Giving mum a break and Chai

I decided to re home Marmite because he wouldn't let Chippy have a rest. Chipmunks are supposed to have two litters a year, Chippy had four litters and the last one really got her down. I did decided to keep two girls from the last litter to keep her company and to keep for future breeding.

One of the girls has proven to be quite a character and has bonded w/ me. Every time I open the cage door she hops out onto my arm and climbs all over me. She loves to go up my sleeves and in my pockets if possible. She also likes to sit on top of my head because it is the highest point on my body. I read that they like to do that if you have a really friendly one like this one. I have named her Chai... after the Indian spiced milk tea that I like to drink. It just suited her and I like the sound of the word.

When I decide to breed Chai or her sister I will post an update. I think I need to wait until next year to do so and give them a chance to just be chipmunks for a while. I will be breeding her w/ my friends chipmunk, she has two agouti males.

wild and crazy hamster's exploding mouth

Cara's hamster

current litter pics

one day old
one day old
one week old
one week old... starting to get nails and hair

3 boys and 2 girls... new babies born yesterday!!!

young male chipmunk having a snack

A letter from Georgina...and how she introduced her chipmunks

Georgina had previously adopted a female chipmunk and recently adopted another female as a companion. Here is the the letter she sent me and how she introduced them..... everything went really well.


Hi Patti

Just thought I'd let you know how the chipmunks are getting on. After collecting No. 2 (now named Scamp) on Friday, I kept her in the travelling cage for the rest of the day to allow her to leave her scent on it and to calm down. That night when both my existing chipmunk (named Skippy) and Scamp were asleep in their respective nest boxes, I very quietly sellotaped a piece of cardboard over the hole at the front of each nest box and swapped them over. The reason behind this was to allow the new chipmunk to check out the permanent cage. I kept the two apart for the whole of Saturday, but I put the two cages together so that they could smell each other through the wire, although when they did catch sight of each other they didn't seem too bothered.

Scamp decided that she didn't want to sleep in her nice new nest box, she chose the thatched house hanging from the top of the cage. After taking her time sorting out the bedding she finally climbed in and made herself comfortable, looking very sweet with her little face just peeping out through the hole in the front.

That night I had to wait until about 9.30 when they had gone to sleep and I then transferred Skippy, again with the cardboard covering the hole in the nest box so she couldn't escape, into the main cage. But she was too sharp for this deception. As soon as I put her nest box alongside the other one, she was wide awake and eager to get out and check out what was going on. I just hoped she wouldn't wake up Scamp and that they might end up fighting. But she started running round the cage and smelling everything. I turned the light out in the room in the hope that she would take the hint and go back in her nest box and sleep till morning.

I must admit I was quite concerned that when they woke up in the morning they might starting fighting. But, thankfully, I had none of that. When I went to check them out on Sunday morning they were both awake in the cage and doing their own thing. Occasionally when Skippy was running down one of the branches in the cage she would meet Scamp coming up and they just stopped and sniffed each other on the nose. They are now driving me nuts playing on the wheel you got me. I'll have to see if there's a way of silencing it, as they are on it non-stop. There must be lots of energy in all those nuts they eat, as I don't know how Skippy keeps going all day. She does this thing like Marmite, her Dad, of jumping from the top platform onto the wire on the opposite side, and jumping back onto the ladder. As she lands it bangs, and then she goes around again, and again, and again!! When Scamp was sitting at the edge of the top shelf yesterday it hindered her from this repetitive action, but she didn't fight with her. She just stopped short, and decided to run around elsewhere instead.

What was strange though was that last night Scamp chose Skippy's nest box as her own, and Skippy couldn't seem to rest. She just stayed running around the cage for longer - still awake at about 7 o'c. Eventually she must have been tired as I saw some movement in the sock you gave me. I had it hanging on the side of the cage packed with some shredded paper and white bedding. I think she probably stayed in there all night, but have no way of knowing. Anyway, this morning when I went in to check them out they were both awake and running around like normal.

So I'm glad to say the introduction went remarkably well, and I think they'll be living happily together for a long time.

So thank you again for supplying me with such very healthy young chipmunks, and it is obvious all the care you put into them when bringing up the babies. It has been good to come and meet you, your family and your animals.


No doubt we'll be in touch again.

Take care

Georgina

WARNING

Don't use this type of bedding for our chippies. One of my chipmunk people rescued her chippy from being strangled to death by this type of bedding. The chippy had it wrapped around her neck and it had to be cut loose.

eyes are open!!!

getting bigger... eyes will open soon

OMG OMG OMG!!!

I thought that Chippy was getting a little chubby! I thought yesterday that perhaps she could be expecting again, but I thought it was too early in the season....then today I noticed that she didn't come out of her nesting box to eat breakfast and when I checked on her I found this lovely surprise! She has 3 new babies, born last night. The last of her

first litter went home w/ her mum this morning... poor Chippy doesn't get a break eh?


Look how fragile and tiny they are... like little jelly beans really. They should start to squeek soon... I am keeping a female this time and the lady who adopted the female today may adopt another one from this litter... I think there are two. I am also thinking about trading my male for another male and pair up my new girl w/ him.... anyone out there have any males to trade in a couple months?

Two happy sisters

A lovely lady named Teresa adopted two sisters. They are doing really well in their new home w/ their new family.
They are so beautiful and sweet... awwwwwwww!
I'm so happy that they have wonderful humans to care for them.
Just look at that face!
They are just so precious... thanks Teresa for sending pictures of your beautiful girls, I'm really chuffed. xxxx

Harry and his chipmunk

Harry wanted to bring his chipmunk today to show me, if you look closely you can see that they have a matching set of teeth. Hi Harry...see, I told you I would post your pic on my chipmunk blog... xxxx you both look great!

chipmunk babies today...eating grass

The story of Marmite and Chippy

Two males for sale :o)

I now have two charming baby males that can be reserved due to a cancellation.

All the babies are doing really well and getting big... it is going to be hard to part with them but I know that there will be more litters and that they are going to good loving homes.

Yummy!!!!

This is one of the boys.

Happy Easter

All the babies have been reserved

The babies have all been reserved for their new loving homes. I will continue to update the blog to show their progress until that time comes.



Here is one little guy enjoying his breakfast whilst sitting on my hand... he is eating a meal worm.


When I handle them I am very calm and gentle making sure that they are not frightened. I gently place them back in the cage when they are ready to go back in. I put them back when I can see that they are becoming a little worried...they let me know.


I hold them loosely and cup them in my hands... let them crawl on me and explore as well.

oooooooooops... duplicate.

Chippy and Marmite should have one more litter this year... I will be sure to let everyone know when they decided to do that. .... ,o)

One male left

I have one male left for sure.... all the other babies have been reserved.

out of the nest and eating

one month old now

The first baby ventured out yesterday evening....


Mum was a little worried and kept putting baby back in the nest.

Going fast

All the females have now been reserved (I think...still waiting for one person to confirm...but I think they will).... so I have males left.... two for sure! I am asking £35 each for them.

Nearly a month old now

As you can see, they are a lively bunch!!!

They are so curious of their surroundings।


We cuddled them for a long time, letting them crawl over us and sniff us, when they were done they simply went back into their nesting box on their own accord.

Meet the parents

Chippy (mum)


Marmite (dad)


Pregnant Chippy

babies 3 weeks old now

these little guys will be ready around the middle of May। I am asking £35 each... same sex pairs if sold in pairs. No dilutes this litter. 3 boys and 3 girls.