Question:
I just picked up a small kitchen scale (the kind with a bowl on the top) at a buy and sell type place yesterday, and I thought that I would finally be able to weigh Buddy. But how in the world do you get them to sit in a scale? I tried for about 20 minutes yesterday, and I was completely unsuccessful. What I did: I placed the scale on the floor of Buddy's cage next to one of his shelves, so that he could easily get on the shelf and then in the bowl. I then tried to use a raisin to lure him onto the scale. He tried to eat the scale for a while, then he tried to get the raisin without actually jumping on the scale. He jumped on the scale once, but when it went down he got scared and jumped out so quickly that he tripped on my arm and fell in his igloo (luckily we were only a few inches from the ground). After that though, he wouldn't get in. I tried to hold the bowl down so that he could just walk into it and it wouldn't move, but he wouldn't get in. I think that he was scared because he would try to reach for the raisin and then he would sit down, hold onto the rim of the bowl and grind his teeth. I eventually just gave up.
What else can I do?


Answer:
Danielle, can you remove the bowl from the scale? Santos won't usually sit still either. I have a small box that I use to calibrate (tare) the scale and then I put him in the box (lid closed) to weigh him.


Answer:
Hmm...a box might work. The bowl does come off, and I imagine that I could just adjust the scale.
I did just try to weigh him again (using the bowl, and I had no luck). I came really close though because he jumped in while I was holding the scale down but as soon as I let it back up he got scared and jumped out. It looked like it was going to stop around 700g but who knows...he then got tired of the scale and came and sat on my shoulder instead. I did get some cute pictures that I am going to post in a minute.


Answer:
I weigh my boys during the day when they are tired.... by the time they wake up and make a run for it I've usually got their weights.


Answer:
That's what I just tried to do. He was sleeping when I came to do it. Needless to say, he is REALLY riled up right now.


Answer:
Danielle, if the bowl is big enough, could you put some oats in there for him to eat? My chins don't usually run off with their oats, so it might work.


Answer:
He won't get in the bowl. He would just stretch in and nab whatever was in the bowl. He has been really spastic lately, so maybe it's not the best time to try to weigh him.


Answer:
We weigh our girls in a box.
We put one in a small box (one that can close) and put it on the scale. Remember that weight (or write it down) then weigh just the box without the chinny in it. Subtract that weight from the previous one and voila, chinny weight


Answer:
We transfer our chins in a large tube and then let them slide out one end into the bowl (the scale is already on and tared). I give them a treat (usually something like a shredded wheat square b/c they take longer to eat it) and look quickly at the weight. some of mine are great and love to sit and take their time eating the treat in the bowl...however some like to take the treat and run so its a quick procedure and quick weigh before they get away. one of our vets used a box and that worked good too good luck!


Answer:
Thanks for all of the advice!
700g is probably around what I would have guessed Buddy's size to be-a fair size, not too big or small.