chipmunk info

Hi... I have had a load of questions recently.... lol.

Chipmunks are really great pets and very hardy. They are not cuddly and they can and usually will bite if they are frightened or mishandled.

Chipmunks usually have about 2-3 litters a year but from my experience that is just a loose figure... my oldest chipmunk had 5 in one year and I had to separate her from her husband to give her a break.

They usually have between 3 and 6 per litter.

They are pregnant for a month.

The babies open their eyes and ears at one month old and start to come out of the nest....and are ready to go to new homes at two months of age.

There is one thing I forgot to mention in a response to what they eat and if anything is poisonous to them .... pips from plumbs, cherries,... peaches are poisonous and you should also not use that type of branch in your cage... has nasty stuff in it that can make them very sick... forgot about that one until my hubby reminded me.

Don't use wood chips in their cage... they can get splinters in their mouth and cause infection.

Chipmunks fight with each other... I have wound powder bought from a pet store... just dab it on to wound area and it works well.

I read that chipmunks live for around 7 years... my oldest is now over 7 years... so I guess I will just have to wait and see how long she lives.

They need a big cage to run around in and a wheel to run on... do a web search for chinchilla cage and you will find plenty... ebay is a good place to look.

They need nesting boxes to sleep in... and nesting material... straw..and nesting material from the pet store works great.

They will eat flowers and bugs!!! like... grasshoppers and dandelions

NEVER EVER grab your chipmunk by the tail... it will snap off... and they don't grow back. I have a fish pond net that I keep handy in case I have to capture a chipmunk on the loose. They also don't like to be held tight... they will bite you... cup them in your hands, close to your body so they feel safe. I only have one chipmunk that I would say is tame... it was her choice... she decided that she loved me... she rides on my shoulder...and looks in my pockets for treats. Her sister likes the idea of coming out of her cage for a visit but soon decides that she would rather run around and hide under the couch and go places that I can't reach her. She is a brat...but she is the best mum ever.

Chipmunks sleep all night long.

They can catch a cold from you.

They make cute chirping noises that mean different things...