What should i do ?

[Nickv0195]

I have a mother chinchilla(Tilly) with her two kits ( Bailey & Lily) in one cage, another female chinchilla (Daisy) in another cage, and a male (Dustin) in another cage. So i have three cages, and for convience i would like to bring it down to two cages, due to moving to a smaller house and my mother doesn't want three cages. I would like to put Daisy in with Tilly and her two kits eventually. Should i wait until kits are weaned? And how should i aproach this ? I am not nervous about Daisy attacking Tilly or the kits, its Tilly attacking Daisy, daisy is very sweet. Obviously there is that chance that Daisy will attack Tilly and the kits, so i am being very cautious about this. So waht should i do ?

 

[tunes]

Do NOT attempt to put another female in with a nursing mom. That would be an incredibly bad situation. Mom's are very territorial when it comes to having kits, and putting another female in the cage could end up getting her, and most likely the kits (during the fight) killed. In addition to that, you have no idea how Daisy will get along with the kits, as not all females make great foster parents.

Keep them apart.

 

[Nickv0195]

Even once they are weaned ?

Do NOT attempt to put another female in with a nursing mom. That would be an incredibly bad situation. Mom's are very territorial when it comes to having kits, and putting another female in the cage could end up getting her, and most likely the kits (during the fight) killed. In addition to that, you have no idea how Daisy will get along with the kits, as not all females make great foster parents.

Keep them apart.

 

[tunes]

Once they are weaned is different, but definitely not now. And don't count on them going together even after the kits are weaned. Your mom may want 2 cages, but the chins may have different ideas.

 

[Nickv0195]

Okay thank you.

Once they are weaned is different, but definitely not now. And don't count on them going together even after the kits are weaned. Your mom may want 2 cages, but the chins may have different ideas.

 

[AZChins]

Definitely give it some time. New moms are hormonal and can really be grouchy with unfamiliar girls. The chins definitely make their own plans with whom they let live in their cages.

 

[Laurie]

chances are very slim Tilly and Daisy will get along after Tilly has had kits. I had two chinchillas that were cage mates Bobo and Abigail--once Bobo had a baby she and Abigail never got along and fought all the time. They were separated and now Bobo lives with her daughter GiGi and I have another cagemate for Abigail. It's Tilly's natural instinct to fight with Daisy to protect her children and you need to keep them separated. But as I said chances of them being able to get along after the kits are weaned is very slim.

 

[ticklechin]

With chin ownership there is always the possibility you will need as many cages as you have chins.

 

[Essentia]

With chin ownership there is always the possibility you will need as many cages as you have chins.

No greater truth has ever been spoken. I have cages everywhere in my house right now since I only have one pair who gets along and everyone else is a singleton.

 

[Riven]

But as I said chances of them being able to get along after the kits are weaned is very slim.

I am going to strongly disagree with this. I've put girls who have never been with other females in colonies at the age of twelve, after having many litters. I've had girls litter together in colonies, girls in a colony, out of a colony, then back in a colony with no problems. It all depends on the chins, even as far as moving them together now, it all depends on the chins. That why you have to know your chins, and know their attitudes.

 

[ticklechin]

I think in this case with the limited chin experience of the OP, better safe than sorry and keep the chins separate. I may be wrong about the experience, just giving my opinion based on the OPs past posts.

 

[Riven]

I'm not saying that the OP should throw them all together, but I don't think that it's at all correct to say once a female litters she can never go with a cage mate again.

 

[ticklechin]

Since I suck totally at intros, have no breeding experience at all and have not had any good luck with anything other than single chins, I just realized I should not be participating in this thread at all, LOL, other than to say chins fight, be prepared!

 

[Dragonflye]

I think in this case with the limited chin experience of the OP, better safe than sorry and keep the chins separate. I may be wrong about the experience, just giving my opinion based on the OPs past posts.

I agree.

Forcing chins together just to reduce the number of cages is not a good idea, IMO. 3 of 4 of my pairs came to me already paired. I HATE intros.