??? Fostering Kits to another Chinchilla

[EMSChins]

I know the basic premise of how to foster chins out to another nursing female for various reasons and so far have not had to do so - knock on wood!

I have a first time mom who's 2 kits are 19 days old and I am concerned that she has a possible UTI or other infecton. I am on my way to take her the vet but am wondering if anyone else has had success with fostering kits to a mother whose kits were weaned within the past 24 hours? Those kits are 8 weeks old.

I am concerned that my momma chin will be placed on antibiotics and will therfore not be able to nurse. I would rather foster them than hand feed goats milk but am not sure the foster mom will have enough milk. If nyone has tried this and succeeded and/or failed please let me know. I have no problem handfeeding if that is what is best for the kits.

Any suggestions???

 

[Sycamore Chins]

If the foster mom is still producing milk we haven't had any problems. We have one female that was raising kits for us for for something like 13-14 weeks with no problems.

Just gotta make sure she is indeed still lactating! If she is still lactating, the stimulation from the kits will induce more let down and production of milk.

 

[EMSChins]

Thanks Alicyn!

 

[tunes]

If the foster mom is at the end of her nursing, you may still need to supplement them. Sometimes mom's milk tapers off naturally as she's ready to wean. It can be jump started, but that's not always the case.

As usual, weigh them and monitor them. If they aren't gaining, then the foster mom doesn't have enough milk.