Names for our newest :)

[lauralynne]

All I'm saying is basically what Kate said above. It isn't rude to point out things as long as it is done in a manner that isn't condescending. Everyone can read something that's not there into a post if they want and take things the wrong way. We can dot our posts with smiley faces all day long and hope that it brings rainbows and butterflies, but it won't.

All we're trying to do is point out that a wise decision on your part would be to get to the bottom of what is causing issues in your herd before you invest more money in chins and possibly more vet bills because the issue wasn't resolved.

 

[Lynn & The Chins]

Mikayla, have you contacted any of the Colorado members of ECBC who are ranchers??? I know that you have met most of them. They would be happy to offer you advice/guidance/suggestions. :thumbsup:

ETA: Also, Dr. Fitzgerald is someone who certifies chinchilla ranches for the USDA. Have you contacted him and asked for his assistance??? He IS a very well known, qualified, experienced Exotic vet who can most likely help you.

 

[Mikayla]

Yes, Lynn. I got these two from John Suhr, who is happy to help. I have contacted him a while ago about babies with mom's on baytril who agreed with my vet He would be my first choice for an emergency vet but he is scarcely available at night. There is CSU who has emergency vets but not exotic vets at night and they have to go by phone which is iffy. Or there is my vet is Greeley who is, in my opinion seeing I haven't seen Dr. Fitzgerald yet, the best vet I have had. When I lost Esperanza he called on his day off to say sorry about my loss and to check up on Maia and Stormy, he sees chins quite often and seems to know his stuff. Dr. Fitzgerald knows of him and thinks he is good.

Laura-I just hate coming off rude, in person I can be, and on the internet I don't want to be. My personality, and it isn't going to change. My reasoning that it is the feed is that I have talked to another rancher who uses the feed and since she's been on it she has had the same issue as I have had with births. I talked to the rancher I bought it from and he said that he has a little issues with births. That's what my issues have been. I visited with him for about an hour and a half the other night and I don't seem to be doing anything 'wrong' but I am going to change some things and hope it makes a difference.

Dawn- Sorry, missed your question. Joe Brown was the rancher, I believe. When they were shown at Crawford this month the male was a second place, and the female a first.

 

[starleomach]

Not to harp, but when you are experiancing a possible issue. It is best to have the issue resolved before bringing in more. I know whan I was having water issues I was supposed to pick up 7 animals from a breeder I had ordered I just explained the situation and they held them longer for me until I hadn't seen the symptoms in my animals for a month. It took some time to figure out for sure it was the water. Same with feed it would be best to switch feed and see if it resolves issues before you assume that was your problem

 

[Mikayla]

Thanks, but these chins were on the same feed, the same water (we both buy generic watered), he feeds different treats but I rarely do, and we use the same bedding so it's pretty must just a different scenario.

 

[Ash]

If this person is doing everything the same as you are and isn't having issues, than you haven't found the issue that YOU are facing yet. Also, you said these chins came from "Browns" and now say they came from John Suhr? Are they one and the same? Doesn't make sense, and I'm confused...

 

[Mikayla]

Sorry for the confusion They were BRED by Joe Brown, and John bought them at the Claiming show, and then I got them from him. That's partly why I haven't changed feed, it's been a strenuous few weeks for the babies.

No I haven't found what issues were facing me. I am changing feed because I am thinking that's what caused my issues, I also put a supplement (used by MANY MANY breeders out here in my water, but I am changing the amount I am putting in it. From 1 teaspoon per gallon to 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons.

I LOVE Smoke and Fog, but The male doesn't really fit those names...He's an evil little bugger, I'm leaning towards Felix and Fauna...but Smoke and Fog aren't out yet

 

[kathiva]

What kind of pellets are you using? The pellets I use and I have liked the most are the Oxbow, my chins love them, and they tend to eat lots of it compared to other brands that I used in the past, the Oxbow hay they love it too.

 

[Mikayla]

I use Barnett chinchilla pellets, they are used a bunch here in CO, but I'm switching to Nutrena in 7 days. I want to give the new ones 10 days to relax.

 

[Mandy]

I've seen a few of your posts but am just going to comment here..
Maybe you've said it elsewhere and I've missed it..but why are you using these feeds?
Why not just switch to oxbow or another pellet that you know many, many people use..?

But besides that.. I agree.. Bringing animals into a 'herd' of animals that die left and right with no knowing of why isn't very responsible. These animals aren't a guessing game just because you want babies. (that is if you still breed. Could swear I read somewhere that you werent anymore.)

And as for being 'rude'. These questions involve the lives of animals....I highly doubt if others care if they come off bluntly.

And just to add.. I'm going through the same issue with my aquarium. I have all my lovely fancy guppies going belly up so quickly and I'm rolling through everything to figure out why. I know how frustrating it is, but hang in there.

 

[ticklechin]

I have never heard of anything being put in water, what is it and what does it do? What are your chinchillas lacking that needs a supplement besides pellets and hay?

Sorry for the confusion They were BRED by Joe Brown, and John bought them at the Claiming show, and then I got them from him. That's partly why I haven't changed feed, it's been a strenuous few weeks for the babies.

No I haven't found what issues were facing me. I am changing feed because I am thinking that's what caused my issues, I also put a supplement (used by MANY MANY breeders out here in my water, but I am changing the amount I am putting in it. From 1 teaspoon per gallon to 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons.

I LOVE Smoke and Fog, but The male doesn't really fit those names...He's an evil little bugger, I'm leaning towards Felix and Fauna...but Smoke and Fog aren't out yet

 

[EMSChins]

The only thing that I know of that goes in the water is tetracycline and possibly one other antibiotic but I would want to know what they need an antibiotic for before giving it to my whole herd. These are not supplements and also have not heard of supplements given in water???

I have heard of large ranchers using this periodically but will admit I don't know much about it.

 

[ticklechin]

This is not a large ranch, why do 8 chinchillas need 5 gallons of supplemented water with who knows what.

 

[Cassi]

Why not switch your others to Nutrena sooner then the new lil ones?

 

[kathiva]

you can do a slow transition from one feed to other, which I believe you have to give them 3/4 of the old feed and 1/4 of the new feed, and then you increase the new feed by 1/4 every time, it is not good to switch the chins from one feed to the other in one day, they need some time to get used to the new feed, or they might get like diahrrea or anything related.

 

[aznmexaggie]

Is the supplement in the water colloidal silver, by chance?

 

[Laurie]

While this is not the thread for it as this is a question on what to name chinchillas, many breeders consider and good pet owners consider water a very important part of a chinchilla diet besides good hay and pellets. Colloidal silver put into the water is used by many as a supplement to improve herd health and fur quality.

 

[ticklechin]

So same question, what is it in the chinchilla diet that is lacking that needs colloidal silver? What does it do that good hay and pellets does not?

 

[lauralynne]

No I haven't found what issues were facing me. I am changing feed because I am thinking that's what caused my issues, I also put a supplement (used by MANY MANY breeders out here in my water, but I am changing the amount I am putting in it. From 1 teaspoon per gallon to 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons.

My question here is why are you tackling the food and water at the same time? Don't you want to change things one at a time to better know WHICH ONE was causing issues?

 

[Claire D]

No, I have not discovered exactly what is making my animals sick, I have my ideas and I am changing my feed before I pair anymore animals. They are being quarantined.

Mikayla, you're going to breed more chins?
These two new ones are bought for breeding?
How are you quarantining these new chins?

No I haven't found what issues were facing me. I am changing feed because I am thinking that's what caused my issues, I also put a supplement (used by MANY MANY breeders out here in my water, but I am changing the amount I am putting in it. From 1 teaspoon per gallon to 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons.

When are you going to STOP & listen to experienced people on here who are trying to help you? You need to find out what is causing your problems - stop guessing & stop changing stuff willy-nilly. Throwing stuff into the water, changing food (can you actually get hold of this new feed or are you going to have problems like before?), & bringing in new chins is like using a shotgun to hit a fly.