THINK before you breed! Z6

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RDZCRanch

RDZCRanch

RavenousDeadlyZombieChins
Joined
Feb 4, 2009
Messages
2,884
Location
California
So since there are so many people going crazy out there to breed their chinchillas and make cute babies...I hope ya'll have strong stomachs or lack enough brain cells that gore no longer bothers you.

This morning I got up and went straight to my expectant female's cage as I do every morning when I know a baby is on the way. This time, French Vanilla(bv) was pregnant to Rafiki(standard). This would be Frenchie's first litter and she is just over two years old and weighs 720g when not pregnant. I could feel the baby kicking through yesterday so the baby was alive. What I found in the cage with a stressed and traumatized Frenchie was something that slightly resembled a kit. The front of the kit's face was gone and also a large section of the body. If you think this won't happen when you start breeding, think again. A chinchilla is a chinchilla no matter what personality they have. Instinct tells them to destroy the evidence of a birth if the baby is dead. I believe this mother had complications and that the baby got stuck in the birth canal too long and died before mom could get it out.

So...if you REALLY think you can breed don't think "can I handle this situation one time?" because this will happen over and over again. I have babies die every year as do other larger breeders. It's not something we like or are proud of but there are things beyond our control. Would you be able to stomach the site of baby body parts strewn throughout the cage? Would you be able to remove a half eaten baby's body? Do you know how to console a traumatized female? If you answer no or maybe to any of those questions then breeding is NOT for you.
 
I dont know you as well as some or even most on this forum. But I sincerely extend to you my condolences and a great big hug. There are some things in life you wish you never had to see. I'm sure French Vanilla is grateful to have you there to comfort her. And I hope having people here to vent to can comfort you a measure as well. I'm so sorry for your loss.
 
Hopefully a lot of people read this and really do think twice..unforutunatly people don't. They want all the perks...
To me the fact that I need to find a home that will take care of the chinchilla for 10+ years is enough for me...I can't trust people like I can trust myself.
I am really sorry, my condolences.
 
Ick - been there, done that. That's right up there with finding random legs and tails, but no bodies.

:( :(
 
tunes said:
Ick - been there, done that. That's right up there with finding random legs and tails, but no bodies.

:( :(
Click to expand...

I did that last year...found a tail and a nose as the only remnants of a baby.

As far as a story not hitting home for people I plan on taking a picture and starting a gorey baby collection to send to stupid people. If nothing else it'll make me feel better to make stupid people share my horror. I'm not in a nice mood today, sorry.
 
Ugh, so sorry Tabitha. That is one of the worst parts of breeding... and one of the risks many people don't consider before throwing their chins together.
 
Awww.........that stinks. I hope mama is feeling better. i honestly think it is a good idea to keep a file of photos to send to people who want to breed.
i know personally i could never handle that, which is why i am a pet owner.
i have great admiration for many of you guys that deal with this time and time again and the compassion that you have shows why you are successful. because you care to better the breed and not for the greed!
 
::Shudder:: These stories (well, and common sense) keep me from breeding. I would NEVER be able to handle that!

As an educator (sometimes of an aggressive sort), I find your picture idea intriguing. Still, everyone seems to think, "it won't happen to me." As awful as it sounds, sometimes people have to make the mistakes before they'll listen to reason.

I'm sorry about your kit :(
 
Awww...Tab, I'm sorry. I hate that type of thing, but it happens and anyone wanting to breed has to be told that it's not all fluffy little popcorning kits and perfect, bloodless deliveries! When it goes as it should breeding is really nice, but when it isn't it is the worst possible **** that you can put your brain through.

And, yes, finding homes for chins where the people actually will want to care for them for their entire lives is hard. I've lost a lot of faith in people over the last ten years or so because of this exact thing. People are liars, they do their best to get what they want and do not care about who they hurt. Most of the time it's just me that gets hurt and everyone else is just fine. Yay.

Yeah, don't breed unless you want to develop mental disorders and trust issues, I suppose. :p
 
So sorry Tabitha that you didn't walk in and find a healthy kit, live kit. But thank you for sharing your story so that people are aware of the hazards of breeding. That there is more to it than just an adorable little kit being produced.
 
maybe under breeding and.... we should have a heading 'the horrors of breeding' complete with pictures if there are some. We could all tell our horror stories that have happen though out the years. If we discourage just one person from breeding who thinks it is all fun and games it would be worth it
 
Tab - Nicole (Riven) has a page like that on her site. It's disgusting, but enlightening.
 
I'll email her the photos then and see if she can use them...I've got a section on my webpage as well that I can put the pictures. I'm still pretty upset...it was a standard male and I he was 66g...add another couple grams for what mom destroyed and he was a big baby. For mom's first time...I think that's why things went wrong.
 
Awwww...I'm so sorry to hear that Tab. :hug2: I hope mom is doing ok.
 
Mt. Zion Chins said:
maybe under breeding and.... we should have a heading 'the horrors of breeding' complete with pictures if there are some. We could all tell our horror stories that have happen though out the years. If we discourage just one person from breeding who thinks it is all fun and games it would be worth it
Click to expand...

I agree. People need to know!
Right now I just spent half a fortune just on printing pamphlets for upcoming easter for "Rabbits and Easter don't mix" hopefully trying to create awarness. This should be done for chinchillas too.
 
So sorry about the baby kit! I've come into the chin room in the a.m. and found disemboweled baby parts strewn all over the cage. Not fun at all!!
 
Thanks everyone. The mom is still doing well...she's very upset but I've given her supplement which is the only thing she's never turned down and it didn't fail me today either.

For anyone that wants to see, I do have the pictures. It's not something to brag about but it is information and it is educational on what CAN happen with the chinchillas. The pictures will be on my website soon but for now I have the pictures available. Just send me a private message or an email.

Thank you again everyone for all the support. I don't know what I would do without my forum family.
 
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