Starting a new family

[samster32]

I will be picking up my new Chin's on Saturday. After speaking with the previous owners it appears that my gray female may be pregnant. She is a bonded standard gray with a male standard gray, then I am also getting their white female. Any suggestions on how to handle the birth. This will be my first experience with chin's and now it looks like I will be multiplying soon. I've researched so I know the basics, but is there anything else I need to know. Oh the male does not like the white female so she has to remain completely seperate.

Any advice on my new family would be great. They have their own cages and their own room in my house.

 

[tunes]

First, welcome to CnH.

Second, follow this link http://www.chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=864 and read through that entire section. It has a lot of very valuable information regarding the why's of breeding, as well as the how's of kit care after.

 

[Ash]

Are you getting the male also? If so, I'd suggest seperating the male/female and trying to house the two females together after the grey has(or doesn't have) the kits. Otherwise, it's possible you could have them breeding often.

If the grey is indeed pregnant, and has a male kit, you can always try housing it with Dad after weaning it, and any girls can be housed with mom and/or the white female.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[Sandi]

Welcome to the forum! ) There is a lot of great info to read in each section of the chin forums, especially all the FAQ's as well as the link that tunes posted above. If your girl is pregnant make sure you have a baby safe cage as well.

 

[samster32]

thank you everyone for your replies. Yes we are getting the male and both females. Its my understanding that the white female does not get along with the others. Also what is a baby safe cage? Sorry, very new at this.

 

[Sandi]

In my opinion, a baby safe cage should be a one level so that the kits don't fall off anything too high or get stepped on, also the wire spacing needs to be less than 1/2" or the babies will escape.

 

[saphire]

Welcome you've come to the right place for info.

 

[tunes]

I agree on the one level cage, but 1/2 x 1 inch wire spacing is safe and a lot easier to hang a water bottle on than 1/2 x 1/2 inch. That's just a pain.

 

[Ash]

thank you everyone for your replies. Yes we are getting the male and both females. Its my understanding that the white female does not get along with the others. Also what is a baby safe cage? Sorry, very new at this.

Ok, well, the male and female should still be seperated to prevent breeding, either again if she is already pregnant or simply to prevent breeding period. Good luck if she is pregnant! And you could always try intro's once you get out of the "danger" zone. It could be that the other family simply didn't try proper introductions.

 

[Terbear24]

Also its important for the baby safe cage to have solid flooring as well so no wire shelves or wire floors.... their little legs get stuck very easy!