Question:
What's the best way to go about introducing chins to each other. When I introduced the 2 groups of degus, I put vanilla extract in their dust bath before so they would all smell the same, but the degus had always lived in groups. As far as I know, Ziggy and Bowie have both been alone for their entire lives. We want to build them a big cage, but need to know if their compatible before hand, otherwise we'll need to build two cages. Ziggy's 8 years old, so I'm worried he's not going to accept living with another chin. We currently have their cages right next to each other so they can smell each other, and they stick their noses through the sides and sniff each other and talk to each other. I'm just not sure the best way to go about introducing them. Any advice?


Answer:
Nikki, when I had chins, I used the smoosh method successfully but some people are completely opposed to it and think it is cruel. I have heard of nasty fights breaking out after the chins were placed in the same cage with the smoosh method. So, I am reluctant to promote the method. Have you tried supervised playtime together? If you don't have any females in the vicinity the chances for two males getting along are better.


Answer:
What is the smoosh method? I'm going to be getting a new chin in a few weeks, because the owner is moving and can't take her with. I'm also interested in any advice about introducing them.


Answer:
There will definitely be supervised play time together, but not until they've gotten used to me a bit more. Bowie is letting me pet him, but Ziggy is still a bit skittish. I want them to be more comfortable around me before I let them out together, just in case I have to break up a fight. That's what I did with the degus and it seemed to work. I'd be a bit worried about the smoosh method, just cause I think Ziggy might flip out once they're in a big cage cause he's been alone for 8 years.
I've also read about putting them in each other's cage every few days so they can smell each other better...has anyone tried this?


Answer:
Originally Posted by bjsks
What is the smoosh method? I'm going to be getting a new chin in a few weeks, because the owner is moving and can't take her with. I'm also interested in any advice about introducing them.
The smoosh method involves putting 2 chins in a really small cage...small enough so that they are "smooshed" together. Only for about 15-20 minutes though. The cage has to be small enough that they can't get into a fight, but are close enough to get used to each other. I've heard different things about the success rate of this method...some people use it and have no problem, but others have had their chins start fighting when put in a larger cage together.


Answer:
Swapping cages really helped with my boys. I also used a version of the smoosh method and it worked well too.


Answer:
Nikki, I think you have the right idea letting the two chinchillas get used to you before "together" playtime. With the two chinchillas already next to each other's cages, have you noticed any sniping or biting on the cage bars to get at each other? I have moved chinchillas from one cage to the other as well. It worked as part of the get-to-know-you process. Although I have no issues with the smoosh method, I haven't used it, either. I do use our smallest cage for the first cage-sharing time. That gives them a small area--no space for any really good fights!


Answer:
I've swapped two of mine in each others cage for a few days and swapped back.

I have my cages nextr to each other for a week, then supervised play time, then back in their own cages. Although, my chins know me first and that is important.

The last pair I introduced were next to each other for only a week and had their play time and went to put them back in their own cages and kicked up a right stink - they have been together very happily since.


Answer:
I just heard from someone that I trust, to put the new chin in a smaller cage inside the bigger cage, that way they get to know each other with out any physical interaction yet. The smooth method sounds scary to me. I want the least stressful method to introduce them, after all they are complete strangers to each other.


Answer:
Originally Posted by bjsks
I just heard from someone that I trust, to put the new chin in a smaller cage inside the bigger cage
The only problem is we don't have the bigger cage yet. If they can get along, we're going to build them a cage about 3 feet wide, 3 feet deep, and 6 feet high. If they don't get along, each cage will be smaller...maybe 2 feet X 2 feet X 4 feet or something.