Do you remove the Dad for the birth? How long does he stay away? I read that I wasn't supposed to remove ANY of the chins for the birthing/raising of the kits...that everyone helped the babies. ...? Is this wrong?
I give my daddy chins a full 10 days away from momma once the kits are born. Just before they are born, if I know the due date, or if I can see mom will deliver soon. You don't want breedback ... this is when daddy gets momma pregnant while she is still nursing the new litter. A momma's natural resources will only spread so thin. She need all her vitamins and such to take care of herself and her kits without having to share the resources with yet another unborn litter that is trying to develop. When a momma's resources are spread to thin, it can hurt mom, the new litter and the unborn litter ... making all suffer.
Momma chin goes back into season shortly after the kits are born ... this is the main reason for separating them at this time. Daddy chin (closely supervised) can go in to visit the kits while momma chin is getting her free run or playtime outside of the cage each day. This will keep both momma and daddy familiar with each other's scents and not have to worry about breedback. Daddy chin can be a big help raising the kits, once it is past the 10 day period of separation.
Note: Debbie and I use a different number of days for separation ... this does not mean one is wrong and one is right ... just different. We each go by what we have found to be good for us.
As a general rule, momma chin appreciates daddy chin's help, but not always. I have found over the years, that momma chin usually know best ... follow her intuition. I have one momma chin that will allow daddy back when she has male kits, but when she has female kits, she will not allow him back until she has weaned the kit/kits. I have one pair that the kits will nurse momma, then run to snuggle with daddy afterwards.
Some daddy chins have been known to kill the kits, but it is rare.
Jo Ann
