Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.

1

General Chat / Re: Trios....

« on: December 10, 2013, 01:58:17 PM »

I have had trios in the past and am going to be trying again to introduce a chinchilla to an already bonded pair. I use the following methods and have always worked for me...I start my placing cages side by side for at least a week or longer. I gradually move the cages closer together every few days...if I see they start acting territorial, I dont go any closer until they have calmed down and dont seem as bothered. Once they are about 2 inches apart and not making a fuss, I will let them out for play time together for 5-10 minutes and if that goes OK, I let them have this play time each day for a week but each day gradually increase the time. If no problems, then I leave their cage doors open and let them wander in and out of each others cages...if that is fine, then I put them in the cage I want them all to be in, and close the door...if at any time there is any fighting, I go back a step until there is no fighting. Some chasing is fine, and mounting as well, but anything more than that, I separate right away and go back to the first step.

Now, with that being said...it also depends on what sex chinchillas you have...I am assuming that all three are girls since they came from a rescue and you are not breeding...this method should be OK. But, if you were introducing a female to a a male/female pair, I would actually approach it differently. I would remove the male and try to bond the females first, then once they are caged together, introduce the male back into the cage. I have had some that are easily paired and others not so easy. In the end, they all have different personalities...I think going slow, a chin would rather be with another vs being alone, but some are used to being alone and dont want a cage mate...I have yet to see that myself, but I have heard others say that is their experience. Hope that helps.

2

Cages / Re: Bedding Advice?

« on: December 10, 2013, 01:43:32 PM »

I have used both pine and fleece...my chins prefer the pine. They were not very good at litter training either so I just went back to wood shavings and its easier for me. I know lots of people who do use fleece but you may have to change the liners a couple times a week. With my two, they didnt go in one spot and I had to wash them by the third day, it was gross! But that was just my experience!

3

Cages / Re: 1st time Chin owner cage advise

« on: December 10, 2013, 01:40:09 PM »

With any cage that has ramps, please remove them as they are unsafe for chinchillas. I personally have a Critter Nation but not sure if you have those where you are? Make sure your cage has no plastic in it...and wire bottom is OK as long as they have a place to rest off of the wire. You could put some wood or something on the bottom. My cage came with ramps and plastic pans but I removed the ramps and plastic and replaced with metal pans and wood. Hope that helps! And I agree, with two chins, bigger is better!

4

General Chat / Re: Rotating Quads

« on: December 09, 2013, 08:00:00 AM »

Thanks for responding. I will answer your questions and hope some others join the conversation. I do think they need milk longer than two weeks. I know all my kits are nursing well into 6-8 weeks if not longer. I have been breeding for a while, but this is the first quad litter that I have had to rotate. My last quad litter didn't fight over milk and I just supplemented to help mom out. But here we go with some more info...

1. Kits have constant access to hay and pellets and also drink from a water bottle.
2. They eat the hay and pellets, but I grind the pellets up adding dried goats milk and baby rice cereal (JAGS mix) and they also eat that in addition to being with mom for 4 hours.
3. I sexed the kits when they were about 3 hours old. There are 3 girls and a boy.  I do know the male needs to come out of the girls cage when ready to leave mom...actually all the kits have found homes so that is not an issue.
4. I did 2 hour rotations for week 1 and 2 and then 4 hour rotations for week 3 and 4. I am starting my fifth week today.

I was planning on finishing up the 4 hour rotations at the end of this week and go to 6 hours because the kits still need time with their mom even if they are mostly on regular food, but not sure if it would be OK to move them to 6 hours this soon or if I should wait longer. I am also hand feeding the kits that are away from mom, and all of them take the milk eagerly so they seem to need it, but also I know I need to start weaning them as mom would do. They just turned 4 weeks yesterday.

5

General Chat / Rotating Quads

« on: December 07, 2013, 07:25:42 AM »

I have a question about rotational feeding for those that have had the pleasure of quads...I had a quad litter on November 10th and have had to keep the kits in sets of two and rotate them as they are viscous little kits when all four are together! The weights are now 145, 155, 159, and 175 grams. I started with 2 hour rotations and now doing 4 hour rotations...at what point do you think its safe to go to 6 hours?