Help weaning chinchilla kits

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beanie260904

Member
Joined
May 6, 2012
Messages
11
I separated the two boys kits from their mum on Saturday morning (10 weeks old) I weighed them both just before: 252g and 256g. I wanted to keep them with their mum longer but read alot of worrying comments about them mating with their mum and didnt want any more unexpected arrivals, also Belle (their mum) has lost a fair bit of weight since and I didnt want her to lose anymore. Just now I weighed the babies again to find they have both lost 10g since Saturday. Is this normal in the weaning process? Am I doing something wrong? Did I separate them too early? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

PS I am not a breeder and did not intend on having any kits, I adopted Belle from a lady who no longer wanted her, I was told she had been kept on her on, so was shocked to wake up to two kits in the cage. I have a decent amount of experience with chinchillas but not kits so I am worried perhaps I separated them too early?

Thank you for any help

xx
 
What are you feeding them? How large is the cage? It could be due to more exercise. Can you tell if they are eating well?
 
Ten weeks is definitely not too early, but 252 gm for a 10 week old kit is pretty small. By 10 weeks I am weaning anywhere from 350 gm and up.

It's good that you got them away from mom, but I would be a bit worried about the weight loss. Can you make up the dry formula listed in the FAQ's here and offer it to them?

1 part crushed pellets (coffee grinders or blenders work great)
1 part half baby rice cereal and half baby oatmeal cereal
1 part goat's milk replacer POWDER (look for the kind that has no antibiotics in it)

You just mix it up, store it in an airtight container, and can offer it to them several times a day. I would also be sure they have plenty of good quality hay to munch on.
 
Hi, thanks for the quick replies!

I have just been feeding them the same as their mum as over the last two weeks when they were with Belle they were eating pellets and hay loads and thought they had weaned themselves so to speak. So they are on Oxbow Chinchilla Pellets, Oxbow Timothy Hay and Alfafa Hay.

The cage is 80cm x 53cm x 139cm

They are definitley eating but I do not notice them eating a great deal.

I will definitley give the dry forumla if you recommend it, I will pop out and get all the bits in the morning (in the UK and its 2.40am here)

x
 
I'm with Peggy, I'd be concerned about the weight loss. Especially since it sounds like its both kits and mom, if I'm understanding correctly. Are any of them experiencing loose stools? What are you feeding? For now I'd give them as much high quality Timothy hay as they will eat (not waste). Weaning at 10 weeks old they should be eating pretty good by now. Good luck!
 
Make sure that their water bottle is functioning. Many chins will stop eating if they can't get water. Also, make sure that you are weighing at the same time of day each time.
 
I have checked their water bottle is functioning fine. I have weighed them this morning and they have gained 2grams each so fingers crossed they will start bulking up. Thank you to everyone who offered advice, it is much appreciated x
 
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