Chinchillas make a variety of sounds. The most common is a "barking" sound that they make to indicate that they're scared and to warn other chinchillas of danger. On occasion, our chinchillas will bark if there's a particularly loud car going by the house or if there's an unusual noise outside.
Other sounds include a soft cooing that might indicate playfulness and comfort. A very quiet chirping can be heard while the chinchilla is exploring a new place. Some sounds will originate from the grinding of teeth, which they will sometimes do after eating. They also sometimes sneeze audibly, sometimes from the fine dust in their bath.
For a better understanding of the sounds that chinchillas make, check out Michael's collection of chinchilla recordings.
Contact and Communication Sounds
Mating Sounds
Baby Sounds
Protest and Defence Sounds
Rage and Anger
Warning and Alarm Calls (barking chins)
Chewing and Gnawing
Sources:
Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
Entries (RSS)
My chinchilla squeaked it was alittle squeek u could barley hear it but im wondering wat it means?
i just played some of the sound clips and my chin responded to the chirps they make when they are looking for each other. he kept running up to the computer making the same noises
hi theresa.
i have 4 chins. my roxie is anywhere between 4 and 6 (rescued so im unsure) and my triplets will be 1 in may 2010 (also rescued).
roxie was tough because im not certain of her past. she wont let me hold her either but she will climb on me and she is never close to my hands. it took me nearly 2 years to accomplish this task with her and it all started with an ice cream cone. see, i had those small basic cones and i put one next to the cage for her to smell and she went crazy after that first bite (also try cranraisains, vanilla almond shredded wheat, or rose hip). once she was used to the crackling sound of the plastic from the cone she would greet me with the cage doors closed. everytime she came close i repeated, in my loving my newborn baby high pitched-voice, "thats my roxie" or "roxie-rox". very slowly she started to associate my tone with her getting a treat. then as she adjusted to that i slowly started to rub her under her chin and then the top of her head, etc..
i hope this story can help you to find away to bond with chilli.
Hey
Just wanted to say good job ^^
I really appreciate the fact that you put so much time and love into this!
Muffin
okay i have 2 chins one is mine one is my boyfriends mine is friendly and nice his is shy we have had them for 4 months now and mine is still in good health however his is missing lots of fur cries all of the time his foot is swelling and now the base of his tail is also swelling. i thought maybe they fought but we watched them very closely and they never fight they are brothers and they sleep and cuddle up together.. his is looking very ruff and i'm worried at what is causing him to be this way..
You chinchilla is sick. Take her to the vet ASAP.
JACKIE -
Your chin may be very ill. You should get him to a vet right away.
I just got my Chinchilla his name is Chilli He is just over a year old. He is very shy and skiddish, when i go to try and pick him up he just runs and makes a squealing nose like im going to hurt him. When i try to feed him a treat he pushes my hand away, just wondering what I can do to get him use to me.
Also Chilli makes a noise like a cell phone is that normal? Every time he thinks were not looking he comes to the cage door then i try to put my hand to the cage and he just runs away? Just wondering what I should do? Thanks for any help I can get.
Before you ask no he was not abused, The guy I got him from has another one the other one is very friendly and not shy at all Chilli has been this way since he has had him. Any suggestions would be great.
Thanks Theresa
Hey, theresa
When I got my chin, it took a while for him to bond with me. Unfortuately he came from a pet store and I think the young workers handled him roughly because till this day I cannot pick him up ( 3 years now) He will come to you and jump on your lap for treats. He allows me to pet him on his head and back but if I try to even softly pet either of his sides, he will make a sound that he does not want to be touched in tha area. He is very affectionate and a happy chin, but he will not let me pick him up "with my hands" except if hes on my foot and I lift it wtih him on it. All chins have different personalities. If he was treated well, it will just be a matter of time. As for me, I have him in a 3 tier cage but I leave it open because I have an issue wtth caged animals. PS Have you given him dust baths yet, that will make him very happy
Well chins do have different personalities.
I'd recommend talking to him as they do react to voice. Do it in a soft loving tone (yes you will look funny and sound crazy an yeah it's perfectly normal).
Give him little treats when he comes up to you so he associates you with something he likes.
Also, I'd wear a big big hoodie for a while, and then try putting him in it, and just let him run around in it while you're watching tv
he will crawl in your sleeves and sit on your chest or lap and try to escape but try to keep him in there for a while unless he is freaking out tons
this way he will get used with your smell more and being in a dark place will keep him calmer., and as well his little brain will think "hmm she didn't eat me! cool!" just watch out he doesn't get too warm, and check his ears once in a while to see if they are red and warm sign of needing to cool down. As well, don't keep him like that for too long and after a while you can even let him on the couch
after doing this a couple of times he won't even try to jump off the couch (never let him do it in the first place, they learn fast)
and he will even come and chill on your shoulder and bark at the guns on tv maybe =]
all chins are different but most skittish chins if spent a lot of time with will be fine
What I also try to do to my chins is immitate their noises back at them
it's really funny if your chin is vocal he will start freakin like uh you speak! haha