When can Dad go back to Mom and Kit ?

[grace]

I checked "search", and could not find what I was looking for .... So, My pair of Hetero Ebony chins had a beautiful boy ! Smiles ! I seperated Dad as not to have "Breedback" , well.... was told to keep them apart for a week (Kit was born 1/19) - In the mean time, I kept the cages "overlapped" by 1/3, so as Mom and Dad could "Keep in touch" - I have been putting them back together for a bit (hour) in the evenings - My male is fine, his "Wife" is very ticked off ! I do not believe they will harm each other, although I am concerned for the kits safety - What should I do ??? Thank you in advance !

 

[alli713]

If your cages are touching, then they could have already had a breedback. Chins can and will breed through the bars of their cage. Cages should have been kept a couple inches apart.

And by allowing them to play together, chances are they have already mated that way too.

Do you want more babies right away? What is the hurry to put the dad back in with the mom?

 

[grace]

Cages were two inches apart - He may think he is "Super man" - However, I think not. (Smiles) - My question, as I wrote, And I could very well be wrong (As I was told to wait a week) - What is the recommended time to put Dad back with Mom ? Thank you

 

[3CsMommy]

Why do you want to put him back in with her?

 

[Stackie]

If they've been together for an hour in the evenings she is probably pregnant again anyway. It only takes a few seconds for a male to get a female pregnant.

 

[chinchillalover0927]

i think thats pretty wrong to put him back with her...do you know how hard that is on her to nurse a kit and be pregnant again........

 

[grace]

They were supervised , no breeding took place, I just had a question, Sorry I asked.

 

[Stackie]

They were supervised , no breeding took place, I just had a question, Sorry I asked.

Were you watching them every single second? Never took your eyes off of them? Like I said, they can mate in seconds flat.

 

[VolunteerChin22]

I am just wondering why if you were told to keep them apart why were you letting them interact for playtime within that week? Apart would mean no contact...

But back to your question...As stated, she is probably already pregnant again. I usually keep my males out until the kits are weaned. I recently had my first kit of the year killed by the jumping around of parents in the cage before I could shut the jump hole. Some ppl put males back in 10 days after pregnancy but I don't like to risk it.

It sounds like you are new to breeding so you should read up on the information on the breeding and babies section. There are many risks to breeding, including multiple preganacies draining calcium from females, birthing complications, males and females fighting, kits being crushed, etc. make sure you are knowledgeable about breeding before you reintroduce them.

 

[grace]

yes - Concerned for safety issues, I sat in front of their cage

 

[grace]

I did not let ANY interaction happen in the first 7 days - As far as pregnancy, she will not have anything to do with the Male - At ALL times when I have put him back into the cage, my eyes have been on them - No Breeding !
Thankyou Volunteerchin22 - As you have answered my questions - I much appreciate that.

 

[VolunteerChin22]

Yes, and for safety and health reasons is why you were told to keep them apart. Chinchillas go into heat every 30 days and immediately around giving birth. So that means she is barely finished with a heat cycle and so by exposing her to a male during playtime (supervised or not) within that 10 day window, you are increasing her chances for breedback. The reason for waiting ten days is to allow the heat following birth to pass and I mean justifyably, to give her a break. Following that advice, after 10 days had past (which would have been 1/29) that is when they may have been introduced again tentatively. However, unless you are in a rush to breed her again or she is a slow breeder, why not give her a break and let her nurse her babies without dad bothering her?

ETA: Ok I think we are concerned about this "playtime" or "back in the cage time" whatever, because from your first post it sounded like you had been letting them interact since the 19th when the kit was born...perhaps I need clarification:hmm:

 

[grace]

Volunteerchin22,
Thank you for answering my questions.
Their was no interaction between the male and female during the first week.(No Contact).
Again, I thank you for your information.

 

[VolunteerChin22]

Ok, well this information is useful as rationale in any case lol hope this helped...

 

[Riven]

I don't get the putting him back at all part... if he doesn't hurt the kit while he's in there for an hour, then he's probably not going to hurt it at all.

I've been told by ranchers to wean at 45 days and put the male back in because the female should be in heat then. I can't verify that, but I thought it might be useful.

 

[VolunteerChin22]

Sure if the male is aggressive I agree but accidental trampling is still a concern

 

[grace]

The Male is not agressive, He has no problems with the Kit (actually has groomed him), Mom just wants nothing to do with him(Dad) - and Volunteerchin22, You have been most kind in actually listening to myself and my questions. (By the way, they are seperated for the eve as I MUST go to bed !) Smiles !

 

[Chinmama]

I am not a breeder, so I may be clueless here but I wanted to add this thought: if mom wants nothing to do with dad, and you put dad back in the cage with mom and kit, mom and/or dad could potentially harm the kit in a fight or if mom is trying to get away from dad he could be trampled in the chaos? I don't think I would reintroduce them until the kit is weaned. Just a thought...

 

[alli713]

I agree with Ann here, if mom wants nothing to do with dad, she could be one of the types of chins that becomes less friendly when she has a kit. I would be worried about them fighting if the dad keeps on pestering her.

And I don't see how no one else was answering your questions, we were answering and asking questions, but probably not the type you wanted to hear.

If it were me, and it's not because I don't breed, I would wait to put dad back in after the baby is weaned. It's hard on the mom to be pregnant and nursing at the same time.

And I also don't get your hurry to get her pregnant again. If you put dad back in, she will get pregnant. Why are you in such a hurry to get babies?

 

[6Dusters]

I'm not sure she ever said she was in a hurry to have her chin breed again. ( I didn't read that anywhere) However a "breed back" would have a high percentage rate. I think the mother has told you what she needs right now. A break to raise her kits without the worry of another pregnancy.
Good luck with the little ones.