Question:
Hey again, I have another question about our Chinchilla, Baby.

She's been horribly spoiled since we brought her home, since it's sooo hard to say no to that face! She will get let out of her cage and normally not return for four or five days at a time. She spends hours just sitting on her favorite perch and likes to sleep either on top of the TV where it's warm, or under the bed where it's normally pretty cool because of the AC.

She has easy access to her cage, and can return any time she wants for water and food. She actually gets very angry when we try to keep her in her cage, and will chew and bat at the bars until we can hardly take it anymore. A lot of this we think is just stress, and like I mentioned before she should be in a larger cage near the end of the month, and we're looking into breeders for a possible cage-mate.

My question is this: It is terrible for her health or stress levels to be out for that long?



Answer:
Some people have free roaming chins and the animals seems to do fine with that. I don't see a problem with your schedule as long as Baby is getting adequate food, water and hay and that she is not at any risk of eating things she's not supposed to (like wires and paint covered baseboards)

I know of a lady who does not even have a cage for her chinchilla. Murphy lives in a spare bedroom and has a bed in an old dresser. She's got a potty spot and a feeding spot and she's been living happily like that for years as I understand it. So, while rare that a chin can manage like that, it is possible.


Answer:
I think it's fine , just when there isn't anything bad the chin can get into. Do you have wire coverings?Cute chin by the way


Answer:
Thanks so much. I had heard in all of the care booklets and sites that chins should be out for only an hour or so, I was worried.

We do have all the wires covered, and there really isn't much for her to get into. She is a very good girl and only chews when she is locked in her cage.

Phew... this relieves me so much!!!

By the way, can either of you recommend Chin breeders in IL??


Answer:
Runningmouse, I live in Chicago and my standard gray/vc just had three babies! Two gray/vc's and one mosiac/vc. It looks like the grays are female and the mosiac is a male.

PM if you are interested.