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1

Breeding 101 / Re: When is my chinnie due to give birth?

« on: April 05, 2010, 04:14:31 PM »

So you have to tell me, did Mom sit on the heat mat?  

How many photographs of pregnant chinchillas lying on heat mats would you like? I can produce quite a few - in fact, I have 2 sprawled out on mats as I type ..............

I am sure there is nothing harmful about using one now,thanks to your friends. But still believe it's unnecessary here, and would think it's just as much so in the USA.

There is absolutely nothing remotely harmful about using gentle heat mats for pregnant, sick, shocked, or elderly chinchillas - in fact, for some it is a life saver - as you have seen on CHINformative, they are used by many people in the UK due to the cages and climate. Breeders have been using them for 20+ years with no problems - kits die here from the cold/damp so heat mats are invaluable. There are also people who use them in the US for various reasons (also posted on CF).

That you don't use them is fine but other people use them with excellent results.

The kits running around in the video didn't seem to want to sit still on it LOL but then baby's only sit still when they are nursing. As you can see now.

Interesting - kits are often found snuggled up on the heat mats while the female rests or goes off for a munch of food. Currently I am watching a female sitting on the heat mat with one kit upside down under her & the other one snoozing on the mat all cozy & warm.


I do think it is easy to dismiss something if you haven't experienced it.

2

Health / Re: Exercise a Danger For Young Chins?

« on: September 01, 2007, 01:49:36 AM »

Thanks for sharing Claire, and I'm sure you've heard all of the disputes by now.
I haven't seen problems with such in my small herd except for my fat boy.
I don't let them run free for more than 30 minutes, never have.Most nights less, but they get out in hand & heart.
And if it's over 70 they just don't get out at all.
But it's a tad different for everyone.

Yes I totally agree with you - I have personally experienced both extremes when it comes to exercising chinchillas. I had one chin who would fit after being out of his cage for less than 5 minutes and others who could be out all night and would never over-exert themselves. I have "couch potato" chins and "tazmanian devil" chins.   All of them are individuals and their exercise is tailored to their different needs, ages, physiologies etc.
What is tragic is when someone comes onto the forums and posts that their chin is "flat" (i.e lying on it's side, not responding, continuously twitching) after an exercise induced fit and despite all intervention dies - that, to me, is a totally unnecessary death. If providing a cautionary article makes people reconsider letting their chins out for hours or youngsters or oldies over-exert themselves and it prevents even one death, then I'm a happy bunny. 

The improtant thing is we alll have our chinchillas best interests at heart. It's only by sharing that we can prepare ourselves for anything, and then we still can't.
I understand your concerns, and do agree using the word "dangerous" got a few alarms going off.
Then some folks sure need a good shake sometimes to get it , so I see the need for strong wording.
We mean no harm, just a friendly debate on your artical.
I hope you take it in the heart that's it spoke, and the love of our chins.

Again, I totally agree I am more than happy for my website/articles to provoke discussion - for me, that's what the website is there for and we're all earning all the time. Just when you think you know something about chinchillas, one of them goes and does something which makes you question what you thought you knew! 

I have seen folks let chins run free in a room for hours, and wonder why it was having seizures. This one died before it was 3.
I have many that go right back to their cage after just a good romp around the room.
That's all they want, while others would run themselves ragged.
Most everything that's written is just a general rule, the chins sure have their own ideas.
Thanks for your points of view, all are welcome.
So have you ever harnessed a chin?
 

Yes, we see time and again people coming onto the forums and sharing that their chinchilla has regular fits during or just after exercise - when you ask how hot the room was, how long, whether their ears were red etc the story usually unfolds in a similar manner to the scenario you have described - out for hours and running until they drop. :-[  Or they are youngsters - we see more posts about them than older chins - hypoglycaemic fits associated with exercise are the most common fitting problems we see - hence my first paragraph in the article. 
 

Nope, never harnessed a chin. If you posted that you harnessed chins on a UK forum there would be an outcry - it's not "the done thing" here at all.   Nor is taking your chinchilla out with you or letting them roam about your garden.  The differences between countries in their husbandry of chinchillas is fascinating. 

3

Health / Re: Exercise a Danger For Young Chins?

« on: August 31, 2007, 03:33:28 PM »

As a new owner, I have been searching for lots of info. This is a site I came across Davidson Chinchillas. I found the below quote and I bolded the parts that concern me. My Chin, Saris, is 3 mos old. I was wondering what the rest of you think of this quote. Thanks for your help.

As the writer of the article and owner of the website I would like to respond if I may? 

I have not suggested that exercising chinchillas is "dangerous" - what I am suggesting is that exercising both young and old (chinchillas are regularly living longer it is true but many people agree that a chin is classed as "old" when it hits 8+ ) should be done carefully, respecting the physiology of the animals concerned.
There does seem to be a direct correlation between exercising young chinchillas (i.e. those under 6 months) and fitting due to hypoglycaemia and/or over exertion. A trawl through the UK chinchilla forums does tend to substantiate this along with the experience of chinchilla breeders and keepers (again, in the UK). You will find many breeders and keepers advocate exactly the same regimen for exercise.
Some people exercise their chinchillas for hours with no problems; some try exercising their chinchillas for a short period of time and their animal promptly has a fit - unfortunately this is something which is seen on the forums regularly. 

I guess this situation is similar to the way you will find that in the UK we do not wean chinchilla kits until they are at least 8 weeks old and we do not sell until the kits are at least 12 weeks old - this is longer than the times given in the US - each method is valid and I am sure both approaches to kit rearing could be discussed with equal passion.

The articles on my website are there for information from my own perspective/knowledge/discussions and are not necessarily indicative of everyone's way of chinchilla keeping - some people will agree with it and some will not which is absolutely fine.