need help with new kit and mom

[nicky]

Lets see where to start. I have rescued chins in the past and then found them good homes in the past. Well, recently I took in one from a man with the usual speech "I bought it for my daughter and she has lost interest." Well, yesterday I received a phone call from a women (who is friends with that gentleman) who said that she had 4 chins that she needed to find immediate homes for because her daughter had developed a severe allergy to them. She said that she had already withheld HAY and their dust baths for a week! So, I knew they needed to get out right away. So, I went to her house and picked them up. There is two females, one that is pregnant, one with a kit that was devlivered on or near (per this lady) 9/10, and an adult male. They were supposed to be 2 brown velvets and a white wilson. She said that's who the breeder in plattsburg, ny said. They are two tans and a mosiac. I should add, they are all very well unsocialized even the women couldn't get near them with the exception of the kit.
Ok, now to get to the point. Mama is terrified. She will not even move from her ledge. She has been in the exact same spot since I placed her in the cage 1pm yesterday. She will not eat and the water bottle is still full, so I know she has not drank anything. The kit seems to be doing ok, he's bouncing around and acting normal. He weighed 89grams yesterday, haven't weighed him yet today. I'm afraid to make mama anymore scared than she already is. Everytime I even go near the cage she cries and barks. I'm really worried that she will make herself sick (stasis, bloat) or her milk will dry up. Should I start force feeding? I hate to do that and scare her even more, but I'm really worried. I know she hasn't had a proper diet in a week already, plus she was eating that crap petstore food. Her fur looks nice and teeth are dark yellow/ orange, so I'm not too worried about defiency. But I am worried about the lack of fiber. I've never been in this situation before. All my babies are born here with me and mama is never nervous or upset. Help and advice would be great! Thanks guys!

 

[Chinniechantel]

First step- calm down, a few deep breaths! Not having hay for a week will not hurt her at all. I would not start force feeding, it sounds like she needs a calm cage with no ledges, perches or house, and to be left alone. Empty the cage and she has no choice but to be with the kit. She is alone with the kit, correct, no dad right? She needs that now. Try to leave her alone and she should calm down. The kit seems to be an ok weight for his/her age so as long as it stays that way, it should be ok. There is always something that can go wrong, so have a vet handy.

 

[brekai722]

If you have a small cage, you could put her and the kit in it with food and water. Maybe if she is in a real small area her hunger will overcome her fear. Try covering it part way to give her the idea of hiding this may calm her down. I know sometimes I have to do that to get the female to settle down when she is moved to a baby safe cage. Also you might try giving her a separate bottle with 1/2 apple juice with water. This might help keep her hydrated. She just needs a little time to realize she is safe. If you try these ideas it might help in the short run and give you a chance to observe her to learn a little more about why she might be so fearful. Hope this helps.

 

[aznmexaggie]

I would put her in a small cage or if you don't have that available, just remove all the ledges from the cages she is currently in. Even though she is stressed out, she needs to stay on the bottom where her kit can nurse. Does she have a hide box? If anything, she can hide inside the hide box where she will stay safe and the kit can stay in there with her so he can be warm and nurse.

Also, with my lactating females, I like to give alfalfa hay. Alfalfa is a galactogogue which helps increase milk production. It also tastes good to them as it is richer than grass hay such as timothy. Right after delivery, most of my females don't move much - they stay still and rest, so I place alfalfa hay and cubes on the floor right next to them so they can rest in the same spot but eat as well. IF your girl is so fearful she is afraid to approach the food bowl, you might want to try giving her access to the food close to her "safe area."

 

[nicky]

Yeah, She's in a very small cage with only that one low ledge. it's just her and the kit. Dad's in another cage. I have a fleece blanket that I could cover a small area of it. My vet is near by only 20 minutes away and there's an emergency clinic about an hour away, so I think I'm ok if I need a vet. I thought about the apple juice trick, but wasn't positive on it's safety. I know I've heard of it before though. Thanks, guys.

 

[nicky]

I just moved her pellets and and placed a couple of hay cubes right next to her. She took a pellet and ate it. I know I have some alfalfa here somewhere. I'm going to look right now. Actually, I think she's sleeping. I'll leave her alone for now. But, I'll give her some alfalfa later. She's so scared. Not like the usual, I'm in a new place scared, but actually terrified. Poor baby, none of my chins have ever reacted so scared when I got them. I'm pretty sure that they were thrown in a cage to breed and completely ignored.

 

[Chinniechantel]

I would not do apple juice, it would just ad more trouble to her digestive track at a very sensitive time. I would not put a fleece blanket in there either, the kit could easily get trapped under it or wrapped up in it and not be able to get out. It does sound like they did not get socialized at all. I wish you the best of luck!

 

[addictedtochins]

My first chin was a bit like that. I had her cage in the living room and decided to move her into a spare bedroom. She did respond to the quiet room and eventually came around and acted normally

 

[nicky]

What do others think about adding apple juice to encourage fluid intake? I know there is alot of controversy on the safety of doing so. That's why I 've held off on it. I'm sure she'll come around in a day or two and start eating and drinking more, I just worry with her nursing that she will dry up.

 

[Ash]

Nicky, take the ledge out. If she can't get away from the kit, then the kit will keep nursing to help keep the milk flow going.

 

[nicky]

Well, the ledge is really low. The kit climbs right up on it with her. The kit has been nursing today, which is good. I'm just worried that she will start producing an insuffient amount due to her own lack of fluids.

 

[brekai722]

I've always used the apple juice mixture especially with large litters and it seems to help. It won't hurt her.

 

[tunes]

Lots of people use the appple juice mixture. It's been recommended for years with nursing moms to help with their milk flow.

Put mom in a quiet out of the way place where she won't be bothered or afraid. Put a radio next to the cage and leave it on. Give her some white noise to block out all the other stuff going on. A fleece liner isn't going to hurt the kit, but I don't see as it's necessary at this point. If she was on shavings before, leave her on shavings. It's just one more change that could shake her up and make her more nervous.

Ranch chins are never socialized and their kits do just fine, as do the moms. You just need to only deal with her for feedings, weighings, changing the water bottle, etc. Other than that, just let her be so she can adjust to the new house, the new kit, all the changes she has going on right now.

 

[cintistatern2005]

If you have a small cage, you could put her and the kit in it with food and water. Maybe if she is in a real small area her hunger will overcome her fear. Try covering it part way to give her the idea of hiding this may calm her down. I know sometimes I have to do that to get the female to settle down when she is moved to a baby safe cage. Also you might try giving her a separate bottle with 1/2 apple juice with water. This might help keep her hydrated. She just needs a little time to realize she is safe. If you try these ideas it might help in the short run and give you a chance to observe her to learn a little more about why she might be so fearful. Hope this helps.

I think they were talking about covering part of the outside of the cage to make her more comfortable not putting fleece inside with the kit.

 

[Rickman]

I've only 2 females that were purchased from a ranch almost 2 yrs. ago - they haven't been a problem, per se, but are certainly different.
Apon getting them home, and in a cage, [vs. run] one proceeded to 'kack' at me, everytime I came into the room, for almost a month! The other stayed in the back of the cage, kinda "unsure" about the whole situation!
After the first month, they seemed more used to the situation, and calmed quite a bit - I can now pick them up without much of a hassle, they come for treats, etc.
Still, after kits are born, they "charge" the front of the door, or your hand if it's in the cage, but stop and smell your hand! If you don't flinch. Silly critters!
Some take awhile to adjust, but with time and patience will compromise, within they're learned abilities. "Rome wasn't built in a day"!

 

[nicky]

Well, she must be producing enough at this time- thank God. I weighed the kit today and she weighs 92 grams. She was 89 when I got them on the 29th. So far, so good. I think I just worry too much. She's still really scared, but I know that mom will come around with time. I was just worried with her not eating or drinking. She has started eating, but is still not drinking, so I think that I'm going to try the diluted apple juice mixture and see if it helps. Thanks to everyone for responding. It always helps to have people give you good advice when you're nervous.

 

[Godins Chinchillas]

I would just feed, hay, dust, music, water, and leave her alone. The more you fuss the more you will get her agitated.

On a side note, what breeder did she say she got them from in Plattsburgh. I lived there for several years breeding chins but I don't recall anyone else breeding. When did she get them? Did she get a pedigree. I have never had a brown velvet born and maybe a handful of light tans/pastels. I haven't been breeding since mid 2004..till a year ago.

 

[nicky]

She said that she did not recall the name of the women that she had purchased the chins from, but she just got them this past June. They are definitely two tans and a mosiac, Not brown Velvets as the "breeder" had said. I think that it was just someone trying to make money off these poor guys. They are not well socailized at all and are not even the color she reportably said that they were. It's too bad. I've now had them a week and they are all still so scared, with the exception of the kit. She's a little sweet heart. loves to be held and climbs right out the cage onto your hands when you open the door. She's doing well too and now weighs 111grams as of today. The others appear to be healthy and have nice coats. They're very pretty in appearance and look as though they did come from a breeder at some point. They are reportably between 2 and three years. So, I'm not sure where they originated from other than what's being said. soory for such a delay in responding to your question!

 

[Godins Chinchillas]

Thanks Nicky!