Info Please ? Looking For Cage, Found Chins As Well ...

[grace]

Hello, Gosh ! You are going to get tired of hearing from me !
Anyway, Although I was not looking for chins today (I have looked at different rescues) - I was drawn to a craigs list ad for a "Ferret Mansion" - My husband and I went over to see it - It was old, but had possibilities - Then...... I saw the 4 chinchillas ..... All 4 housed in a cage approx (Wait a moment, as I am looking at my yardstick) - About 24 inches by 19 inches. I asked what (I was nice) they were feeding ? Was told, "I don't know the name, cheapest brand, some sort of timothy hay pellet".I asked, Do you feed hay ? "Every couple of days" (Hay container was empty). Dust House ? "Oh.... About every week or so". "My girls used to take care of them, but have lost interest". (Their hair was "Split" with "Tufts" coming out).
Long story short - said the reason they did not have the chins in the big cage, no room in their home (HUGE BRICK HOME - Fancy !).
Soooooo........ Home we came with the large cage and the two adult chins (I could not afford the children born in August, Plus, They were Biting Wild - Keep in mind, I have my 3 1/2 year old grandson who respects chins, knows how to treat them, But, I do not want him to be attacked.
Got home, set everything up - The female did not understand how to use the dust bath ! rolled around outside of it !
I will tell you this, they sure seem happy now ! I am mixing their previous pellets (I requested some to take with us) with Mazuri (He had never heard of it) So as I can aclimate them to a better diet.
Interesting Note ...... PetSmart had contacted them in some sort of "Contest", Where as the Black Velvet male won, So, His photo is to be on the petsmart timothy hay bags now ! They received $75.00 for this ! Must have done much "Air-Brushing" due to his hair/coat quality ...
Just wanted to share - Hope I am doing correctly mixing the different feeds, so as not to shock their "Tummys" - Best, Grace

 

[InkedupTara]

yay for new chinnies!! I know some people go slow with changing feeds, increasing the amount of the new feed and decreasing amount of old feed. I know when I got Gabby, she was on such a crappy pellet, I switched her cold turkey and gave her acidophilus.

 

[Stackie]

Glad you got them. I hope you know that you will need to separate them, or they will have more babies.

 

[Dragonflye]

Glad you got them. I hope you know that you will need to separate them, or they will have more babies.

True, is there any way to split that ferret mansion in half?

I'm glad you took these two chins. Where are you located? (I'm thinking the baby chins may need a rescue at some point.)

 

[oxchincerelyxo]

sounds like you're off to a good start!

If the food is that crappy, I'd just do cold turkey...had to do that with one of my rescues before and she did just fine.


Like said before, they'll have to be seperated-but you should plan on having kits. This means reading up on kit info etc. and getting a kit safe cage. To your knowledge the female may already be pregnant. Usually you can count from 111 days, but since they've been together for a bit you just just plan without counting...

if you have questions about kits and such, there are tons of people who have a lot of experience, but first read up on the sticky about kits...alot of good info there!

and good luck!

 

[Ash]

Do you have a pic of the ferret mansion so we know which exactly it is? That could help with ideas of how to seperate it. I have a Marshall's Penthouse that I just split with a Bass pan perfectly and many people do the same with their Ferret Nations.

 

[grace]

Thank You All !
I would be very happy to post pics of the cage (and children If I only knew how...... I have a dig camera (5 years old) - Sorry for my ignorance - Can someone tell me how ? As I have enjoyed looking at many chins on this forum.
Dragonflye, The 2 kits are in the Dallas area, If you wish to contact me, I will be most pleased to talk to you !!!
Also, I am sure I am going to "Tick-Off" many people - So I will get my "armor" on, (Let me have it ! ..... I actually would like to have 1 or 2 litters (Gosh, I can hear angry fingers hitting their keyboards now .....) That is fine, I will listen.
I used to have chins and breed them for pets (For approved families) when I was MUCH younger. A lot has changed in 30 years .... Diet, exercise,cages, types of hay, etc. Also, I have been reading a lot - Taking the male out after the birth so there will not be a "Breed-Back" ? I know I have MUCH to learn/ re-learn. However, I am having so much fun ! These "Children" bring me such joy !!! Also, sharing the responsibilty of care, feeding, and love of these animals with my Grandson (Who I care for 5 days per week) is just my greatest pleasure.
OK, If I can learn to post pictures, FANTASTIC ! And..... Let me get my "suit of armor" out of the closet to prepare for your replies ..... Best, Grace

 

[tunes]

Grace - I'm going to head it off at the pass. Unless you know where these chins came from (i.e., pedigree) please, don't breed them. It doesn't matter if it's "just for pets" or not. You would still be breeding mutt animals. If you look in any animal shelter, you will see how the mutt population fares, of any breed.

If you are going to want to breed chins, then please, go to a reputable breeder and buy pedigreed, evaluated stock. Don't get them from someone who has no idea of their backgrounds that you found on Craigslist. I get emails all the time where I hear the comment "I only want to breed for pets, why should I have fancy chinchillas?" My answer is always the same "Don't the people you stick with those "pet chins" deserve healthy, pedigreed animals with known histories?" You can get absolutely wonderful pet chins from pedigreed animals. In fact, I prefer to sell my animals to pet only homes because I know they will be spoiled and pampered. The initial outlay is there, but it is SO worth it for the peace of mind it brings knowing that you are not breeding animals with health issues like malocclusion.

Pet store chins or Craigslist chins with questionable or nonexistent pedigrees just should not be bred. Period.

 

[grace]

Thank You Tunes,
As far as Malocclusion, I read it usually happens by age 3 , or latest by age 5. These Chins are 4 1/2. What other health situations should I watch for ? I appreciate your time, truly. Sincerely, Grace

 

[starleomach]

Serously if you want to breed buy good stock. Malo is genetic and can be passed on to babies without parents showing signs. You will not get any approval for breeding crap. Seroiusly so many of us have spent years and thousands of dolars working hard to improve these animals.
I just had a female in my lap while she died on the way back to the vets because she had a blood clot in her lungs from a breeding complication. I loved that girl. Do you want to do that to just get some low quality animals that will add to all the others? In breeding those animals you will be making yourself a backyard breeder no better than a puppy mill breeding just to breed.

 

[grace]

OUCH !
No, Starleomach, I do not. The point you brought up about "Puppy Mills" struck a nerve. I have worked as a Tech And Office Manager At a Vet clinic for many years (Not in the past 5yrs). Puppy Mills sent me "Around the bend" emotionally. I used to get so very angry......
I see your point VERY clearly, and I am very sorry for your loss - I will seperate these kids.
Your info outweighs mine, You are correct. Again, Condolences, Grace

 

[starleomach]

I am sorry to be so harsh, Days like today make me re-think breeding at all. But I do it for the love of the animal and to produce better animals to have out there in the world

 

[grace]

Starleomach, You wrote what was in your heart, You spoke the truth - I admire you for that, and ... as I said, your facts outweighed mine. I agree with you. I would not of brought it to the forum if I did not want opinions - Always willing to learn.
Alright, I can take off my "Armor" now, Put it into the closet for another time. Gosh ! Unless someone else is coming after me !
Again, so very sorry for your loss, I thank you for helping me get a real clear picture, Sincerely, Grace

 

[Riven]

I'm not coming after ya, just want to share some facts, many sites online can be confusing, misleading, or just wrong.

Malo can come at anytime, I've heard of it hitting chins before a year, and late in life.

Malo is also recessive and accumulative, which means parents can carry it and never show it, often for many generations before it shows up.

Pets aren't breeders, simply because increased risk of loss. Some people try, but they end up with a chin on their lap on the way to the vet as said above, not saying breeders don't care, but you go in realizing what could happen.

Many breeders not only breed for quality improvement, but also health and temperament improvement. We all want animals that are easy to handle, and even from a breeding stand point, you need healthy animals! I always ask people to imagine the sadness from losing a pet prematurely, although it can't always be prevented, organized breeding programs with knowledge of the chins genetics can help reduce the risk!

Congrats on your new chins!

 

[Linda]

Malo is also recessive and accumulative, which means parents can carry it and never show it, often for many generations before it shows up.

I'm still fairly new to chins and would like to read up on malo. Can you share whatever sources you're using about the gene and its nature?

Linda

 

[tunes]

http://www.chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3364

There's one article on malo. I have not read this one specifically, so I don't know if covers everything you need, but it's a start.

 

[6Dusters]

Just saw this post and was pleased to see your seperating them. I seperated a male/female rescue pair last year and they are very happy without one another. They are what they are...........just pets. Having said that, I can tell you there is no fun what so ever having a chin with teeth problems. ( Should a person find themselves with on )
One of my fine beautiful pets has had to have her two back teeth spurs ground down. Yes its malo. Nothing worse then seeing your little one drop weight badly, choke on food, gag. Then to make that heart breaking trip to the vet. Have her put under with gas and have them grind them down. Then you spend days if not weeks handfeeding and giving them pain meds.
A good breeder will have kept records of his/her animals. They can tell you based on generation records if this ever has come up. And should it rear its ugly head, a good breeder will hunt down those who bought offspring and inform them of the malo. Thats why we cannot stress the dangers of breeding animals without knowing the medical gene line up. Good luck with them. Like to see pictures when they settle in.

 

[Linda]

http://www.chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3364

There's one article on malo. I have not read this one specifically, so I don't know if covers everything you need, but it's a start.

Thank you! That one focuses on treatment once the condition occurs which is very important until we learn how to prevent it. (Even then, some of your commercial pet store breeders are bound to continue producing chins with malo just because they can. Many pet stores, including the chain stores, don't demand any more from them.)

I was hoping for more information on prevention. Better understanding the research that led to the conclusion that malo is recessive and accumlative could help us better prevent it in the first place.
Linda

 

[grace]

Hello All,
Now that I have been "Whipped", I still have not heard on how to post photos ....
Thank You, Grace

 

[VolunteerChin22]

Grace please understand that at least one post a day is someone who is wanting to do just what you were thinking of doing...We are just being truthful and trying to make people consider what they are thinking about doing because most of the time breeding is not something they have really taken time to consider. They feel bad spliting a pair they rescued, they had a surprise kit and gosh, they are just so darn cute let's have more, or they have friends who want kits, etc. Tons of "reasons," not a lot of thought about quality, genetics, complications, death, injury, haven't done any research, never been to a show, and usually no knowledgeable mentor. Like Peggy said, pet people deserve a healthy, quality chin too. There is a correct way to begin breeding, and this would not be it. I am glad you are seperating them and they will have a healthy life with you away from those people who obviously didn't care for them properly.

For photos, if you click post a reply (not quick reply, regular one) and scroll down you should see where it says manage attachments - a window will pop up and you can browse your computer for files and then hit upload - close window and then you should see them listed...when you post your reply you will see the thumbnails in the message.