New Chinchilla Mommy

[Isabella Whateva]

My first cage was the first picture. It was okay, but after about six months the bars started snapping off! Definitely not safe. Plus wire floors are never very desirable.
Like everyone else said, a ferret nation or critter nation would probably be best. I got mine barely used off craigslist for $100 and it was well worth it. You can separate one into two halves (it's what I'm doing right now) and get some hardware cloth to wrap about the female's half until she's done with pregnancy watch.

There really is no way to tell for sure whether or not a female is pregnant until babies come out. I've never had a pregnant or possibly pregnant chin so I can't offer much advice there, but you might want to post another thread about your female so people will more experience will be able to help you better.

If you can't afford a ferret nation right now, just get a cage that is baby safe and affordable right away. The most important thing is you separate them immediately.

 

[NewChinMommy]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate everything you have told me so far. Our budget is currently limited as my husband only works maybe 5-8 days out of a month and i am currently looking for work so its a bit harder but we make do with what we get for money(with our chins included we have two dogs, 2 cats and 2 hamsters so we have quite the full house) though i will look for a better cage's for them and try the chicken wire idea.

The first one i may just get for the male and take the wood out of the cage we got them in and put it in his cage. I have been looking at both kijiji and craigslist and usedcalgary to see if i can find anything. The first cage is 42.99 from petsmart and the other is 84.99 also from petsmart.

They have this one for 29.99 at petsmart or would that be to small for the mama and could be babies?

 

[Isabella Whateva]

That cage (wrapped in wire) would probably be okay for the female just for the pregnancy watch, but long term it's pretty small. You should also stay away from anything with plastic. Chins are chewers, and ingested plastic can easily kill them.

Unfortunately, Petsmart has a really crappy collection of chinchilla products. In fact, a lot of things they have marketed toward chinchillas are really bad for them. Just keep in mind that even though Petsmart slaps a picture of a chin on the package definitely does not mean it's okay for them.

 

[mishellyshel]

i use the above cage as a "travel" cage for my one chin. but he has teeth issues and does not chew plastic. i have a couple plastic chewers that i could never put in that cage.
that is why i thought the first one with the purpe metal bottom would be better.
i would continue to look around for a better cage.........you have some time before babies.............if she is even pregnant.

 

[NewChinMommy]

How long are they pregnant for? I would buy it just for the pregnancy watch how ever long it would be then i would continue looking for a better one.

 

[cindyv3737]

The gestation period for chinchillas is 111 days.

 

[NewChinMommy]

wow that is quite awhile. Atleast i was able to name half of them. I am naming the male Scooter but i have yet to figure out a name for the female.

Well thank you everyone for your help but i have decided to find another forum. The person's sister who dropped them off yesterday is on this forum and i don't appreciate how she is saying we are the one's who said one has a yucky eye when both me and my husband heard her say these things yesterday.

 

[Stackie]

NewChinMommy, this is really the best place for you to stay. We have many experienced people here who can help you. If someone is harassing you on this forum in anyway, please bring it to the attention of the administrators and something can be done. We want you to feel comfortable here and want the best for your chins.

 

[Chinmama]

I agree with Stackie - don't let one member ruin your stay. You can always ignore them. It's a handy feature I sometimes wish existed outside the forum.

 

[NewChinMommy]

It makes me nervous as this person is the lady who dropped them off yesterday and never really told me much about them or how to take care of them except to say that they only take a pinch of alfalfa hay and a table spoon of food for each chin. Now she is telling me i was the one who told her about the yucky eye when yesterday she told us about it when she dropped them off. She also sent what i said to my email so i know she is watching what i am saying. I am only 24 years old and i do not like to be bullied and people thinking i am a liar which i am not as my husband was right there to hear everything she said as well.

 

[ticklechin]

I agree, this is the BEST forum for new chin owners especially owners who find themselves with pregnant rescues. Other forums out there are just fluff and have poor advice if any advice on medical/breeding issues. Good if you like OOO and AWWW at your pics but poor if you are in need of GOOD advice.

 

[NewChinMommy]

I think i may stay as i am on another forum and she has been sending me emails and messages on my posts. She has been stalking everything i have been saying but not actually saying anything on this post. It makes me very nervous as she also knows where i live and could try and come back here and try to take them back to her sisters which is what i don't want.

I wish i could ignore her but i don't know her member name. I did it on the other forum i'm on and the emails so she can't send anything rude to me again.

 

[tunes]

First, welcome to CnH.

We do not allow harrassment of our members here. If someone IS harrassing you, you need to immediately bring it to my attention. We also will not allow disparaging posts on either parties part, so you needn't worry about that either.

You need no larger than 1/2 x 1 inch openings for a maternity cage. 1 x 1 and a kit can squeeze through, especially if it's a premie. The cage you have pictured would absolutely not work for kits. it may be half inch wide openings, but it's 4 or 5 inches long and a kit can squeeze through those bars. In addition to that, those bars are pretty flexible (I have several super pet cages here) especially on the smaller cages, which makes it doubly easy for the kits to squeeze through.

We are the largest chinchilla forum in the US, with a pretty high ratio of breeders. If you have questions or need help, this is the place to get it.

 

[Sandi]

I'm sorry you are going through this but I'm glad you are considering staying on this forum. There are a lot of people here that are willing to help but at the same time know what they are talking about.

 

[SamiJami]

A lot of people have recommended the Ferret Nation as a cage. I have a Feisty Ferret. It's a tad bit smaller, but it costs $50 less. You can separate the two levels. I use liners made by Tiffany (threewingedfairy) for the bottom and top level-it's cheaper than bedding. Good luck raising them! You're doing a wonderful thing rescuing them. I have a rescue and it's taken 2 months to get to a friendly point. Just be patient ^_^ They're worth it!

 

[NewChinMommy]

I have talked to menagerie about the whole situation. I still don't know her username but if she does ever try to contact me on this forum i will block the lady right away as i have done with all my other things that she has contacted me on.

I haven't been able to find any cages that i really like that don't have any ramps. Not sure if the picture is the ferret nation everyone is talking about but i hope so. That is the only one i was able to find at petsmart.

I am glad i stayed on this forum too. Everyone seem's to know what they are talking about which is great for newbie chinchilla or hedgehog owners like myself. Though i will be able to help someone else with everything i am learning about them.

I will try and look for that one as well. I will have to check out the liners. Are they soft or something? I have been enjoying them specially the little female(we named her Blossom) and the male is still pretty grumpy hissy and trying to bite my husband when he puts his hand into his cage to change his food and he is super jumpy(we named him scooter)

 

[Sandi]

Yes, that is the cage also known as FN142. You don't have to use the ramps in this cage, you could just add some wood ledges. The reason people like this cage, me being one of them, is that you could put the divider in the middle and that way you now have 2 cages.

Here is a thread dedicated strictly to the FN's....

http://chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=134&page=34

 

[NewChinMommy]

That cage is pretty funky. That cage would be okay if Blossom does have babies or would i need to put something around it like the chicken wire.

 

[GorillaJTA]

That cage is pretty funky. That cage would be okay if Blossom does have babies or would i need to put something around it like the chicken wire.

That one's openings are still too large, but you could get some hardware cloth and wrap around it fairly easily.

 

[NewChinMommy]

okay that is good to know.