How to Care for Baby Chinchillas

Chinchillas are fun, energetic pets that are fairly 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. Monitor the kits' weight and development to make sure they are getting enough nutrition to survive. At 6 to 8 weeks, baby chinchillas should be weaned from milk and placed in their own cages.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Caring for Orphaned Baby Chinchillas

1
Place baby chinchillas in a cage with a solid bottom and small spaces. Baby chinchillas have tiny feet that can easily get caught on the bottom or sides of a cage with large gaps. House baby chinchillas in a small cage where there will be less room for them to run, jump, and possibly get hurt. The overall size of the cage will depend on the number of kits you have.
- For 3 to 4 kits, aim for a cage that is approximately 0.4 metres (16 in) by 0.45 metres (18 in) large.
- The spaces between the bars on the sides of the cage should be no more than 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) apart.
- Place the cage in a warm, draft-free room to keep the baby chinchillas comfortable.
- You should plan to transfer the kits to a larger cage after 6 to 8 weeks.
2
Feed the kits warmed kitten milk for 6 to 8 weeks. Orphaned kits will require a nutritional replacement for their mother's milk. Warm this rearing milk over the stove or in the microwave and pour it into an eyedropper or syringe. Have each kit sit upright in the palm of your hand and slowly feed them the milk.^{[1]XResearch source}
- Kitten milk can be purchased at pet stores, veterinary clinics, or online.
- Be sure to hold baby chinchillas upright when feeding them to prevent choking.
- Feed kits every 2 hours for the first 2 weeks of their lives, then every 3 or 4 hours for the remaining 4 to 6 weeks.
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3
Wipe the kits' rear ends after feeding to stimulate defecation. A mother chinchilla will lick their young after feeding them to stimulate defecation. Simulate this process using a cotton ball dampened with warm water. Wipe each kit's anal area immediately after feedings.^{[2]XResearch source}
- After the first 2 weeks, this process should no longer be necessary.
4
Weigh your kits every 2 to 3 days to ensure their growth. A sure signs of your baby chinchilla's health is how much weight they gain during their first few weeks. Weigh the kits every few days to make sure they are putting on weight as they grow. Increase the frequency of the feedings if your kits lose weight or do not gain any weight.^{[3]XResearch source}
- If your kits lose weight, increase their feedings to every hour until they get bigger.
- Note that 3 weeks after birth, a kit's weight should have doubled.
5
Start providing hay and pellet food 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. Start offering these solid foods in addition to their milk diet once they are 2 to 3 weeks old. The transition from milk to food will happen gradually and make the weaning process easier.^{[4]XResearch source}
- Add a small handful of solid food to the cage each day to see if the kits go for it.
- Replace the food every 1 to 2 days to keep it fresh and prevent the growth of bacteria.
- Stop feeding your kits milk once they are 6 to 8 weeks old, when you should provide them with solid food and water only.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Caring for a Mother Chinchilla and her Babies

1
House kits with their mother for at least the first 8 weeks. Access to their mother's milk is an important part of baby chinchillas' healthy growth. Keep baby chinchillas in a secure cage that is large enough to accommodate both them and their mother. Choose a one-level cage with floor space that is approximately 1 metre (39 in) by 1.5 metres (59 in) large.^{[5]XResearch source}
- Placing baby chinchillas in a multi-level cage may result in injury to their fragile, young bodies.
- Place a large wooden box in the cage for the chinchillas to sleep in during the day. Baby chinchillas will likely curl up together to keep warm.
2
Weigh the kits every 2 to 3 days to see if their mother's milk is sufficient. 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. It is possible for a mother chinchilla to reject a baby and not feed them, or for a baby to get injured or bullied by its siblings and not receive the same amount of food.^{[6]XResearch source}
- A large litter may also require more milk than their mother can provide alone.
- If any of your kits are not getting heavier, supplement the milk they get from their mother with kitten milk as needed.
3
Place kits in a new cage away from their mother after they are weaned. As a general rule, baby chinchillas should be fully weaned and separated from their mother at 8 to 12 weeks old. Nursing should die down naturally, with the kits taking interest in solid food and water instead. Make sure that the kits are healthy and energetic before moving them to a new cage.^{[7]XResearch source}
- The chinchillas should be placed in new cages on their own, or with chinchillas of the same-sex.
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Chinchillas are born fully-furred, with opened eyes and ears. They can being walking within an hour of being born.^{[8]XResearch source}
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On average, mothers give birth to 2 to 4 kits per litter.
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Be careful when opening the cage door as baby chinchillas can move very fast and may escape.
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