When to rotate babies for mom and babies' sake

[clarinuto]

I have my first litter who are gaining weight and interesting rates... see below. My concern is that the smallest girl doesn't seem to be gaining weight as quickly as the other two and further more, I have one little chunker that seems to be gaining LOTS of weight. Should I rotate them in and out to try to boost the smaller kits weights? I have pulled out the chunker for short periods of time. I made a little enclosure for her and she sits with me while I eat dinner She has a little pouch to crawl into to sleep, I put a little heat lamp over part of the enclosure so she can stay warm.. but that's only for an hour, 2 hours at most. I feel bad taking them away from their mommy. What do you think?

Pixie and Milo-- Kit Weights
--------Mosaic--Standard--White Spot
6/2/10 39 grams 39 grams 37 grams
6/3/10 41 grams 43 grams 39 grams
6/4/10 42 grams 47 grams 42 grams
6/5/10 43 grams 52 grams 45 grams
6/6/10 44 grams 55 grams 47 grams
6/7/10 45 grams 58 grams 49 grams
6/8/10 47 grams 61 grams 51 grams

 

[clarinuto]

Pictures of Chunker and Teenytiny

CHUNKER

TEENYTINY

Momma

 

[inzeos]

Other will probably chime in but it looks like your little guy is only gaining 1g per day. It probably would not hurt to supplement him with some hand feeding. I would monitor the temperature provided by a heat lamp. Don't want to over heat the little guy!

 

[clarinuto]

Thanks for the quick reply

I had considered handfeeding, but wasn't sure if I was being overly precautious. My husband tells me constantly that I worry too much and he thinks I'm a freak because I'm still checking on the kits nearly every hour!

Also, I just use a desk lamp as high as possible above the little enclosure in one corner so if she's cold she can go there to warm up... is this okay or would it be best to not use the lamp at all? Or I could use a heating pad under neath??

 

[clarinuto]

Kits

I've been doing sooo much reading/talking with breeders, but feel like I still need to know so much more so I'm happy to be able to post here... so please, any help possible is good.

 

[RDZCRanch]

Don't handfeed unless it's absolutely necessary or a kit is losing or not gaining weight. Being too proactive isn't beneficial for the babies. If you have the time to rotate, take the chunker out for two hour periods of time then back with mom for an hour or two, then out again. If the baby still isn't gaining enough then you'll have to start rotating all three babies and giving the smallest one some alone time with mom.

Also, if Chunker who is pictures is the "standard" he/she is actually a mosaic.

A heating pad under one side of a cat carrier or small cage would be better than a heat lamp. Chinchillas don't sunbathe or anything like that so a heating pad would be better and would better mimic a burrow.

 

[clarinuto]

Okay, no hand feeding... got it!!

Hahaha... I hadn't pictured in my head the heating lamp as sunbathing, I just didn't want the babies to be too cold without momma around to warm them up.

So chunk is a mosaic eh? How do you know? She has the white belly with grey fur over her back... thus I thought she was standard... but I just looked at my color guide, and it's the white tail... isn't it!??

Darn, I thought I was improving with having an eye for mutations! :-D

 

[tunes]

Her tail is white. The rest of her will catch up.

I agree with Tab. I would not supplement at this point, just give the little one more alone time with mom. You don't ever have to remove the little one, just pull the big one out for two hours, then back in for 2 hours, etc. Always leave the tiny one with mom.

 

[clarinuto]

Well always learning!

is there an experienced breeder here that would allow me to be their protege and would answer any questions I have?

 

[menagerie]

Well always learning!

is there an experienced breeder here that would allow me to be their protege and would answer any questions I have?

I would contact Tunes, RDZChins or both. :thumbsup:

 

[tunes]

Clarinuto - Any of the breeders on here, myself included, are very happy to help you with any questions. But it's also great to have you ask questions in open forum. That way, everybody learns along with you that might have the same questions.

 

[starleomach]

I agree about handfeeding. I do not step in unless I feel the kit will not survive without it. Mothers milk is so much better. If she is gaining I wouldn't worry to much but like said above some alone time with mom is in order

 

[clarinuto]

I've been rotating "chunk" in and out all day, which seems to be going well Pixie (mom) looks sad when I take the little chunk girl out, but then she goes back to nursing her other kits.

Tunes, thank you for being willing to help me. I really really appreciate it. I will continue posting on the forums to help others and perhaps also email you any questions I don't necessarily want publicly posted. Thanks