Cinsi is...standard...from Mr. Shoots last year at the Rock Hill show...is...1 and 1/2 years old and her mate Toby, tan, is...from Jamie...is 3 years old. This will be their first litter.
It being their first litter, will make it a little easier.
The teats will elongate and become pinker and a small area of fur will fall away around them. Usually they are almost impossible to find, but will be obvious when you run your fingers from the arm pits downward to the hind legs, during the last 10 days to 2 weeks on a first time mom.
Usually the first time you feel the kits move (if you have checked daily), it will be about 2 weeks from that day that she will deliver ... if it is 1 or 2 kits, if it is 3 or more kits, you will often feel them move before the two week period.
She should eat more the last few days and during the last 12 to 24 hours, they normally increase their water intake by 50 to 100%.
Normally, in the beginning, they will 'flatten out' on the bottom of the cage and show a more shallow breathing than normal.
As it progresses, you will usually see them do what almost looks like an exercise session of stretching and pushing against the hut, wall or wire of the cage ... here she is trying to help get them into position to deliver.
You should also notice her cleaning herself almost constantly.
Most kits are delivered with the mom in the standing position.
If you can see the contractions and she starts laying on her side, please contact your vet a.s.a.p. ... there may be a problem, this is NOT the normal position chinchilla moms are in to deliver their kits. OR if she does not deliver with in 4 or 5 hours, you may want to contact the vet. OR if you see any blood and she does not deliver within a short period of time, contact your vet. "I don't know when they actually mated because I didn't see a mating plug or really have any idea that they even got along. I never saw them in the same cage together."
It only take one time and only 10 to 15 seconds. Out of all the litters that have been born here, I've only seen one mating plug.
He was always in the run looking down at her like she scared him to death.
He probably tried before she was ready and she beat him up.
Now that I have them separated and he can't get into the run any longer. He sits and cries when I am cleaning the cages wanting to get to Cinsi. The other day I let them sniff noses and they just kissed and kissed making little sweet sounds at each other.
He was finally patient and won her over ... they miss not getting to cuddle. If you have the door that closes off the run so he can not get to her, it might calm both of them if they can see and smell, but not get into the same cage.
It is just a waiting game around here.
Watch for the increase in water intake and the other signs of labor I mentioned. Keep us posted! I am going to copy and paste these last two posts to Breeding 101 and we can continue with pictures of chinchilla rooms on this post. Jo Ann