Housing males together?

Debbie · 06-14-2006, 09:41 AM

How do you chin peolpe fear with housing males together.
I have never had much luck.I always believed it was because they were in the same room with the females.
Even fathers and sons at some point have turned on each other.
Though I have sold brother kits together, and have never heard there was a problem later.
With in the last couple of months it has come up on another list, and I was told that's not the case, some folks have no trouble housing males togther, even in a room with females.
Then I get a call from a Lady in central that has 3 sons, 2 litters, and a dad that she wanted to seperate from the female, and asked if she could house the males together.She has Mom, Dad and 2 kits in one cage and a single kit from last year in another.The new kits are just about to be weaned, and Dad gets along well with the male kit from last year.
The pet shope out that way told her no way, they would fight to the death.
I would have told her that a few months ago.
I told her to try, if they all get along now I wouldn't see any problem with trying, but suggested she move the female to another room to be on the safe side.
Also that there was no way to say for sure if they would stay living peacefully together.
I have had females that out of the blue decided they didn't want a certain cage mate.
I did tell her what to watch for and gave a few tips.
Back when I was under 12 I had whole families that would play together, but have not as of yet tried keeping two males in the same cage for any real duration.
I have a few that will run together now, but they sure let their run buddies know not to come in their cages.
What kind of experiences have you all had with this?
I told her to try, but make sure she's got an extra cage/cages.Even a small carrier could be a life saver in a pinch.

Candycane · 06-14-2006, 10:27 AM

I have heard of people housing males together in the same room as females but I believe that it's not that common. It's not impossible...but it can be risky. My boys took a long time to introduce but after they were permanent cage mates, there were no problems. When I brought Hazel home, they did start to chase and rear up at each other even though she wasn't in the same room. I moved their cage further away and they have been fine.

Arf2184 · 06-14-2006, 03:11 PM

All my chins are in one room, breeding and non-breeding. I've got a pair of brothers (7 and 8 years old) that have been together for years, and a tripod (8yrs) who has had his male buddy for almost two years. I also put male weanlings in with my boys if I don't have the cage space or another male kit to wean them with. They stay together until the kit is sold or put into breeding.

It just depends on the chins. I've had more issues getting females to live peacefully together than males.

Denise · 06-16-2006, 12:51 PM

I agree with ARF, it depends on the chins. I had three pairs of males living together and eventually it turned out to be bad news. Then again, I had females in the same room. It appeared after the males got older, there was more conflict.

Debbie · 06-16-2006, 01:14 PM

Thanks Ladys,
Another myth busted I guess, and we'll leave it all up to the chins.
I am going to give it another shot, putting males together.
I have no problems with the gals at all funny eh!
I have a couple of males palying together now, and I trust these two, so when I get new cages made I'll try them in one and see how they do.
Would sure ease me up a tad if it works.

I took it right to heart when folks told me you couldn't.I'm sure others have as well.

Kathy · 06-19-2006, 02:29 AM

Hi Debbie,
My husband and I have had 3 males and 1 female living in two large connected cages (basically one large cage) for 2 1/2 years now without any problems. Mom & Dad were rescued from the SPCA and mom was 2 months pregnant at the time. We had 2 boys 1 month later. All of the boys have since been neutered and all of the Chins live very peacefully together.
Kathy

hawaiianchinnielover · 06-19-2006, 07:08 PM

I've had males housed in the same cage before. They did fine. They fought less than my females did. They were in the same room as the females. They were also in a huge cage with lots of hiding places and were father and son though, so I think that may have played a part in it.

Debbie · 06-20-2006, 03:21 PM

Thanks Kathy,

Quote:

My husband and I have had 3 males and 1 female living in two large connected cages (basically one large cage) for 2 1/2 years now without any problems. Mom & Dad were rescued from the SPCA and mom was 2 months pregnant at the time. We had 2 boys 1 month later. All of the boys have since been neutered and all of the Chins live very peacefully together.
Kathy

I have wonderd if neutering would make a dif., have thought about getting a couple of the males done.

Blueribbon · 08-19-2006, 04:22 PM

I got a pair (brothers) males who were 14 months old and had always been together.

I've seperated them now, and the one by himslef has gone off feed, but I've covered that in another posting.

Bill

Quote:

Originally Posted by Debbie

How do you chin peolpe fear with housing males together.
I have never had much luck.I always believed it was because they were in the same room with the females.
Even fathers and sons at some point have turned on each other.
Though I have sold brother kits together, and have never heard there was a problem later.
With in the last couple of months it has come up on another list, and I was told that's not the case, some folks have no trouble housing males togther, even in a room with females.
Then I get a call from a Lady in central that has 3 sons, 2 litters, and a dad that she wanted to seperate from the female, and asked if she could house the males together.She has Mom, Dad and 2 kits in one cage and a single kit from last year in another.The new kits are just about to be weaned, and Dad gets along well with the male kit from last year.
The pet shope out that way told her no way, they would fight to the death.
I would have told her that a few months ago.
I told her to try, if they all get along now I wouldn't see any problem with trying, but suggested she move the female to another room to be on the safe side.
Also that there was no way to say for sure if they would stay living peacefully together.
I have had females that out of the blue decided they didn't want a certain cage mate.
I did tell her what to watch for and gave a few tips.
Back when I was under 12 I had whole families that would play together, but have not as of yet tried keeping two males in the same cage for any real duration.
I have a few that will run together now, but they sure let their run buddies know not to come in their cages.
What kind of experiences have you all had with this?
I told her to try, but make sure she's got an extra cage/cages.Even a small carrier could be a life saver in a pinch.