Each owner/breeder has to decide what chances they are willing to take with their chinchillas. Some get lucky, others don't.
The cages are the 2 level ones. If I have to in the future put the ladder up and make them into individual cages then I can.
Will the upper half for the cage have a solid litter pan? If not, the one in the top half will be peeing and pooping on the ones below ... not sanitary.
I keep 2 males per cage now. The cages are the 2 level ones. If I have to in the future put the ladder up and make them into individual cages then I can. Is this something that I should do now ?
If the males are in the same cage and in the same room with a female when she goes in season, there could be problems, as I explained before ... but that is for you to choose.
If I did choose to breed..when would I house a male and female together ?
The age and size of most females will determine when the pair should be put into breeding ... each breeder has their own rules/guidelines they go by. Personally, I do not put a pair together until the female is a year old and weighs 600+ grams.
Would it be better for me to house the females in another room ?
I would, but, that's my choice ... I tend to lean to the safer choices for my little ones.
Or are they okay in the same room with the males until they mature ? The chins I have were all born in May.. so they aren't very old.
Males, at the tender age of 10 weeks (2 1/2 months) have the ability to impregnate the female.
Females, at the tender age of 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 months have the ability to get pregnant. (Which means they go into season for the first time by this age.)
Your chins were born in May ... figure out their age now ...
If I did breed the females..I would just put the small mesh around the outside of the cage so the kits can't get out. Either that or purchase another cage with smaller wire.
If the cage is over 15 inches tall, personally, I would not put a momma and new kits in a cage like that, it is not safe for them. Reasons:
(1) The kits usually climb to the top of the cage/wire withing 24 to 48 hours after birth. If it is over 15 inches tall, the kits could be injured or killed by the fall.
(2) Kits can climb up and over the mesh wire unless the whole cage (including the top) is covered in the mesh wire.
Jo Ann