Help me asap!

[HamNCheese]

Hi Laurie, I'm glad your unexpected little ones are doing well but I just wanted to input that your mama's gonna need better pellets than the Hagen stuff; there's too much junk in there that isn't actually any good for your chins. There's plenty of better alternatives available (try Mazuri, Oxbow, Tradition, etc. or check the forums for more info).

I found these guys, you might be able to find local help here: http://www.ontariochinchillas.ca/

Tanya's site has good pellets, and she's in your area: http://www.tanchinstore.com/pellets.htm

Everyone else here should be able to help you through proper feeding, handling, etc. and how to switch a chin from bad food to good (advice from others welcome!) after having had kits. Guys, how much time is recommended to take to switch a chin over to new food after birthing?

Good luck, and they look really cute so far!

 

[Rickman]

Even a bird cage would work, temporarily - maybe for the first 3-4 weeks, depending on their growth rate! Don't be too concerned with Mom, as, even cramped, she'll put those kits first! You can tell by how upset she gets when you try to pick them up! You want her to give them her undivided attention! 1/2 inch bar spacing is the max!
DO NOT bring a lot of strangers through to see what you've got, as for the first week - 10 days, she's got to be used to being a new mother, and let her instincts kick in! Besides, she's not even "settled in" to a new place, and has 2 mouths to feed! It's not like going to the hospital to have kids! Stress - if she could scream, you'd hear it! On top of being pregnant by her father or brother, or any male that was in the right place at the right time! Only go in the room two or three times a day, to feed, water and check on them, otherwise leave them alone for awhile! Let her settle in! And I didn't see any mention of filtered or bottled water, as that's all a chin should get! You don't want guardia, especially at this time!

 

[Jenn]

Hi Laurie, I just wanted to welcome you and congratulate you for rescuing this chin and dealing with the surprise of kits! You are doing a great job and seem very intent on doing what's best for them. A lot of people here have given you great advice, and just do the best you can and all should be ok. And momma and the kits are absolutely adorable!

 

[Diva Chins]

I have no idea what brand pellets that is. Even if it's labeled chinchilla food (I saw another memeber address that) it shouldn't contain treats, just straight pellets, and check the label, some pellets contain artificial preservatives which aren't great at all. Mom's nutrition is important, especially now that she has 2 little ones.
Good luck with the cute lil kits, they are adorable. Hopefully soon you can get everything straightened out. Have you sexed them yet?

 

[laurie.macdonald]

I have not sexed them yet, I think they are both females, but i could be wrong.

 

[Cuddlebug]

If you help with sexing them, you can post pictures here and we will help you out.

 

[VolunteerChin22]

Or there are sexing pictures posted at the top of the FAQ for this section...Wire spacing should be no bigger than 1/2" by 1/2" and the spacing on a dog/cat carrier door is too large, they will escape. They will need to be in the babysafe cage for several weeks, so you will need to find a solution asap.

 

[yahooie]

I am in Lakeworth FL and my female chin just gave birth today. I was told wrapping the cage in hardware cloth was ok but after reading here I see it is not. Does anyone close by have a loaner?

 

[Tagna]

Hey Laurie! I saw your ad on kijiji and hoped you would find this site, I'm sure you had a lot of messages to come here!

Sometimes Pet Valu has cages that would be the right spacing for a babyproof cage. I do know that there is a good pet store in Hamilton that should also have babyproof cages. I'll have to look up the name though.

I can get you some better pellets as I have Mazuri and Oxbow.