Once chinchillas get used to their environment, there will be few instances where you actually must pick them up. Our chinchillas are very good about going into their cage with little prompting. If you can maintain a consistent schedule, you'll find that the chinchillas will go where you want them to without any prompting at all. For us, this means that around our bedtime the chinchillas will run in to their cage and await their nightly treat (e.g. a raisin).
However, it's hard to resist the temptation of picking up your chins. If for no other reason than to feel their incredibly soft fur. So if you're going to pick up your chinchilla, you might as well do it the right way. That is, scoop them up from below and always support their back legs. We also like to keep them close to our bodies so that they're less likely to jump.
What you want to make sure you don't do is pick them up by the tail, squeeze their bodies too much, grab them by their ears, grab them by the neck (like a cat), or bring your hands down on them from above. All of these actions will agitate your chinchilla and can lead to harm. We've also noticed that they have good memories of stressful situations and it requires a day or two for them to trust you once again.
Our chinchillas also like to have their heads rubbed in between their ears. They also sometimes tolerate gentle chin and belly rubs.
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September 5th, 2007 at 9:31 am
To get your chin to let you hold her again is but her in the cage take her out hold for as long as she will let you if she get lose let her go then lay with a treat in your hand and let her come to you to get the treat but do not try to pick her up just try to touch her head do this a few times then she will start trusting you then try to pick her up and when you pick her up give her another treat after a few days of this you chin will be friendly again.
August 28th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
Jessica,
Picking a chinchilla up by the tail can cause them harm and we don't recommend it.
August 28th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
My friend got a Chinchilla for her birthday and says you have to pick them up by the tail is that the right thing to do
August 24th, 2007 at 6:22 am
Dina,
We're not familiar with the re-taming process. Could you described what it entails?
August 24th, 2007 at 12:41 am
Hey,
I got my chin about a month ago and I let her run around. She basically trusted me and didnt show too many signs of fear. She enjoyed running all over me and such. The thing is, I wanted to be able to hold her and for her to chill next to me. But then my breeder told me that if I let her run around I would never be able to hold her, so she convinced me that i should re-tame her. I guess if you do this they will not mind being held and will sit on your shoulder for hours. What do you guys think of this? I have been "taming" her for the past week and she really doesn't like it. First couple days when i held her, she would start crying, and now she bites me (not too hard, but harder than her usuall little nibbles) I feel like i'm losing more than gaining here….
some advice…