Hi! I'm posting now, as I said I would, some of what we e-mailed to each other yesterday. This way all can share.
Your answers are in blue quote boxes.
( 1) How old is she?
GRACIE IS 2 YEARS OLD AND SHE IS AN EBONY
I normally give my ebonies until they are 18 months old before I put them into breeding the first time.( 2) What did/does she weigh? (Before she got pregnant and now.)
BEFORE PREGNANCY APPROX 642 - CURRENT WEIGHT IS 852
That's a pretty good pre-pregnancy weight. ( 3) Is this her first litter?
NO - LAST LITTER TRIPLETS BORN 6/6/08, FIRST LITTER SINGLE BORN 8/16/07
This concerns me. She had her first litter before she was even a year old. She had triplets only days over 5 months ago. Normal pregnancy time is 111 days + 42 days (6 weeks) nursing triplets= 5.1 months. More than likely she got pregnant with this litter while or immediately after nursing triplets. That was a big strain on her system. Now she is developing a new litter. Please make sure she gets some good supplements a.s.a.p. and during the whole time she is nursing this litter. Watch for signs of hypoglycemia (not enough calcium). Seizures are one of the most common symptoms. ( 4) Have you done the "thumb test" to find out if the birth canal is large enough?
NO - NOT SURE HOW? PLEASE EXPLAIN
The thumb test should be used to see if the female's birth canale is large enough to deliver kits ... this should be done before they are put into breeding. It's to late now, but that does not need to be done now, she has already delivered at least one litter. 
( 5) Do you have a formula and nursing kit?
If not, I will give you a list of things you may need. - PLEASE PROVIDE LIST
a. at least 2 glass eye droppers (easier to sterilize) The ones with the bent end usually works best.
These can usually be obtained from your pharmacy.
b. canned goat milk gives the little ones the next best thing to mom's milk. Once the can is open, store it in a covered container in the refrigerator or freezer.
....Small amounts can be heated as needed.
....Heat to room temperature or slightly above room temperature. Do NOT use a microwave to heat the milk! Microwaves kill the nutrients.
c. 2 Coffee cups or mugs. One filled with hot water, the other one filled with warm water.
d. Small glass container that will fit inside the coffee cup/mug with the hot water.
....
Heat milk by putting a small amount in a small glass container that will fit into a coffee mug filled with hot water.e. clean white wash cloths for each kit
f. a roll of paper towels
g. Q-Tips
h. an extra water bottle to add to the cage that will hold at least 2 ounces of goat's milk during the time you are not feeding them.
( 6) What does the daddy weigh?
APPROX 762
Usually the female is the larger of the two. Placing a smaller female with a larger male can sometime produce kits to large for the female to easily deliver.( 7) Do you have an idea of the actual due date for her?
NO IDEA
How long was the father with the momma when the second litter was delivered? Did you remove him at all, or if you did, when did you put him back in with the momma?(
Is she in a whelping cage? If not, what is the size of the cage she in in at this time?
NO - SHE IS IN HER USUAL CAGE WHICH IS ABOUT 4 FT HIGH, 3 FEET DEEP AND 3 FEET WIDE - 3 SHELVES - BUT SHE'S LIVED IN THIS CAGE FOR MANY MONTHS AND CARED FOR HER TRIPLETS SUCCESSFULLY IN IT
You were lucky and apparently she is a very good mom. Most kits will climb to the top of the cage within the first 48 hours after birth ... they know how to climb up, but not down, so when they reach the top, they just turn loose and fall to the bottom. If they fall to far OR hit an object on the way down, it can injure or even kill the kit.( 9) What (distance vertically and horizontally) is the size of the wire on her cage?
1/2 INCH HARDWARE MESH
Very good!(10) How many litters have you experienced with your chinchillas?
7 LITTERS AMONGST 4 MOMS
Very good ... you are experienced and not a first-time chin mom.(11) How many chinchillas do you have?
9
(12) If need be, can you stay with the kits 24/7 for the first 2 or 3 weeks?
NO, BUT I DO COME HOME FROM WORK AT LUNCH EACH DAY, SO THE LONGEST THEY MAY BE UNATTENDED IS 4 HOURS
That's the next best thing. (13) If need be, do you have a second nursing momma chin?
POSSIBLY If so, how old are her kits? ONE KIT BORN TO PEG LEG MOM TODAY (SHE WAS PREGNANT WHEN SHE CAME TO US) - I DON'T KNOW HER NURSING CAPACITY
Very Good! IF she will help nurse the new litter, if need be. Some chin moms make good foster moms, but not all. There is a special way to try to get this to go smoothly also.(14) Have you ever done supplement feeding for chin kits before?
NO
Check out : First Signs of Trouble at: http://www.luvnchins.com/ChinsIISignsTrouble.html on my second website. There are videos and instructions there. (15) Have her teats become pink and elongated yet?
This is less obvious on a chin mom that has had previous litters. (16) Has the fur just around the teats fallen away yet?
This is less obvious on a chin mom that has had previous litters. (17) Have you seen any signs of labor? -
WE THOUGHT PERHAPS A FEW SECONDS OF CONTRACTIONS LAST NIGHT (EARS DOWN, BACK KIND OF ARCHED), BUT THEN SHE RESUMED NORMAL ACTIVITY AND NOTHING FURTHER
Watch her carefully, if it starts again, try to stick around ... some chins prefer you be there when they deliver, especially if they trust you and they "feel" there might be a problem. God gave them the special instinct about these things. That could have been a well placed hard kick by one of the kits rather than labor contractions. Flattening out in the bottom of the cage?
Rapid breathing/panting?
What appears to be stretching exercises?
Contractions? Muscles contractions are usually obvious.
Any discharge? (Particularly red or brownish)
Blood on the bedding?
If you have seen two or more of #17 and then it stopped, get her to a vet now, she may be in trouble. IF you see blood and no kits within the next 30 minutes ... get her to a vet a.s.a.p.!
Watch for an increase in her intake of water ... that usually means the kits will be born within the next 24 to 48 hours. Often, but not always, you may see an increase in food intake also.
Sorry about this being so long-winded ... but that's me.
Jo Ann
