Chinchillas are easy to care for.Baby chinchillas, or "Kits", that have been separated from their mother will require feedings every few hours to maintain their strength and grow.Make sure the kits have enough nutrition to survive.Baby chinchillas should be put in their own cages at 6 to 8 weeks of age.
Step 1: The baby chinchillas should be placed in a cage with a solid bottom and small spaces.
Chinchillas have small feet that can easily get caught on the sides or bottom of a cage.There will be less room for baby chinchillas to run, jump, and possibly get hurt if they are housed in a small cage.The size of the cage depends on the number of kits you have.For 3 to 4 kits, aim for a cage that is approximately 16 in by 18 in.The sides of the cage should have no more than a small gap between the bars.The baby chinchillas will be comfortable if the cage is placed in a warm room.After 6 to 8 weeks, you should transfer the kits to a larger cage.
Step 2: Warmed kitten milk can be fed for 6 to 8 weeks.
A replacement for mother's milk is required for orphaned kits.When rearing milk, warm it over the stove or in the microwave and pour it into an eyedropper.Slowly feed the milk to each kit as they sit upright in the palm of your hand.There are a number of places to buy kitten milk, including pet stores, veterinary clinics, and online.When feeding baby chinchillas, be sure to hold them upright.Feed kits are given every 2 hours for the first 2 weeks of their lives.
Step 3: After feeding, wipe the kit's rear ends.
A mother chinchilla will lick her young after feeding them.Simulate this process using a cotton ball.Immediately after feedings, wipe the anal area of each kit.The process shouldn't be needed after the first 2 weeks.
Step 4: Your kits should be weighed every 2 to 3 days.
Your baby chinchilla's weight gain during their first few weeks is a good sign of their health.The kits should be weighed every few days to make sure they are in tip top shape.If your kits don't gain any weight, increase the frequencies of the feedings.When your kits get bigger, increase their feedings to every hour.The kit's weight should have doubled after 3 weeks.
Step 5: Hay and pellet food can be provided as early as 2 to 3 weeks.
If pellet food and hay are available to your baby chinchillas, they will pick at them and start eating them gradually.Once they are 2 to 3 weeks old, offer these solid foods in addition to their milk diet.The gradual transition from milk to food will make the process easier.If the kits go for it, add a small amount of food to the cage each day.It's a good idea to replace the food every day to keep it fresh.When you should stop feeding your kits milk is when they are 6 to 8 weeks old.
Step 6: They should have a house kit with their mother for the first 8 weeks.
It is important for baby chinchillas to have access to their mother's milk.A large cage is large enough to hold both baby chinchillas and their mother.The floor space in a one-level cage is approximately 39 in by 1.5 metres large.Chinchillas may be injured if they are placed in a multi-level cage.The chinchillas will sleep in a wooden box during the day.The baby chinchillas are likely to keep warm.
Step 7: To find out if their mother's milk is enough, weigh the kits every 2 to 3 days.
If your baby chinchillas are housed with their mother, she will take care of their initial feedings.To keep the kits healthy, check the kit's weight regularly.It's possible for a mother chinchilla to reject a baby and not feed it, or for it to get injured or bullied by its siblings, because they don't get the same amount of food.A large litter may need more milk than their mother can provide.If your kits are not getting heavier, you should supplement the milk they get from their mother with kitten milk.
Step 8: After their mother is no longer around, place kits in a new cage.
A general rule is that baby chinchillas should be separated from their mother at 8 to 12 weeks old.The kits should be interested in solid food and water instead of nursing.Before moving the kits to a new cage, make sure they are healthy and active.The same-sex chinchillas should be placed in new cages on their own.