Start doing so earlier. This will ensure that your chinchilla will be better at responding to you. Start doing so earlier. While the idea is an unpleasant one, it is driven by several logical processes: When a chinchilla mother is starving, its milk production slows down and stops. You can manually feed them formula milk for kittens or goats milk by hand with a plastic syringe without a needle. WebNo, chinchillas are not hard to take care of. (What You Need To Know), Can Chinchillas Eat Grapes? You want to first know whether the newborn kits are of a healthy weight; if they are not, they are unlikely to survive. They require a clean cage, food that consists of chinchilla pellets and hay, and a room thats kept at the correct temperatures. Chinchillas can grow up to 12 inches long. You must separate the father from the mother, otherwise they will mate again. Chinchillas need a diet that is high in fiber. Owning a chinchilla is one of the best decisions you have ever made. They will be less defensive when fully grown. It might take a bit of practice. On our online community of chinchilla owners, Timothy Hay, Rosehips, Plain Cheerios, dried calendula, and goji berries are among the most popular and healthy treats for chinchillas. Your email address will not be published. A chinchilla is generally not recommended as a pet for a small child due to their high-strung and timid nature. You are increasing your chances of your chinchilla looking forward to getting picked up and held, which is a good thing. Overfeeding your chinchilla can be very dangerous and will likely cause your chinchilla to become sick in a hurry. Foster chinchillas refer to other female chinchillas who have recently given birth. Monitor the kits weight regularly to ensure that this milk is enough to keep them healthy. Feeding unsuitable, sugary snacks will over time lead to obesity and diabetes. In order to increase the likelihood of producing nice chinchilla kits (babies). Required fields are marked *. And in rare cases, the mother may neglect to feed its young or not produce milk. The end of week 12 marks the finish line. Chinchillas are prone to a number of health issues that can be caused by a variety of factors. If it does occur, separate the mother from its kits and hand-rear them instead. WebDo NOT give the mother any dust baths till AT LEAST 2 - 2 and a half weeks after the birthing of the chinchilla. The kit will be followed by its placenta. This means that its up to you to ensure that the process goes well. Chinchillas have a smaller litter size than other rodent species, with only two litters per animal. The second option is to foster the kits. If you'd like to chat about chinchillas, contact me through our contact form! Some of the answer explanations contain links for further reading, which you can click and open in a New Tab. An average long-tailed chinchilla is 450-500g, while a show-quality long-tailed chinchilla can be 700g. No, baby chinchillas do not need milk. Milk is permitted for chinchillas, but it must be given only in very small amounts and only under the supervision of a veterinarian. If the mother is not strong enough to support her offspring in the future, the mating should be postponed until she is. If its young cannot yet eat adult food, they begin to starve too. As such, the wire spacing of the cage should be no wider than 1/2in. Chinchillas are cute and furry little rodents that can make good pets for some people. Move at their pace, not yours. They will usually continue to breastfeed for 3-4 weeks before starting to eat hay and pellets. Chinchillas will eat their own babies if they are ill or starving. The first sleep cycle is light, the second is deep, the third is REM, and the fourth is wakeful. Be wary of using an exercise wheel or ball. Feeding the Newborns This is almost always a job reserved just for mama chinchilla. As such, separating kits from mothers too soon can lead to behavioral problems like aggression. Although chinchillas normally prefer not to be held, there will be times when it is necessary to do so. Chinchillas are very clean animals and they groom themselves often. If there are multiple kits, dont put males and females together in the same cage. (Be Careful Not To Overdo It), Can Chinchillas Eat Lettuce? As time passes, it will become easier and easier to give your baby a hand feeding. You must provide an enclosure with only one level, which does not have gaps between wire of more than 1/2in, and must have a solid floor. Some males can be good fathers, but others can be aggressive to the kits and even try to kill them. one without a needle), Long-tailed chinchillas weigh between 370 and 490g, Short-tailed chinchillas weigh between 1.1kg and 1.4kg (one kg is 1000grams, so short-tailed chinchillas are heavier), Females approach the heavier end of these scales, while males approach the lighter end, The larger kit stops the smaller one from taking its milk, The smaller kits genetics mean it isnt so big. Before giving birth, make sure the mother is in a secure environment and the father is separated from the children so he does not cause harm. Miscarriages occur when there is a problem with pregnancy. You should not need to encourage your female chinchilla to nurse its young. Over time, the kit will drink less and less milk and eat more and more food. Birth is like that seen in other mammals. In between ten to twelve weeks, give them hay and pellets for the mother and kits to encourage to wean after the kits stop drinking mothers milk. Chinchillas are easy to care for. Chinchillas are typically fully grown by eight months. But, not a lot. Housing Adult chinchillas have sure footing and can do all sorts of acrobatics around a nice tall cage. *Note: Metric grams are used by the breeding community as they are more precise and easier to convert than ounces. But some continue growing for as long as 18 months. But hay racks are, overall, safer. WebA new born chinchilla kit should only feed on milk and it is not until the 4th week that they should be allowed to nibble on small amounts of hay and chinchilla pellets. Alfalfa can be useful if your chinchilla is calcium deficient. If the father and any jumping platforms are present, the baby should be removed from the cage prior to birth. Biting, Scratching & More. Furthermore, if the baby is unable to move or run at the same speed as predators in order to escape, he or she may become a danger while out looking for food. They eat both plants and meat. On digital scales, there should be a button which does this for you. In addition to knowing everything about the pet, you should also be aware of its breeding process. Be calm and patient. Thoughtful chinchilla breeders will choose two gentle, good-natured chinchillas to breed together. This is when the kits stop drinking mothers milk. How long can a foreign object stay in your ear? Chinchillas can breed up to four kits per litter (2 is common), so each litter may have between one and three kits. Bear in mind that chinchillas dont naturally like handling, so while you find joy in the experience, your pets may be frightened. Kitten milk can be purchased in a variety of ways, including pet stores and veterinary clinics. You should consider a number of factors before deciding on a pet. Yes, but its important to do so carefully. If your chinchilla is not sleeping as much as usual, you should check its temperature and humidity levels and make any necessary adjustments to its habitat. A litter of two or more chinchillas, also known as kit chinchillas, is common in chinchillas. Female chinchillas will have a very difficult time providing for large litters so in these cases you might need to rotate kits being fed, hand feed, or give babies to foster chinchillas. from a fall or a fight. The first few weeks of a chinchillas life are spent in a nest box lined with soft materials such as shredded paper or towels. What makes this worse is that theyre easy to care for if you know what youre doing. It will be an excellent experience and you will form a lasting bond by taking care of them at their early age. It is common for chinchillas to stop eating for a variety of reasons, and when one chooses to stop eating, immediate medical attention is required. By killing and eating the weakest kit, the mother can continue to feed the rest. Can Rabbits And Chinchillas Live Together. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. With one hand on the torso, use your other hand to hold up its legs. You are unlikely to find this kind of special attention in a pet store. The processes of reproduction and birth are similar to mammals. Provide exercise opportunities. It is good to buy milk of your own. If you try to take the kits away, the mother will initially be nervous. Chinchilla babies should not be separated from their mother until they are old enough and that would be a minimum of 10 to12 weeks. Baby chinchillas have tiny feet that can easily get caught on the bottom or sides of a cage with large gaps. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". To do so, you will need: In addition, the kit must be comfortable with handling for long periods. It would also stress the mother considerably. To find the chinchilla with the right temperament, it is recommended that you go to a chinchilla breeder rather than a pet store. This is because their digestive systems are not strong enough to take in adult food. When they are fully grown at 8 months, chinchilla kits should have calmed down. LoveMyChinchilla is reader-supported. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Newborn chinchillas weigh between 30 and 60g. Place baby chinchillas in a cage with a solid bottom and small spaces. The sugar in the carrots ferments and causes gas which your chinchilla struggles to get rid of. Place baby chinchillas in a cage with a solid bottom and small spaces. That's because if your chinchilla falls out of it when it's running, it won't have a long way to fall. Additionally, chinchillas need social interaction at least once per day. WebChinchillas are small animals that require a small amount of food to maintain their health. WebChinchillas go through four life stages: newborn, preadolescent, young adult, and adult. Adult chinchillas can weigh from 370g up to 1.4kg. Still birth can occur because of a problem that occurred before or during birth. Check out our Chinchilla Care 101 eBook, or get what you need from our online store! Do you have a pet chinchilla that enjoys being held and cuddled? So, separating the pair is the ideal solution. If they were together with a dog, they would probably be scared at first, but they are social so they would probably get used to it. Chinchilla sleep cycles are very similar to those in humans. However, in captivity, you control what the kits can and cannot do. If your pet is experiencing a medical emergency, contact an experienced veterinarian immediately. The temperature inside the box should be between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. You should handle juveniles as you would handle adults. If you try to take the kits away, the mother will initially be nervous. You can get a great deal on new products and services throughout the country if you use it. One exception is if the chinchilla kits are orphaned. Chinchillas can live up to 10 or more years with proper care. Because things can go wrong quickly, you should have the contact number of the emergency vet ready before birth begins. Chinchillas can eat their babies, although it is rarer than in other animals. The young chinchillas are typically free of the mother and no longer dependent on her. Despite the fact that chinchillas are uncommon to eat their own babies, breeders should be prepared for anything. 1. Take the kit and sit upright in the palm of your hand. Each chinchilla will tip the scales differently. Should You Get a Chinchilla Or a Hedgehog? This will ensure that your chinchilla is better at responding to you in the long run. They can be purchased at veterinary clinics, pet stores or online. Move at their pace, not yours. They are crepuscular, meaning they are inactive during the day and quite active at night. Weighing a chinchilla is easy, and can be done with basic kitchen scales. This should be handled with care, not like grownup ones. They do this in a variety of ways, including death for their infants, the mother being malnourished and desperate for food to feed the remaining children, or to keep their babies alive. Then, place each individual kit in the bowl and weigh it. Obviously this depends on how heavy they are. For Chinchillas, this is just as important as it is for you. The kits begin to consume food other than milk in 3-4 weeks. This offers more stability for the chinchilla, making it feel safe. They are smaller and more vulnerable, but also more active, and surprisingly quick. Overfeeding your chinchilla can be very dangerous and will likely cause your chinchilla to become sick in a hurry. Keep rewarding your chinchilla with a treat each time you do this. Your chinchilla absolutely requires supervision when its out of its cage. You should handle juveniles as you would handle adults. A dust bath any earlier, will irritate the mothers nipples, and also get into the baby's eyes. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. On average, mothers give birth to 2 to 4 kits per litter. The kits should be separated from mother and paired up with others of the same sex. You dont want to overwhelm your chinchilla with holding him for too long in the beginning, or you might turn him off from being held altogether. Once born, chinchilla kits are surprisingly independent. After the 2 weeks, I would give the mother a dust bath, yes. It is important to remember that most small animal syringes contain 1ml of liquid; this is what you should use when hand feeding a chinchilla. Equally you dont want to squeeze too hard and hurt them. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Squeaks and Nibbles is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk, Squeaks and Nibbles is also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Chinchilla require about 16 hours of sleep per day to stay healthy and active. It is a part of the process, and each chinchillas behavior varies depending on the type of environment in which they live. WebUnlike other species, chinchilla parents will NOT reject their young if they smell human scents on them. In the same way that expecting parents buy a crib, baby food and diapers before their newborn arrives, so too must you be prepared in advance. The best way to gauge how much youre feeding your chinchilla is by watching them eat. Grass hay (such as Timothy hay or other low calcium hays such as orchard grass, oat hay, or meadow hay) is a good choice for Chinchillas if they require a high fiber diet. Second, you need to be aware of the potential for allergies. You have entered an incorrect email address! Then set it down. Cute Guinea Pig Names 200 Unique Names To Choose From, Cow Names Over 400 Amazing Names For Your Cattle. Chinchillas dont like handling all the time. Miscarriages occur when the developing kit is not delivered due to a problem with the pregnancy. We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. Yes, baby chinchillas like to be held. They should be held gently and supported underneath their chests and hind legs. Milk production is triggered by having young, and ends when the young are weaned, as in all animals. Some of this energy can be directed into play, e.g. Each chinchilla will tip the scales differently. Follow the above steps for how to hold a chinchilla properly. After the 2 weeks, I would give the mother a dust bath, yes. Chinchilla moms and their puppies can be kept in a cage with a solid floor and wire gaps of less than 1/2 inch. Yes, baby chinchillas need milk to survive. They will be less defensive when fully grown. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This can rupture its stomach or gut lining. The best way to gauge how much youre feeding your chinchilla is by watching them eat. 1. This is because their digestive systems are not strong enough to take in adult food. As a result of her presence, they gain skills such as behavior and socialization. Baby chinchillas should only be given a small amount of food at a time. They live an average of 9 to 15 years, in which they go through their stages. It is best not to feed a chinchilla hand-fed food before he is able to eat it, as choking can occur, and inhaling food can cause fatal pneumonia. One that has missed that important socialization will be far less keen. Good reasons for chinchilla holding include developing a stronger bond with your pet and also training him to get used to exams at the vets office. Chinchillas do not eat their babies in this manner, and it should come as no surprise. They can, as a form of dominance display. Baby chinchillas rely on their mothers for the first eight weeks of their Observe carefully about their feeding needs and how they react to their food. A reputable chinchilla breeder is also likely to have extensive experience caring for and handling their baby chinchillas. On the other side, the mother eats one of its kits if it is very ill. After birth, a baby chinchilla must live in a special enclosure with its mother. Do, not give the baby any treats when young. She will struggle to produce enough milk for all of them, and consequently they may all be lighter than optimal. It is rare that a chinchilla likes to cuddle with people. Poke holes in the lid so that the kit has air. Female chinchillas will have a very difficult time providing for large litters so in these cases you might need to rotate kits being fed, hand feed, or give babies to foster chinchillas. Housing Adult chinchillas have sure footing and can do all sorts of acrobatics around a nice tall cage. You should handle juveniles as you would handle adults. In kits which are unlikely to thrive, the tail wont curl up. Chinchillas are fully furred, with eyes and ears open for the first time. (Read Before You Feed! Separate the kits from the mother. By gentle pushing her stomach, she should feel squishy, but if her stomach still feels hard and you can still feel lumps, she still has kits inside her. Thats because: While jumping is natural behavior, safety is paramount. But so long as you do so frequently enough to pick up on any issues as soon as they arise, there isnt a problem. Along with the answer to that all important question do chinchillas like to be held? By gentle pushing her stomach, she should feel squishy, but if her stomach still feels hard and you can still feel lumps, she still has kits inside her. They should be completely weaned off milk by the end of 8-12 weeks of age. Safety is another issue. WebChinchillas are small animals that require a small amount of food to maintain their health. WebWhen handling juvenile chinchillas, take special care. If you own a chinchilla, you are responsible for its care, so follow our guide to ensure its well-being. A chinchilla kit is expected to live for about seven years after birth. Are chinchillas good cuddle pets? If there is, you must contact an emergency vet. It's a noise that wild chins make when they're caught by predators, but pet chinchillas can make it when they're severely injured e.g. It is possible for a mother chinchilla to eat her own baby if it becomes ill or develops a disease. WebNewborn kits need to depend on their mothers to breastfeed them. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. water should be available at all times. When the mother has more than one kit, it is possible that the one with the larger diameter will be larger. The best time to see if a chinchilla will like to cuddle is after its weaned from its mother, at about 8 weeks. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website.