Looking After Orphan Kits, Or Kits who Have Sick Mums

 This is one of the hardest task any breeder has to do. If  mother has died, or has deserted/abandoned her kit, or is too sick to tend her kit. Please read on...........

First and foremost strict cleanliness and hygeine. Always wash hand with antibacterial soap or hibiscrub(may be bought from a vet practice)which should really be at hand and stored in your chinchilla first-aid box

To Feed a baby you need to read up on it here

feeding or supplimenting

Always maintain strict sterilising of all materials used in hand rearing. A chinchilla kit can fall ill all too easily from infection passed on by unclean utensils.

As said on the page in link above, feed every two hours at first (throughout night too) As kit takes more, the feed will last longer and the time between feeds may be slowly increased. After a few days you will find the baby will tell you when it needs fed. It will come to the front of the small cage or carrier you have it in and look for you. A reminder here too. after each feel always remember to wipe its face and then massage its bottom with a cotton wool ball dipped in warm (not hot) water to stimulate the kit to pass urine and droppings just as mum does for it. 

Teaching kit to bathe

A few days after birth try to teach the kit how to bathe in a sand-bath. This part is fun, you will enjoy it.

Put some sand in a butter/margarine tub. not a lot, just a small layer to cover the base, Into this tub put the kit. Carefully sprinkle some sand on its back. Avoid eye and head area. ruffle the sand into its fur on it's back, just as you would shampoo your own hair.

As you do so and with your other hand play with the sand, letting it run through your fingers etc as though bathing your hands. Make sure the kit sees you do this. as the days go on, encourage the kit to roll over by gently coaxing him/her by placing him in the sand on his side as you place him in the tub, this way he has to twist to stand up and shake. Within a few days your kit will be rolling quite happily.

       kingdomchinchillas@hotmail.com