Table of Contents
How long do chinchillas carry their babies?
Once a female chinchilla becomes pregnant, she will carry her young for about 111 days before giving birth. Females have babies twice a year. Each time they give birth, they will have one to six babies. These groups of babies are called litters.
Do chinchillas kill their babies?
No, chinchillas do not eat their babies in the manner you may be thinking. It is possible that a kit is born incorrectly and stuck in the birth canal. However, mother chinchillas do not purposely kill and eat their babies. They are quite good and caring mothers with their litters.
How many babies does a chinchilla usually have?
Chinchillas have up to 4 kits per litter (2 is usual) and may have 1 to 3 litters per year. The kits are born with fur and open eyes and should be able to walk within an hour of birth. Weaning occurs at 6 to 8 weeks of age.
Do baby chinchillas like to be held?
Chinchillas are cute and furry little rodents that can make good pets for some people. They are crepuscular, meaning they are inactive during the day and quite active at night. Baby chinchillas need to be held and touched regularly in order to acclimate to humans.
Do mother chinchillas feed their babies?
If your baby chinchillas are housed with their mother, she will take care of their initial feedings for the first few weeks of their lives. Check the kits’ weight regularly to ensure that this milk is enough to keep them healthy. A large litter may also require more milk than their mother can provide alone.
Do female chinchillas have periods?
No, chinchillas do not have periods. Chinchillas do go into heat when they are more likely to mate and have the capabilities of reproducing. This is known as the oestrus cycle and lasts 28 days but a female chinchilla will only be in heat for 2 days.
How many babies does a Chinchilla have in a litter?
Chinchillas have up to 4 baby chinchillas also known as “kits” per litter. While a chinchilla may have 4 chinchillas or “kits” in a litter, 2 baby chinchillas is the most common. A chinchilla typically has 1-3 litters per year depending on the chinchilla breeder and the mother chinchillas health and reproduction capabilities.
How long do Baby chinchillas stay with their mother?
Baby chinchillas need to remain with their mother chinchilla for 6 weeks at a minimum, although most breeders will wait a minimum of 8 weeks. This is the time it takes for the baby chinchilla to transition to pellets and a regular chinchilla diet.
Who is a good parent for a chinchilla?
A mother is very protective of her kits and can be aggressive toward those that threaten her babies. She is an excellent parent who supplies the young chinchillas with milk, warmth, and protection. Some males can be good fathers, but others can be aggressive to the kits and even try to kill them.
What to do if mother Chinchilla is not producing enough milk?
Mother chinchillas usually produce enough milk to keep her babies fed but if the litter is too large or she has trouble with her supply, you will need to try hand feeding kits. Hand feeding involves feeding kits homemade formula designed to replicate a mother’s milk using a syringe.