need some help with first time mom

[Pippinchins]

ok Esmeralda is preggers, but im so not sure how far along she is. what are some of the typical signs that theyre getting close to the big day? also, ive done some researching, but what are some things that i should do while shes in labor..........like what should i do with clopin and is there anything she would need? she weighs 1 pound, 6 1/2 ounces..........so shes pretty big........ anyway, if any of you "yoda" breeders out there can give me some help id appreciate it!
the young jedi,
Kei-obi-nobi



sorry im crazy.

[ChinsAreMe]

I usually watch for when the babies stop moving and then I know they are traveling down the birth canal, I have had most of my moms deliver between 7am and noon and then only one of mine delivered at 6pm, you can usually tell because mom will stay more in the bottom of the cage and she will rearange the shavings and kindof build a nest to lay in.

Some say their moms stopped eating but so far none of mine have, and they drink alot more water too, I always remove dad a few days before I am sure mom will deliver to prevent a breed back, those horney males will mate with the female right after she delivers!

Ofcourse mom needs to be in a maternity cage ( Baby safe) no shelves!!! Babies can climb from day one and drop from the shelves and can get injured or worse.

When the day gets closer if you need me feel free to pm me or post here and I will see it and I will walk you through the delivery :wave:

Good Luck and keep us posted!!! Jenny & Chins

[Pippinchins]

what do you mean when the babies stop moving? can you see them moving in her tummy? how big should my maternity cage be?

[ChinsAreMe]

Well when she is laying on her side you sometimes can see the kits moving around and I hold my females very gently with their backs up against my tummy and I hold my hand on their belly and feel very lightly for the kits moving and you can also tell when the kits drop from feeling the moms belly too because the lump ( Kits) LOL will be farther down her belly. Does that make sense to you? Its hard to decribe without actually showing you.

My Maternity cages are made by Ann Ingram, The picture of her Maternity cages are on her page, I do not get the feeder or the water bottle with mine though, I like to use my own bowls and water bottles.

Here is her page for you to see http://www.rjsonline.net/chinchillas/carol...nnection012.htm (http://www.rjsonline.net/chinchillas/carolina_chinchilla_connection012.htm)

The Maternity cage is just big enough for mom and kits.

Jenny & Chins

[Pippinchins]

makes sense to me! ive already felt for lumps...there are two distinctive ones that i can feel, but i havnt really seen any movement yet. oh well. i just hope they come befor january 7th. maybe maybe not oh well. anyway, hmmmmmmmmmm......... i think i might just get a cage from petsmart, they have some pretty nice mouse cages i think would do. due to very tight budgets i can only buy nessesities for now. sigh....... anyway, thanks for the help! any more advice? lol thanks
Kei

[MistyMeanor]

Kei keep in mind there has to be plenty room in the cage for mama and babies.

[ChinsAreMe]

Yep Misty is right because if there is not enough room mom can easily trample the babies, My females after a few days in the maternity cage get hyper and jump all over the cage so I would not put her in too small of a cage.

I will get the measurements of my maternity cage to give you an idea tomorrow.

Jenny & Chins

[Pippinchins]

i think its big enough
it would be about the same size as the bottom half of my martinscage, only cut in half with no shelves. its a pretty good size. it was made for a small bunny, but its got the grids like what they use for the chinchilla cages. its longer then the pic that you had posted, and about as tall. ill try and get a pic of it if i can.

[Pippinchins]

heres a pic of what it kinda looks like. i cant take pics with my camera. tell me if it works

[MistyMeanor]

Oh I have that cage Kei, it makes a decent maternity cage.

[Chrisanne]

that looks like a decent size maternity cage to me too.

[ChinsAreMe]

Looks fine to me also, The bar spacing is perfect and looks like a winner :bigsmile:

Jenny & Chins