My chinchilla, Hoppy, had a new litter of 3 kits on Saturday morning. She is a standard gray and the male, Houdini, is hetero Pink White. None of the kits are gray, but this is my first litter of something besides standards or beige, so I am having trouble distinguishing the colors. Could someone shed some light?
Secondly, and most importantly, I had a set of breeding complications with this litter. Two of the kits came out with what I believe is a deformity. One kits was in very bad shape and didn't make it through its first hour. The other one is doing fine and I will attach a picture of the wound (its not gruesome). If you don't want to hear how bad of shape the one that didn't make it was, skip to the next paragraph. The one that didn't make it had a large open wound on its right side by his arm and down his side where no skin developed exposing muscle tissue and a dead, under developed arm. The other one has a small wound on its left side by his arm (see picture). My thought is that maybe they are conjoined until late in the womb or possible even conjoined at birth. Anyone ever have any similar issues or complications?
I have a couple of different litters involving both the male and the female with no problems in the past. Houdini is 3 years old and Hoppy is 5 years old. I don't like these situations and want to avoid them so can I have some recommendations? Should I stop breeding Hoppy, Houdini, both, just not together, or was this just a possible fluke situation? Any input would be much appreciated.
Secondly, and most importantly, I had a set of breeding complications with this litter. Two of the kits came out with what I believe is a deformity. One kits was in very bad shape and didn't make it through its first hour. The other one is doing fine and I will attach a picture of the wound (its not gruesome). If you don't want to hear how bad of shape the one that didn't make it was, skip to the next paragraph. The one that didn't make it had a large open wound on its right side by his arm and down his side where no skin developed exposing muscle tissue and a dead, under developed arm. The other one has a small wound on its left side by his arm (see picture). My thought is that maybe they are conjoined until late in the womb or possible even conjoined at birth. Anyone ever have any similar issues or complications?
I have a couple of different litters involving both the male and the female with no problems in the past. Houdini is 3 years old and Hoppy is 5 years old. I don't like these situations and want to avoid them so can I have some recommendations? Should I stop breeding Hoppy, Houdini, both, just not together, or was this just a possible fluke situation? Any input would be much appreciated.