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[Snickerdoodlesmom]

Although i am owner of a lone male, I have heard about heat in females and am very curious.  What are the physical signs, what does it mean, what can be expected from the chin, and at what age does it start? How many times a year is it? When? Also, in another post someone mentioned a swaying dance. What is this? Also, the person mentioned that the chin doing this was a neutered male wooing a female in heat. I'm so confused...

[GrayRodent]

In females you can tell because there is swelling about the vulva. When let in with a male they will allow copulation. It can start at 12 weeks of age. If I remember correctly it's about 3 times per year (correction: once a month) and also immediately following birth (which is why you don't leave the male in the cage during pregnancy). The males do a dance involving their tails to woo the female when they sense the female is in heat and can get noisy. With chinchillas the female must concent or the male will get attacked. Neutered males do not loose their drive just their fertility. I have read that a female may sense this too somehow and kill the male for being less than whole!

[Snickerdoodlesmom]

They don't lose the drive? My vet said that if I neutered my chin he'd stop masturbating. Is she wrong? I have caught him doing this many times much to my dismay.

[GrayRodent]

We have seen neutered horses, cats, dogs, and goats with their drives completely intact afterwards. Some animals you can tell it's diminished (there are exceptions) but it's never completely gone.

[ABC Chinchillas]

Females are on a monthly cycle not just 3 times a year...if they were allowed breedbacks they can have 3 littered a year that might be what confused you.  It isn't good to allow breedbacks though