As the chinchilla kits begin to show an interest in food, you can assist in the weaning process, and start “food-training” them by feeding them chinchilla pellets that have been softened with water. Even though they are born with a full set of teeth, the softened food will be gentler on their little mouths, and will make for an easier, smoother transition from mother’s milk to solid foods.
Soon, usually less than a week, you will see them taking pellets or other food items from their parents bowel to nibbled on; this is a good sign that their innate need and desire to chew is developing nicely. Around the same time they should also start picking up and nibbling on the “chew stones”, sticks and other chewing items that are in the cage.
The kits will need constant access to fresh food daily as their bodies demand for nutrition and calories is very high while growing and developing. The onset of eating solid foods and chewing will also trigger the continuous growth characteristic of the chinchillas’ teeth. Be sure to add extra chews to accommodate their needs.
Aside from the extra nutrition and calories needed by a growing kit, the types and kinds of foods provided need not be any different than that of the adults. Just be sure that an adult is not “bullying” the kits away from the food or eating it all up before the little ones get a chance to meet their needs. A side concern is an adult eating too much and growing obese.
If any or all of the afore mentioned concerns become an issue, you may need to temporarily move the “offending” chinchilla to another cage. Surprisingly enough though, a kit can more often than not “hold his own” and they will all live in harmony with each getting their individual needs fulfilled. You main job will be to provide enough fresh food to accommodate the additional new tummies while being sure to not add too much.
A baby chinchilla can become pregnant as soon as five to six months of age so be sure to be prepared for this by having the needed number of cages in order to separate the males from the females, this includes the kits from the adults as well. A pregnancy that occurs too early will result in a baby chinchilla having kits too young which can cause serious complications while giving birth as well as in any future attempts at breeding.
Your baby Chinchillas’ should be checked by your Veterinarian not too long after birth; taking the whole litter and parents in at the same time is best. After, an annual visit should suffice. If something appears amiss at birth or the mother shows signs of straining with no resulting births, take all concerned in to be seen immediately!
As you continue to “hand-train” them, the baby chinchillas’ will eventually begin to show affection toward you; the more you handle them, the closer the two of you will grow. This is an avenue for them to let you know that they love you as much as you love them.