Pairing Information...Sourcing your chinchilla.
If you are looking to get a chinchilla, or two, there are a few things you need to do. Firstly do as much reading up on chinchillas as you can to get a good understanding of their needs, dietry, housing, etc. It is important to get as much information as possible, as taking on the resposibility of a chin is a long term one, as they can live upto 15 years.
You are also faced with the decision on do I keep one or two. Chinchillas are animal that can be kept on their own, however more time will need to be spent interacting with the chin. Keeping two chins has its benefits as the chins have each other for companionship and as a result rely less on the interaction with you. Keeping two chins together raises the question regarding same sex pairing or mixed sex pairing.
SAME SEX PAIRNGS
If your intention is not to breed then the solution is a same sex pairing, be it two males or two females. Either option is viable, my only advice in keeping two boys together is that this should not be done if there are NO female chins in the same shed/house. This is because when a female comes into season the males will smell/sense this, and may turn on each other so a dominant male can be established. This fighting can result in death.
As said, same sex pairing works for both males and females. Introducing them is done in the same way as introducing a mixed pair. One chin is placed in the cage they are both to be kept in and the second is placed in a cage alongside. This is done for 7-10 days to give the 2 chins the chance to get familiar with each other. Then introduce the 2nd chin into the cage where both are to be kept. There will be excitement as the chins sniff each other and familiarise themselves with the cage. If fighting does break out, then remove one chin and place in the cage alongside for a further 7 days, then reintroduce.
It is not unusual for chins to need a second period of time in cages alongside each other, however it is quite rare for two chins to reject each other outright.
MIXED SEX PAIRINGS
If you are looking to get a mixed pair, then the inevitable will happen in time. Introducing the chins is done by having the female in the cage the pair will be kept in and have the male in a 2nd cage alongside. Introduce as above. Females come into season for 3-4 days every month. Most matings take place in the evening and if a mating takes place the female will pass a stopper at some point thru the night. The stopper is a waxy plug approx 1" long which is created by the female to hold in the sperm after a mating. This stopper maybe eaten by the female, this is perfectly normal and safe for her to do.
The gestation period is 111 days and birth can be upto 5 days either side of due date. Males should be removed from the female a week before she is due. He can be returned to the female and kits a week after she has given birth. Females come into heat the day they have given birth, allowing the female to fall pregnant immediately is called breedback. This can be stressful on the female, continual breedback will damage the health of the female, leading to ill health and even death.
Sand baths should be removed from the female from a few days before birth and not returned for 7 days after giving birth.
The kits will start to copy mum from as early as a week old and will appear to be eating pellets and hay however they are still dependant on the mum. She will start to wean them from 4-5 weeks when they will rely more on the pellets and hay they eat. It may take longer to wean some litters than others but kits shouldn't be removed from the mother until they are they are at least 10 weeks old.
Before starting to breed please make sure you are prepared and have read as much material as possible. Breeding also increases the possibilty of vet care, make sure you have a vet knowledgable of chinchillas that you can rely on.
Any questions on pairing or breeding chins? email james@porthenrychins.co.uk