What to do with kits?

[Jakeytow]

I got my female chinchilla a week ago from a woman who said she couldn't keep her. Last night I heard loud squealing from the cage and when I woke up this morning there was a kit in the cage. I need any and all information about what to do. I heard if it is a male kit I need to seperate it from it's mother after 6weeks. Is this true and if so why? Also I have them both in a cage with spaces the baby might be able to fit through. I have a small cage but I normally wouldn't keep any chin in a cage this size. Should I switch under these circumstances? She only had one so this is a relief but I still need to know everything. I was NOT expecting this. Please help me out if you can. Thanks so much.

 

[AZChins]

Well, if it's a male kit, you can probably go up to nine or ten weeks before you MUST separate him from mama. The male has to be removed because he can end up getting the mother pregnant. Most of the time they wouldn't have viable sperm until later, but you don't want to risk it at all and leave the chin in any later than 8 to 10 weeks.

If they baby can escape, he or she will. You probably want to put mama and baby in the smaller cage so that the baby is safe.

 

[tunes]

I would not leave a male in with his mother after 8 weeks. There have been several instances of where an 8 week old chin has viable sperm.

Read through this FAQ and it should cover the general information you need: http://www.chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21

If the only cage you have that is safe for the baby is a smaller one, either use that or try and buy a cheap one that you can use until the kit is weaned. They really can escape from very small spaces and you wouldn't want that to happen.