Hand raising baby

[4grandchins]

I am in the process of hand raising a baby chin for the first time. So far we are at day 3 and getting by but I can't say the baby is "thriving". I have supplemented for a litter of 5 in the past but never had a situation where it is 100% up to me before.

Anyone who has successfully done this, please offer up your personal experiences. I really need to hear about what has worked and what did not!

 

[tunes]

http://www.chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21

Read through that thread. I have found kits prefer the fresh goats milk rather than the canned or the powder. You can also add a little bit more cereal to help with weight gain. The dry formula can go in the cage all the time, it doesn't matter if mom eats it as well.

 

[4grandchins]

Thanks Tunes, using the goats milk. I suspect it was conceived at the end of her cycle as the other 2 are much larger and this one still doesn't even have eyes completely open. Not sure I can save it, but..... we are trying. If it works well, I will be able to share with others what did work. I'd say it's a good idea to learn from anyone else's experiences to help prevent mistakes when possible. At this moment, I will be surprised if this little one will take off but til then... every 2 hours, 24/7, it is getting my full effort.

 

[Kansas City Chinchillas]

I add a few drops of dyne to the goats milk. You can find dyne at feed supply stores. Kits like the taste and they have always thrived when I hand feed.