exotichobbyist - the online community for the exotic and small animal hobbyist.

	Businesses Classifieds Forums Photo Gallery Chat News Videos Features Events Clubs Bookstore

Reptile & Amphibians Insects Birds Cats Dogs Exotics Horses Aquaria Ponds PetHobbyist PetPress PetSupport RescueNetwork My Account
advertising rates - site news - help - contact

Looking for a pet? Try a rescue first!

Re: Possibly getting chipmunks

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Chipmunk Forum ]

Posted by Kathleen on November 01, 2001 at 11:04:56:

In Reply to: Possibly getting chipmunks posted by Glenn on September 06, 2001 at 15:17:16:

: Hello all,
: I would like some advice.
: I live in Ireland, and have always found chipmunks facinating, and now have thought of getting a pair as pets.
: Is this a good idea?
: Do they bite ?

: Glenn.

Hello Glenn:

I have three. We caught them wild and tamed them. They are easy to tame. We used a live and gentle trap that would not hurt them, baited it with sunflower seeds. Right after catching them, we put them into very small carriers. I could put my hand in the carrier through the door and pet the chippys who could not get away. They tames very quickly. We then released them into a large bird cage, which has narrow space between the wires and is large enough for them to run around in and we put some wood branches in the cage for them to run and play on. We also put some opaque containers in the cage for them to make beds. They did find all summer. We moved them and hung the cage in a tree just off our porch all summer. When it started getting cold at nights we moved them inside and their cage now hangs from a ceiling hook. When I feed them, rather than just pour the food in, I hold it in my hand. When they are hungry they will jump right into my hand to eat. I have noticed that they became more agressive this fall. I am not sure why, but I suspect it has to do with them attempting to store food for the winter and protecting their dens. Anyway, I had four, but one was killed by the others. I suspect I have 2 males and a female left and that it was the two males that killed the other one. These two males were fighting also, so I seperated them, putting one of the aggressive ones into a hampster cage instead. The other mail I left in the original cage with the female. The fighting has now stopped, but this male is still very agressive and now attacks my hand when I put it in to feed them. No he does not bite, none of them ever have, but he does get big and fluffy and jumps at my hand in an attempt to scare me off. From this behavior, I would guess that this time of year is not the best time to get and tame a pet. My plan was to tame these and then set them free to roam around our porch area with the thought in mind that once they were tame, it would be easy to get them to come into my hand to feed them. I am however, afraid to turn them loose right now. I delayed because of cats in the area, and now worry they won't have dens or enough food to get them through the winter. I will attempt to turn them loose again in the spring.

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: : Hello all, : : I would like some advice. : : I live in Ireland, and have always found chipmunks facinating, and now have thought of getting a pair as pets. : : Is this a good idea? : : Do they bite ? : : Glenn. : Hello Glenn: : I have three. We caught them wild and tamed them. They are easy to tame. We used a live and gentle trap that would not hurt them, baited it with sunflower seeds. Right after catching them, we put them into very small carriers. I could put my hand in the carrier through the door and pet the chippys who could not get away. They tames very quickly. We then released them into a large bird cage, which has narrow space between the wires and is large enough for them to run around in and we put some wood branches in the cage for them to run and play on. We also put some opaque containers in the cage for them to make beds. They did find all summer. We moved them and hung the cage in a tree just off our porch all summer. When it started getting cold at nights we moved them inside and their cage now hangs from a ceiling hook. When I feed them, rather than just pour the food in, I hold it in my hand. When they are hungry they will jump right into my hand to eat. I have noticed that they became more agressive this fall. I am not sure why, but I suspect it has to do with them attempting to store food for the winter and protecting their dens. Anyway, I had four, but one was killed by the others. I suspect I have 2 males and a female left and that it was the two males that killed the other one. These two males were fighting also, so I seperated them, putting one of the aggressive ones into a hampster cage instead. The other mail I left in the original cage with the female. The fighting has now stopped, but this male is still very agressive and now attacks my hand when I put it in to feed them. No he does not bite, none of them ever have, but he does get big and fluffy and jumps at my hand in an attempt to scare me off. From this behavior, I would guess that this time of year is not the best time to get and tame a pet. My plan was to tame these and then set them free to roam around our porch area with the thought in mind that once they were tame, it would be easy to get them to come into my hand to feed them. I am however, afraid to turn them loose right now. I delayed because of cats in the area, and now worry they won't have dens or enough food to get them through the winter. I will attempt to turn them loose again in the spring.

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Chipmunk Forum ]