1 day old kit whos eyes are still sealed shut..help

[ticklechin]

I agree with the above post, chins are very smart and if what they are doing is working for them to keep you away they will continue to do it, you just need to be the big bad parent and do what you need to do and the chin just needs to deal with it. The big problem with pet owners is they don't tame their chins and the excuse is "the chin does not want to be held", well if you don't hold them then how are they going to learn you are OK, they won't and you have a pet rock in a cage to look at and a wild demon to deal with when they get sick and have to be hand fed.

 

[FrisqueKat]

I removed everything and thought the spacing was good. Its 3/4 inch and i thought i read somewhere or someone told me 1 in spacing or less was good on here. But I found out different on the chin. I have the chin and mom in my room(away from the cats) and Taz is in another room. The cats won't bother him.
And I didn't know to give him a few days or to just go ahead and pick him up and put him in the other cage so I can clean his. Wasn't sure if time for him would helped or to go ahead and pick him up and place him in another cage to clean his.
I bought him out of the local ad bulletein. And they really never played with him/had play time for him...hardly interacted with him. I think thats why they name him Taz. I think thats where his aggressian comes from. Plus who knows who had him as a kit. Since the people I bought him from bought him out of a pet store.
He's really a loving chinchilla. I had him a yr before I got Jazzy. He did really good with her except a few acts of aggressian..probaly when she is in heat. And just had to make sure I took her to another cage to feed her or hand feed her cause he wouldn't share the food or the bath thats how I have 3 cages. One for clean up and one for each of them.
I guess he just not into really being around other chinchillas.
Jazzy I think ate her 1st kits cause they were way premature. And at the time she had them she was very..very slim. Who would have thought she was pregnant. I need to take pics of her now. She is 3x the size of the pics I showed yall before. Cause I had no clue Taz was not letting her eat til one day I watched him push her out of the way of the food. And when I hand feed them he take his n run n hide it come right back and grab Jazzys food right out of her mouth. Thats when I started seperating them. I did let them spend the day together cause they would snuggle with each other n sleep.
I am glad I found this site. And I know I been "stupid" or well not well informed...cause any issues or if I had questions..I asked the pet shop/speciality stores and they all told me its normal..this and that..don't worry. And on the sale of the food..the cages..the treats..the play toys..hammocks and well everything its all totally wrong. All I can do now is not go to them anymore..Keep reading/researching here and the sites yall sent me.
I don't know if there is anyone here locally who can help with the correct info/supplies..and to tell ya the truth I am angry @ the pet stores/speciality stores for giving me all the wrong info and selling me all this stuff not safe and telling me it is. It needs to be stopped. I feel like I am a dead beat chin mom cause I wasn't doing the best for them even tho I was though n told I was. And just imagine all the other chinchillias/cages/accessories being sold to 1st time owners of chins like me.
I never thought to research before I got Taz. I was just excited to have one. And the sites I did research after I got him are nothing like this site..well the ones I went on. And I really do appreciate everyone's concern and help on this site. But please bare with me as I learn/research and redo everything I was taught n told and probaly ask a alot of questions.
Rest assured I love my chins.....like my own 3 kids and my 2 cats n 1 kitten. I am not here to harm them or let them be harmed. If anything would happen to any of them it would just devastate me. That's another reason I am so thankful for finding this site to help me. Who know's I may be the one here locally to start going after the pet stores/speciality stores for all thier wrong info. Cause like I said it makes me mad.

 

[FrisqueKat]

But I found out different on the chin. I have the chin and mom in my room(away from the cats) and Taz is in another room. The cats won't bother him.

oops i mean kit instead of chin in both spots here grr sry very few hrs of sleep lol

 

[Gabby88]

Out of curiosity, what are you feeding them and how much per day?

We've advised you on what type of cages and supplies are best, but it may be necessary to change your feed also depending on what you're currently using. Also, what do you give as treats?

Just want to make sure you're as informed as possible!

 

[VolunteerChin22]

I dont think anyone is local in WV that I know of as far as breeders go. Lots of people came here in your situation with poor petstore advice, although your situation is a little more complicated having babies involved. Change it now and just move forward with healthy chins.

1/2" x1/2" or 1/2" x 1" spacing is safe. You can find hardwire cloth at home depot or lowes - you may have to ask someone - its usually near the fencing supplies. That would probably be the cheapest and fastest solution to your problem. You will need to wrap the cage from top to bottom including the ceiling. They can climb over it if you just put it on the sides.

Or you could overnight a cage like this http://www.martinscages.com/products/cages/chinchilla/ (the ramp and shelf would need to come out) or you could try one of their large guinea pig cages. One level and safe spacing is what you are looking for.

For anyone reading, this is why baby safe cages are mandatory from day one - these guys are mobile and escape artists within HOURS of birth. I am surprised it has taken three days for him to escape and very thankful you had a good outcome considering the cats are very dangerous for chins.

 

[FrisqueKat]

A feed called Mazuri (Chinchilla Food) Look like nothing but rabbit pellets to me. Lots of timothy hay I was giving them a whole bottle of of Fiesta fruit n veggie treats a week. Which I know now is a big no no. Cheerios also for treats. And those things that hang inside the cage has like apples n stuff on them.. that they can eat which I know now is a big no no to.

 

[Gabby88]

Yes, that's definitely a no-no! Mazuri is good. I also feed Mazuri. Just remember when giving treats, even safe treats, that you should give no more than 2-3 a week. So for Cheerios, that would be a single Cheerio at a time.

Find safe wood chews for them and some safe hanging toys. They'll love them! There's some people here that sell them and I bet your chins would go crazy for them.

 

[addictedtochins]

The hardware cloth goes on the INSIDE of the existing cage. If it's placed on the outside, the kits can squeeze between the bars and the hardware cloth.

Yeah, good advise for anyone to heed. I first put wire on the outside before the kits were born and thought it was fine until their first day of birth "crazy newborns!" Jack was between the wire mesh and the wire cage and getting cold. Silly boy, he got in there, and could have left there but they don't leave. They will just lay there and freeze to death. Sorry if I missed this warning on here, there are a lot of posts. Has anyone warned you how cats will sweep their paws under a door and if the chin is playing in the room or has escaped they get clawed and pulled under the door to their death. Cats can even pull a towel or blanket aside to do this.

 

[Gabby88]

For some great basic information including a list of safe treats, I suggest reading this page.

http://www.chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44

 

[FrisqueKat]

What about the salt blocks? I was giving those to them to but quit a few weeks ago? Which again was told its good for them to chew and lick. But haven't seen anything on those yet in the forum? And also does the kit drink water or strictly from mom right now?
On a postive note...wow he plays with his mom like a kitten.. i never knew they did this lol and the noises he makes. Very active! And when I 1st started getting him out he would make "peeping" noises now he comes and lays in my hands goes up arm and then comes n curls to sleep. It's really sweet to see. But don't worry I do not won't anymore lol or to breed or anything I just want 3 happy n healthy chinchillas and my daughter thinks i'm gonna give him away or sell him to her friends I told her no way. lol

 

[Gabby88]

No salt blocks. They're not good for them.

Leave the water bottle in for mom. The kit probably won't drink from it, but it might when it gets a bit older. It'll also probably try to eat some hay and pellets soon, too.

 

[addictedtochins]

No salt blocks, I belive they have calcium in them. Unless the are calcium deficient to much calcium cam be harmful. Adult chins should have nice yellowish/orange teeth. They will get all the nutriion they need from one of the feeds reccomended on this forum

 

[danilinn]

Friskque, are you really certain that you're competent to be caring for animals without a parent or guardian's supervision?

 

[ChinnyMom]

mom chin can have alfalfa hay for extra calcium, but the salt blocks are not something i would give to any chin. they don't need it, and extra salt in the diet can harm the kidneys.

 

[Jenn]

Friskque, are you really certain that you're competent to be caring for animals without a parent or guardian's supervision?

it sounds to me like the op is making positive changes. Granted, there are a lot of issues to be fixed, but that is the purpose of belonging to the forum. To get sound information instead of all the bad info that floats around, especially from pet stores.

 

[FrisqueKat]

Thank you Jenn! I am not gonna keep defending myself cause of the info I was told. For your information Danilinn I am 36 yrs old. A mother of 3 kids ages 14, 13 and 10. The only wrong I did was not do the correct research(granted I did what I was told by the people I bought the supplies and the chins from). Never thought to look on the net. Altho I did some after getting Tazz but it wasn't as helpful or the information yall have provided me here. I mean I don't know what else to say except thank yall for helping me. If ya feel the need to keep bashing me fine. And just think if the kit never came along I would never have found this site. And all 3 chins are healthy and alive and I am switching everything as fast as I can to fix the "problems". I am not a bad person or a bad mother to any of my kids or animals just was misinformed on the chins. Thank you.

 

[momenteller]

Stick around, FrisqueKat, we are happy you are here and making positive changes for your chins!

 

[Annieo]

Chinchilla peeps on this forum have strong opinions..BUT they are not contributing their knowledge just to make you feel bad/insecure (although, trust me, it can feel like that at times) but rather to help ensure the best quality of life for your chinchillas. Humans are secondary around here.

You have been dealt a dangerous hand (with the information from your pet store) but you have new info here on the forums to help you.

I'm sure it is quite difficult to hear that many of the products you have purchased, and the info you have been given, is wrong. But hopefully you can decipher what modifications can be done immediately based on importance/cost (cage, separation, etc.) Money is a factor for a lot of us, but hopefully, you can prioritize what needs to be done immediately to ensure a healthy life for your precious pets.

Best of luck! And like Kate said, I hope you stick around and learn.

Cheerio friend!

 

[Riven]

When you see enough online and in person, when you take in rescues from people who can't care for themselves let alone animals, when you work at a vet and see people who shouldn't have animals bring in a half dead animal that "just got sick" and expect you to fix it all up, cheaply, and quickly... you don't care about sugar coating things. Some of us might not make you feel warm and fuzzy inside, but we're the ones who've seen it all and been through it all. And at night, none of us go to bed worrying about the owner, they worry about the animal who needs changes made, or who is in a bad situation, etc.

If we didn't care, we wouldn't bother posting.

 

[ticklechin]

At least this OP has not turned into a screaming banshee calling all of us MEANZ and ROOD, and I HATE YOOZ, they appear to want to learn to take care of their chins properly and hopefully they will take the advice given, learn and be able to help others on the net in the future.