Baby chinchillas wont stop fighting. Help.

[Nickv0195]

I have two kits that where just born yesterday morning and they won't stop fighting with eachother. And when one of them is nursing with mom the other one will come over and push it out of the way and then they fight and sometimes bite mom. What should i do ?! I have to leave today at 1 and wont be home tell late tonight and i'm nervouss to leave them alone

 

[lauralynne]

Sounds like you are going to have to start rotating them and supplementing. See this FAQ section for a full explanation. http://www.chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21

This will have to be done 24/7. Where are you located? If this is something you're unable to do, I think you should try to find an experience breeder or rescue in your area with this kind of experience.

 

[Mom2fiveChins10]

My two kits that were born Tuesday did this for about 1/2 the day. Now they are fine. I am not saying I know whats best as I am not an experienced breeder or even a breeder. However, some times it's best to give them some time and maybe if they continue after this morning you will need to supplement if the kit/kits are not getting any food/or gaining any weight (especially if there is one getting pushed out of the way). I do have a "runt" if you will, who happens to be a few grams smaller than the first born. I do remove the larger kit for a while to let the smaller of the two get some good quality time with mama Chin. Like I said though, I am no expert and have been provided info from true loving breeders! Listen to them as they can help and will provide you with important info regarding your chins. If you are unable to provide them with the time and love as a mother chin would you may want to look into someone who does! I do agree with Laura about this!!!!!!! If you are anywhere close to me I would be happy to help while you were away. Good luck!!!!

 

[mishellyshel]

any way you can take them all with you in a carrier for the next day or so??

 

[VolunteerChin22]

It's possible her milk is just starting to come in and that's what the fuss is about. Generally I don't see fighting in litters of two, but it wouldnt be uncommon in any sized litter. Is one quite a bit bigger than the other? They really can't rotate away from mom longer than two hours, so leaving one out while you are gone is not going to work. If it were me I would leave them in and have someone come by to check on them...Definately keep an eye on them because kits can do substantial damage to each other...

 

[Nickv0195]

No there both the same size, and i will see if someone can come by and check on them

 

[RDZCRanch]

You need to rotate every two hours until mom's milk comes in. Have they gained any weight since yesterday or maintained their weights? I wouldn't handfeed yet, you'll interfere with how often they want to nurse on the mom. If you just leave them together, you WILL have wounds that can very easily lead to death.

 

[Riven]

If I have this usually I pull one, supplement it put it with a surrogate mom for about 2 hrs, then switch them and do the same. This way they are getting enough to eat, but by the time they go back in with mom they're hungry and the sucking will stimulate milk production. Sometimes it can take a couple days for milk to come in. I sometimes have kits squabble, usually with first time mom's, but usually milk comes in eventually.

 

[tunes]

I also would start rotating and supplementing. I would not just let them duke it out. That's a good way to end up with a dead kit. It takes them VERY little time to do irreperable damage, and if you have ever seen what one kit can do to another, you'd realize that it's not a wait and see situation.

 

[StevieP]

I agree with Tunes. Unfortunately this is what made me find this forum in November. I had 3 kits fighting starting at day 2 and a couple fights let to severe damage. I lost the boy after a couple of weeks of around the clock care and a few $100 bills. Watch them like a hawk. Wounds will hide under their fur.

 

[Nickv0195]

Unforutnately I'm not home right now =/ I will be home at 9 tonight, what should i do during the night with switching them , do i have to wake up every two hours or what ?

I also would start rotating and supplementing. I would not just let them duke it out. That's a good way to end up with a dead kit. It takes them VERY little time to do irreperable damage, and if you have ever seen what one kit can do to another, you'd realize that it's not a wait and see situation.

 

[Nickv0195]

So when i rotate every two hours, the kit that i take out of the cage do i hand feed that kit with the formula you have listed or do i just leave it in the seperate carrier ?

I also would start rotating and supplementing. I would not just let them duke it out. That's a good way to end up with a dead kit. It takes them VERY little time to do irreperable damage, and if you have ever seen what one kit can do to another, you'd realize that it's not a wait and see situation.

 

[aznmexaggie]

Well, if they are still alive when you get home, I would rotate one of the kits out every two hours and supplement the one that's out. When I rotate kits out, I keep them in a little carrier with fleece on the bottom and a heating pad on one end to keep the kit warm. I just set the alarm on my phone to wake me up every two hours.

I've had triplet and quad litters where fighting still occurred even when I rotated. Kits fought over a particular nipple or because another kit got too close to them. They can do serious damage to one another. Trust me, I have lost kits to injuries that they couldn't bounce back from, even with handfeeding.

 

[Sandi]

Unforutnately I'm not home right now =/ I will be home at 9 tonight, what should i do during the night with switching them , do i have to wake up every two hours or what ?

Laura already posted the link you need to get to - this is her post

Sounds like you are going to have to start rotating them and supplementing. See this FAQ section for a full explanation. http://www.chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21

This will have to be done 24/7. Where are you located? If this is something you're unable to do, I think you should try to find an experience breeder or rescue in your area with this kind of experience.

Here is an excerpt of what's in that link -

Keep an eye out for any of the following to happen, if you do notice any problems, PLEASE step in and help mom out.

1. If you do see one or more kits being ignored by Mom and it is very young make sure it is warm and stays warm.
2. Watch for kits that are losing weight even after the first day and not gaining any at all for several days. You may need to give a supplemental hand feeding. This may vary by kit. A kit that is 70 gm can afford to lose a bit more than a kit who is 32 gm.
3. Keep an eye out for kits that are fighting with the other kits, as can sometimes happen in large litters. The kits may have to be rotated. Rotating means leaving several kits with mom and you taking the others to keep warm in a different cage. You can use a baby safe cat carrier with 1/2 x 1/2 inch openings or a chin specific carrier (which can be purchased at http://www.geocities.com/chinchilla_..._Supplies.html). Place a heating pad under only HALF of the carrier, set at the lowest setting, so the kit can move away from the heat if he/she needs too.
Newborn kits should be rotated every two hours. If you have two kits, try to keep the smallest in with mom at all times, and the largest one will rotate in and out. If you have triplets or more, again, try to keep the smallest in with mom as much as possible. This rotation MUST be done 24/7. Many times, once the kits are of comparable weights, you can try and introduce all of them back with mom at the same time; however, you cannot always count on this and need to make arrangements for continued rotation. Be sure that there is always fresh hay and food available for them, as well as plenty of fresh water, as kits do start eating solid foods and drinking from a water bottle surprisingly early in their lives.

 

[tunes]

Yes, every 2 hours. This is one of the joys of breeding that you were warned about. When mom can't or won't do it, it's up to YOU to do the job for the kits.

So, plan on the next at least 4 weeks of your life, being home to take care of those kits, unless they get to where they can finally get along. It's possible mom only has one working nipple, in which case, you're going to do this until they are ready to wean. Do not leave them again for 12 hours during the day. If you cannot or will not take care of them, then we need to find someone who can.

 

[Nickv0195]

Yes i can take care of them, it was just today that i wasn't going to be home it was a personal emergency. So i will start rotating right now. And i will have the supplement tommorow.

Yes, every 2 hours. This is one of the joys of breeding that you were warned about. When mom can't or won't do it, it's up to YOU to do the job for the kits.

So, plan on the next at least 4 weeks of your life, being home to take care of those kits, unless they get to where they can finally get along. It's possible mom only has one working nipple, in which case, you're going to do this until they are ready to wean. Do not leave them again for 12 hours during the day. If you cannot or will not take care of them, then we need to find someone who can.