Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.

16

General Breeder Chat / When your female chins get pregnant....

« on: January 03, 2007, 09:50:01 PM »

I'm sorry to be asking so many questions today, but this one has been on my mind all day!  For those of you who breed chinchillas, I know its kinda rare to find a mating plug in the cage, a few people said they have actually seen it but many never have.  So my question is this, if you don't find the mating plug, do you just one day feel the kits in her belly or just walk in to a morning surprise?  I thought it was important to count down her gestational days to make sure that she doesn't go overdue, and make sure you stop the dust baths etc etc.  And if she went into labor at say 10pm and you didn't even know she was due, and didn't get to her until 7am, she could have some serious complications in that time.  So.....what do you guys do when you don't know if they've even mated or not?

Jacqui

17

Q & A / Your views on Salt Wheels?

« on: January 03, 2007, 09:29:00 PM »

I know that high levels of salt from what I understand have been contributed to fits in chinchillas.  But then I also know that salt in small animals helps regulate the PH level in their blood and helps keep their teeth ground down.  I know that small animals generally like ( and its safe for them to have ) salt wheels (meaning hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs, etc.)  But on the other hand - chinchillas are a whole different ballgame.  The chins have toys that are made out of safe wood, and a mineral stone, and plenty to chew on, but what are your views on the salt wheels for chinchillas?

Thanks!
Jacqui

18

Health / Does anyone have pet insurance on their chins?

« on: January 03, 2007, 09:08:03 PM »

I was looking around at chin websites (my new favorite pastime) and I saw a website that gave a link to one of the pet insurances that offers chinchilla insurance.  I got a quote for my two, and I think it turned out to be about 23.00 a month.  From what I read, it covers accidents, illnesses, even self mutilation, so if they would chew themselves or whatnot.  I mean if they would have a problem with a broken bone, or malocclusion (which these two should not have but I guess in any case) 23.00 a month really would be a drop in the bucket compared to what the vet bills would be.  Obviously, being a chin owner, we all have already made the commitment that we would cover any vet bills that are going to come up anyway.

So my quesiton is, does anyone have this for their chins, or any other animal for that matter?  And what are your views on the need/no need of this coverage?

Thanks!
Jacqui

19

General Chat / Are Chinchillas "Out of sight out of mind?"

« on: December 29, 2006, 02:51:30 PM »

Sorry if I couldn't think of a better title, lol, but my question is if they dislike another chin, and that chin goes to a different part of the cage, will the first chin just lay down and forget that he/she just hated the other chin, or will they typically follow each other around and harass each other?  My two havent shown ANY signs of agression so far, but I wondered if they dont realize they are in the cage together half the time lol.  Here's a pic I just caught of the two of them sitting and dozing off next to each other, is this cuddling?  Would they do this if they didn't like each other?  (The male found his way to the top finally!)  I'm still going to separate them while I go away (Just in case) but is this what I'm looking for?

Please excuse the bars lol had I opened the cage to get the pic they would have jumped around and I didn't want that!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/jmrothermel/100_2343.jpg

Thanks soooo much!
Jacqui

20

General Chat / How long to watch newly acquainted chinchillas?

« on: December 29, 2006, 10:12:32 AM »

I have two chinchillas one which is a younger male and also one that is about a year old female.  They are both newly acquired to our family.  I put them in the same cage together, and there has not been one sign of aggression, in fact they like to groom each other and are sweet when they are around each other.  They don’t sleep together yet, the female jumps to the top shelf (her favorite spot in the cage) and the male is too little and hasn’t figured it out yet so he stays towards the bottom.  So my question is this:  They have been together for 24 hours and over night and everything is great.  I am going to keep them together the rest of today and also over night tonight.  But in the AM we leave for a 2-day vacation.  Have they been watched enough to be trusted alone?

Thanks for any help and insight.