With this, I understand much better.
Again, there could have been several reasons/things going on that could have caused the stillborn litters.
1. Backbreeding. When this happens, the mom and all kits suffer because there is just not enough nutrition to go around.
2. Lack of a good environment.
3. Lack of a quality food.
4. Constant handling of the female while she is pregnant.
5. Mishandling or abuse.
6. The "chemistry"/DNA between the two just does not produce healthy kits. What you normally get when putting two high quality chins together is high quality kits, but, on occasion, you will put the wrong two together and get very low quality kits.
7. The momma chin just may not be able to carry kits to full term, for physical reasons.
8. The male may have some messed up genes.
9. The female could have been put into breeding to early and in the process of the birth of the first litter could have caused damage to the reproduction organs or birth canal.
Did the woman say the pair had any healthy litters, or were all litters stillborn?
How many litters had this pair produced all together?
Having been allowed to have "several" stillborn litters was the first mistake.
I will usually give a pair a 'second chance' on having a healthy litter before separating them (there could have been an accident that could have caused it the first time).
If the pair have a second litter that is stillborn, I separate them and place each with new partners after they have had a good break from breeding (at least 6 months to a year for the female ... my personal choice).
I then place each with proven breeders that have produced healthy litters in the past.
I keep a close eye on the litters born to the two new pairs. Should either original partner produce a stillborn litter, the partner doing so will be taken out of breeding forever.
You have to remember, the kits come from a combination of two parents ... to often breeders want to blame it on the female alone.As for the peeing situation ... this female has been through a very stressful time, probably more than you know, and needs allot of one-on-one time from you. She could be doing this out of anger, fear, frustration, depression, or again ... the claim for dominance. If you are not seeing this actually happening, then they are acting differently when no one is around as apposed to when someone is watching. This is 'change in attitude' when no one is watching is not uncommon.
You could just wait and see if things get better, or, separate them and place another chin in with the female. Above all, this should be done with time, caution and patients.
This little one has been through some very rough times ... she has had multiple stillborn litters and the loss of her partner. Chinchillas have the complete full array of all the human emotions we have. If , in the long run, she can not be paired with another cagemate, she needs to be where the human caring for her has lots of time and love to give to her alone. (My opinion and experience over the years.)
I had one chin that was given to me under similar circumstances ... I never put her into breeding because I had no background on her and figured she had already been through enough already ... as it turned out ... she became one of my best foster moms to kits that needed her special love. They gave her love in return for the love she had to give. She is still with me.
I hope this gave you some options not thought of before ... that's why we are all here ... to help eachother help all chinchillas.
Jo Ann
