questions about kit

[iluvmychins]

If this is answered somewhere else, I apologize.
I was wondering when is it ok to put the dad (neutered) back in a cage with the momma and kit?
When is it safe to start putting stuff in the cage for kit to climb on ei shelves, ladders, wheel?
When is it ok to take momma and kit out of the secluded super quiet area?
What is the normal weight gain of a kit?

I know I had more, I just cant remember at this time. Thank you all for your help!

 

[Rickman]

Well,how did the Mom get pregnant if the Dad is fixed?
If he is fixed, you could have left him in, and they really didn't need to be separated, as chin Dads are really good with their kits. Unless Mom objects!
I had a brown velvet female that would fight with the male about halfway through her pregnancy, so I'd remove him, and he couldn't go back in until the kit was 3 weeks old, and it was no problem.
You can put the shelves back in about 2 wks. as long as the kit has something to cover it. [hidey house, fleece tube, igloo] so he has a place to feel safe if the adults are on a shelf.
You shouldn't even have ladders, as they're an accident waiting to happen, and I'd wait to put the wheel in until the kits over 200 grams, as for some reason they like to squeeze behind them, and if an adult gets on, could be hurt!
Kits gain at different rates, but it's not uncommon for a single kit litter to gain 10 grams the first wk. - 20 the second - 30 the third - etc. I've had kits reach 175 grams in 4 wks!

 

[Sugarmama]

Shelves should not be in the cage that early--mommas should be down with the kits, not away from them. Peggy recommends at least a month. Chins also should not have ladders; especially like open rung ramps and ladders. They are accidents waiting to happen; chins break legs on them all the time.

 

[iluvmychins]

thanks!

rickman, dad was neutered on the 2nd of march.

So solid ramps are not good either?

Thank you for your info!

 

[iluvmychins]

thank you sugarmama! Like I asked rickman, solid ramps are a no no also? Thank you again!

 

[JennyBug]

Chins just don't need the ramps. We had ramps in our cage and they usually just hopped over them. Try using wooden ledges instead. My chinnies spend all day on those ledges!!!

 

[Rickman]

Actually, I don't even remove the shelves unless I notice she's not paying enough attention to the kits, as I believe she needs "alone time." I do know what others recommend, and chins in runs usually don't even have shelves.
Different people do things different ways, all, hopefully, to acheive the same end results. It's up the individual with the question to determine what's best for their situation, after reading the different answers!
Most of us in breeding have learned the "hard way" and can only relate the experiences we've had, and what we've done to correct it! Maybe the term "been there, done that" fits.
I was under the impression that's the reason for a forum - to discuss different ways!
And, yes, pitch the ramps - strategiclly placed perches are much better!

 

[Diva Chins]

Actually, I don't even remove the shelves unless I notice she's not paying enough attention to the kits, as I believe she needs "alone time." I do know what others recommend, and chins in runs usually don't even have shelves.
Different people do things different ways, all, hopefully, to acheive the same end results. It's up the individual with the question to determine what's best for their situation, after reading the different answers!
Most of us in breeding have learned the "hard way" and can only relate the experiences we've had, and what we've done to correct it! Maybe the term "been there, done that" fits.
I was under the impression that's the reason for a forum - to discuss different ways!
And, yes, pitch the ramps - strategiclly placed perches are much better!

At 2 weeks old the kits still need a heat source. Shelves are not good in a maternity cage in the first place unless it's just a few inches off the ground.
People do things in different ways, but some people know what they're doing.
Been there and done that does fit, but it shouldn't accompany 'Sorry your kit froze to death'.

Ramps solid or wire aren't necessary. Chins jump fine.

 

[Rickman]

Sorry Diva, but I think 9 yrs. and 450-500 kits = experience! I personally know at least 5 other breeders with shelves in their cages, without problems, even a couple that colony breed! I've NEVER had a kit freeze to death, nor heard of it with the above mentioned people! Guess you haven't been there, yet!

 

[furrylovables]

I agree with Rick, I have been breeding now for 7 years with over 250+ kits and I have shelves and ledges in all my breeding cages without any problems. No kits freezing to death or never had a wild mother jump off ledge and kill kit.

 

[Mt. Zion Chins]

Same here I have been breeding since 1994 and most of my cages have shelves/ledges and I have never had a kit freeze to death or had a mom jump on the kit or had the kit hurt itself jumping off

 

[Diva Chins]

Sorry Diva, but I think 9 yrs. and 450-500 kits = experience! I personally know at least 5 other breeders with shelves in their cages, without problems, even a couple that colony breed! I've NEVER had a kit freeze to death, nor heard of it with the above mentioned people! Guess you haven't been there, yet!

Just because you can put two animals in a cage doesn't mean you're doing it right. Maybe when your animals win a few awards I'll be impressed.

 

[Rickman]

I guess you're entitled to your own opinion, as we all are!
Please don't hit me with your "signature move!"

 

[furrylovables]

Just because you can put two animals in a cage doesn't mean you're doing it right. Maybe when your animals win a few awards I'll be impressed.

Just because some of our chins haven't won any awards, doesn't mean were not doing it right. Quality,great disposition, size and health, I thought meant breeding qualtiy! Alot of us are in trouble if thats the case.

 

[Diva Chins]

Just because some of our chins haven't won any awards, doesn't mean were not doing it right. Quality,great disposition, size and health, I thought meant breeding qualtiy! Alot of us are in trouble if thats the case.

I'll believe it when I see a ribbon. When can I expect to see you at a show?

 

[alli713]

There are many breeders who don't put ledges in cages with moms and babies. And yes, I have read stories of mom jumping off a shelf and landing on baby, killing the baby.

 

[furrylovables]

Don't need any ribbons to show off my chins. I don't have ribbons to prove my chinchillas are a good quality. My chins have a personality, and they get it from me. I have nothing to prove. I have no insecurities, to make up for with a ribbon.

 

[aznmexaggie]

Personally, I don't use shelves in cages with kits. I breed with both runs and pair cages. The runs obviously don't have shelves but with the pair cages I remove the shelves once a female litters. In the first two years I started breeding, I left them in, but I noticed that the kits did not gain at as fast a rate as the kits who were raised in runs; the females would sometimes sit up on the shelves to avoid the kits. Until this year, I took weights on every single kit, every day until they were weaned. I noticed these patterns and differences in growth rates and that is why I do not use shelves.

 

[furrylovables]

I have been waiting on runs now for over a month. Waiting for company that make them to come to Chicago. Hopefully it won't be too long, I call every 2 weeks to see if they have any delivery in Chicago, none yet

 

[Diva Chins]

Don't need any ribbons to show off my chins. I don't have ribbons to prove my chinchillas are a good quality. My chins have a personality, and they get it from me. I have nothing to prove. I have no insecurities, to make up for with a ribbon.

You have no insecurities like your extreme medium ebony? :rofl: