i know some forums dont like it & i didnt want you to think i was advertising or anything.

I will be setting up a links page soon with other chipmunk forums or sites on , Would you mind if i added this site ? If not then not a problem. x

[Nate]

Hi,

I understand that a lot of forums restrict or ban the use of links, I think to stop the promotion of commercial websites. But the way I view it is that my main site is only my experience of keeping chipmunks (I have loads to learn still). I encourage potential owners to view as many different websites as they can, preferably those run by other owners over commercial sites. I would not consider someone who regularly breeds chipmunks to be 'commercial' either, as there just isn't the money in it. I want owners to get the best idea they can of what it's like keeping a chipmunk, before they get one. I think so many chipmunks are returned because their new owners did not fully appreciate what they were getting in to.

I come from an AR background so I'm on the side of the chipmunks first and foremost. But I try to keep my AR views off this site as much as possible, as there is an extreme side of AR which is a big switch off for a lot of people. My goal is to encourage, support and offer my opinion, in the hope people will make an informed choice, and thereby leading to a lot of contented pet chipmunks.

So I am not in competition with other sites, and I'm very happy if you want to use links back to your site in your posts to help an owner out or to put forward another point of view. The more knowledge and chipmunk experiences on the internet has to be good for the chipmunks kept as pets.

A happy chipmunk makes a happy owner.

[Gilly]

It's been quite warm today so this counts. I gave Alv n Biz three big chunks of water melon for tea and they loved it 
I'm hoping the seeds wont cause any harm, because they ate them too. I've frozen some left over bits for another day. I like finding new stuff they get stuck straight into.

[Nate]

I think the water melon seeds will be fine, I've mine water melon in the past, they are all still alive.

I noticed you're shortening Alvin to Alv, was the name Alvin getting to you 

[Gilly]

Ha ha ha well spotted Nate. Yes it is a bit 
I've noticed a few other Alvin's too.
They are both sill OK as well so panic over.

[Nate]

Thought you might have come back at me with my inspired naming of my white chipmunk 'Snowy', many weeks spent thinking that one up 

Not to mention calling my Tyke, Maisy for the first year of his life, poor sod.

[Pete_ren]

We freeze chipmunk food into ice cubes then put them out when it is hot, our chipmunks seem to enjoy picking the seeds outs and they get chilled at the same time. You could also freeze water in large plastic bottles, if the chipmunks are hot they can lie against it, seen this used in Rabbit hutches.

[Nate]

Thanks for your original ideas, hopefully we might see the sun again in six months time or so, so I can try out these ideas on mine.

Thanks again for all your contributions, and welcome to the board Pete