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1

General Breeder Chat / Re: EMERGENCY please help!

« on: June 17, 2009, 01:33:52 AM »

P.S. Anytime you put a male and a female together, they will attempt to reproduce ... even if you do not see them.   

You got me there.. I really never believed that they would be going at it anytime soon because every time I saw the male, Benny  get behind her, it would be the matter of a second before Shy would turn around and bark at him ..almost like a disciplined yet still-teasing slap in the face straight out of an old film. Every single time... she runs away then everything would be okay.
This goes for in cage and their recess time.

Anyways, I didn't think it was going to happen, but it does make sense after all. What I have done is move Benny to a separate new cage, and since neither are kit-proof I bought wire mesh half x half inch cloth and built walls. I cut the mesh into four separate walls and left the ceiling open.

The mother is quickly back to herself, trying to escape out of the cage to play when I open it and sometimes asking for raisins. I've been feeding Shy 1/4 cranberry juice and rest water, and in another bottle simply water. In both cages I feed oxbow pellets every night, I give timothy hay all throughout the day and leave a few alfalfa cubes. I haven't gotten a scale yet but the baby seems to be more active, and independent as time passes. Though every time I look other than that the baby is under its mother, making noises and being fed. The mother and kit get along very well and are usually together and warm.

I have tried putting the kit in the father's cage, but he keeps getting in his/her face and I can't tell wether he's being affectionate/curious or is going to hurt the kit so that didn't last too long.

It is now Monday night, and the baby was born on Saturday morning.
Thank you for all your help also, I've used everyone's advice.
I also wonder what easy formula, if there is one, I could use to supplement the baby?

also-- I've learned plenty during my 6 months with these amazing and sensitive furballs, but I am not only open to but eager to accept feedback and criticism so I can eventually give them the best care. Pictures are below.

Thanks

Kit http://img23.imageshack.us/i/kitnhf.jpg/
Benny & Shy http://img291.imageshack.us/i/bennyandshy.jpg/
Two cages http://img197.imageshack.us/i/bennyp.jpg/
Wire Mesh http://img197.imageshack.us/i/wiremesh.jpg/

2

General Breeder Chat / Re: EMERGENCY please help!

« on: June 13, 2009, 02:49:02 PM »

so my only issue now lays on two:

I have learned that the male should be separated, and I've read that he should be separated for 72 hours after birth to prevent back breeding. Also, he should be moved to another room. I am prepared to go purchase another cage right now if necessary, I just would like to further research or be lucky enough to recieve valuable feedback in case I do not need to separate the male and have him go through that.

Also, my second question is supplements. Which supplements would I need to get for mother/baby? I have only learned to do a cranberry(1/4) water mix to support milk production. I take it that I don't have to feed the baby if it looks as though the mother is doing fine.

Again, my biggest concern is the father. I wouldnt mind keeping him in the same cage, though things I have read contradict each other. I could use some valuable advice right now. Thank You

3

General Breeder Chat / EMERGENCY please help!

« on: June 13, 2009, 12:51:42 PM »

I have had my chins for over 6 months now, and I woke up today to hear (what i think/thought) my female chin making noise inside the bathhouse. My female chin and male chin sometimes sleep in there together. What I just discovered minutes ago is that my female has just given birth, and they are both in there with the new born. (I cannot see what is going on in there) I had no idea that my chin was pregnant and I need some quick advice as to what to do from this point and what I can buy/do to accommodate this situation as quickly as possible to make sure no one suffers.

I am very afraid that this may not go right, and again I had no idea she was pregnant, I had read up on all signs of pregnancy and as you can imagine I just got a shocking morning wake up..  Every single time my male tried to have intercourse with my female she would flip around and bark at him so I never thought this would happen. I want to supply everything needed and make sure every thing is ok.

quick facts: the bath house currently does not have dust in it / my male chinchilla has just left the house, female and baby havent / I am unsure of the baby's health , all i can say is that the female has been making noises and her face is wet, i dont know what she is doing with the baby in the bath house.

the baby looks ebony like his father, female chin is regular grey. THANK YOU

4

Q & A / Re: toy ?

« on: May 07, 2009, 02:03:42 AM »

thank you

5

Q & A / Re: toy ?

« on: May 05, 2009, 02:46:46 PM »

I have bought my chins a chube and although they are having fun, i dont want anything bad to happen out of them eating/chewing the chube. it says vegetable make, but it looks like a hard piece of cardboard

6

Health / New Owner/ Chinchillas stopped eating

« on: April 26, 2009, 09:03:16 PM »

Hey everyone. I am a fairly new chinchilla owner and have come across an issue in the past month or so, and I will try to explain the situation in quick form. Benny is about 2-3 years old (ebony), male. Shy is about a year younger than Benny, slightly bigger (grey/regular) chin.

-I have had two adorable and wonderful chinchillas for several months now, and I have done much research on these exotic pets (e.g. food transitions etc) and love being an owner.
-I have two problems at the moment, one being more serious than the other.

First, my chinchillas have stopped eating there food. (I am aware that they are not supposed to be fed any mix with treats etc. because they only pick out the tasty stuff as little children do, and am also aware that they cannot undergo drastic food brand changes.)

To begin, weeks ago, the food I had been feeding them since they first entered my care was Kaytee Forti-Diet 2lb bags. When this occured, the food had run out and I relied on y local petstore to have it available after I got off of work and they discontinued the brand for some reason, I was in a bad situation with the pellets and had to feed them a raisin each, some special K wheat cereal and a few nuts (which I don't want to do ever again). The following day I was unable to find any store with the same brand they were used to, so I purchased a similar bag for them and as expected, they did not eat it.

Since then, ....They do not gather around "for dinner" in excitement like they used to, eating there food from the ceramic dish in generous amounts as soon as I put it down during the evening (5pm every day). The most that gets eaten now before midnight is a few pellets if any, and they seem to give in sometime in the middle of the night/sunrise and I wake up to an empty/half full/ spilled dish in the morning.

Since then, ....About a week after the change I found the same food they were used to but they have not been the same since. I am aware that one of the problems could be the quality, and today I have began the first day of a four week transition to Oxbow chinchilla deluxe (alfalfa based red bag), as it seemed more appealing to me than Mazuri.

I am worried over their eating habits and health, and Shy used to be a bit less plump than she is now. Although I am being a bit dramatic because they both are healthy and active, I am still concerned and would like to see them eating normally once again.

Any tips on healthy eating habits, practices and discipline would be appreciated. I would also like to know if I'm doing anything wrong as well. As far as treats go, I like to give them about 2 or 3 raisins each a week and I split them in half servings. I let them out to exercise about 4 times a week also.

My second concern is over the debated topic of bedding. Long story short, I began with Carefresh and had a great experience. When I ran out, I brought more Carefresh home and returned it the very next day because they were eating it at an alarming rate. Aesthically, the smell, and as far as less of a mess goes, I liked Carefresh but I did not want them to eat it like that. I followed up with a big (and less expensive) bag of Pine Kilnt Dried bedding. I am not sure if this was my best choice, as I am looking for the best. Also, I do catch them with wood in their mouth from time to time which I do not like. I buy them wood blocks to chew on as in cage entertainment/teeth dullers.

I appreciate any and all help and would like critique or suggestions as I make my way into more expertise on the great furry companions..

thank you.