At what age do you seperate the kits from their mama?

[LindyLu]

I was at Petsmart tonight and saw a BEAUTIFUL beige!!! I've only ever seen grays there, so I was in awe! So so sooooo tempted to buy her!!!! Anyway, I asked how old she was, and the employee told me "She's just a baby, about 6 weeks old" .... she appeared to be the same size as my Daisy, whom I was told was 6-8 months old when I purchased her. So I asked "Are you sure? She looks pretty big!" And the lady said "yes, we get them when they are very young, she's only 6-8 weeks old. A baby!" ......a big baby? Or is this girl wrong about the age and she's probably 6-8 MONTHS?
I guess I have it in my mind that 6 week old kits are still pretty little and living with their mamas...?

At what age do you usually separate the kits to sell? About how much do they weigh at that time? This chin had to be at least 400 grams. Like I said, she appeared to be the same size as my Daisy....whom I was told was 6-8 months old last month. I should have snapped a photo! I didn't even think about it while I was there, but now I wish I had.

[jmdebb]

not a true breeder here but i was always taught they stay with mom until at least 8 weeks.. boys have to come out because they can impregnant mom at that age. girls can stay in.

then in here i think it was, someone said even tho weaned they should still stay to make sure they are eating and healthy for a few more weeks.

so six weeks is too early to be away for mom.. i hate when people do that.

jean

[LindyLu]

Well she looked almost full sized! I couldn't believe the employee was telling me she was 6 weeks old. I wonder if the chin was actually 6 MONTHS old...
But then again, I have never bred chins... I've never even SEEN a kit IRL. So I don't know what a 6 week old would look like! All I know is that she was a beautiful beige and I loved her instantly! *oh heart break*

[jmdebb]

they can get big quick.... i bred a few times, but mine aren't the best stock so to speak.. now i have a friend who is a true breeder, and she had a kit younger than mine, and hers was just as big if not bigger.. so age really doesn't matter with size.

[chinclub]

A six week old chinchilla can not be confused with an adult.  Huge size difference.  It sounds like the lady was mistaken.  We have always taken our healthy kits away from Mom at 7 weeks and then kept them here one more week to be sure they are eating and drinking OK.  I do know some breeders prefer 8 weeks but mom has usually weaned them by then.  Its more of a way to give baby one extra week to "learn" from mom.  I do know other breeders who do successfully wean at 5-6 weeks every time with no problems what so ever.

[LindyLu]

Hmm.... maybe she was closer to 6 months old then. Because she certainly looked bigger than any picture of kits I've seen.
Thanks for the info.
I am still so tempted to go get her. (Or at least go see if they still have her!) My husband is shaking his head at me though. She's just SOOOO cute!!! She's the first beige I've seen IRL. <3 <3

[Debbie.nl.ca]

They are all soooooo cute   
That's how we get addicted 

Nothing wrong with buying from a pet store, all chinnies deserve a loving home.
If it feels right just do it.

[olivia41]

sounds like a mistake to me too. i know that petstores basically get chins as soon as they can but if she was that big the lady definitely could have been mistaken. sounds like theres people who aren't knowledgeable enough to be caring for her, maybe you should take her off their hands  maybe if you go back you can ask to see her and check her genitals, depending on how grown they seem you can probably determine her age. but it sounds like you'll be thinking about her for days on end now, i say get her!  how much is she?

[LindyLu]

She's $150. . . .I don't know if they still have her...

[LindyLu]

She's $150. . . .I don't know if they still have her...

...called Petsmart after posting this. She's been sold.

[olivia41]

oh man well i guess it wasn't meant to be its okay, lets just hope she went to a good home! 

[LindyLu]

yeah, I hope she went to a GOOD home. I feel like so many people out there buying chins are SO under-educated.
But I really don't need to be buying any more chins at this point any way...so it's probably for the better.

[cusunfireguy]

Bummer!  Beige are so pretty.  In answer to your question: chins do grow fast but a 6 week old would not be confused with a 6 month old for sure.  I separate my males at 8 weeks and females at 10 weeks.

Steven

[LindyLu]

Thanks Steven! I do believe now that the chin must have been 6 months old, and not 6 weeks. She was a big girl... looking just about full grown. I also agree that beige are so pretty! I'd love to have one someday, but I guess NOW wasn't the time.