Why aren't my chins fat?

[BizzyBear]

Two of my adullt chins are not as fat as I'd like them to be. They're not thin (like really thin) but they aren't as fat as my other chins (including their offspring). I feed them all the same pellets and hay and treats. What can I feed them to make them fatter?

[Candycane]

Some chins are naturally smaller, especially if they have a lot of costina influence. Both of my males are quite ratty and small like you are describing. Diego is about 515 grams and Santos is about 490. You could try supplementing with rolled oats to put some weight on.

[MistyMeanor]

Well really you don't want your chins to be fat. Fat doesn't = Big or = Healthy.
Also like Candice said, your chins may be more of costina influenced. Narrow shoulders, wide hips, narrow long face etc.
Brevi influence will be the big blocky ones with round face, broad shoulders, no neck etc.

[Applewood]

I also notice that when in breeding they tend to be 'slimmer', then as soon as they are taken out, they start fattening up. I never worry about it though as none of them get SKINNY, they just loose some of their 'rolls' when in breeding.
In general the lanigera or costina type chins (like was mentioned above) do tend to be narrower and generally look slimmer than the very blocky, brevi chins.
I have found that the oat supplement I feed my chins does help them fill out nicely over time. This consists of many things, 5 Grain Oats being the main ingredient.

[BizzyBear]

Well, I have been feeding oats, so thats good. Its just that their babies tend to be "fuller". Maybe not really fatter. They almost seem more muscular (when they are about 8 months to a year old). I didn't know if the fact that they are older has anything to do with it. I have other animals and I know that I have bought a few older horses (one being a draft horse and one a paso fino) and they were both thin (especially the draft, it broke my heart to look at him) and they never put on any substantial amount of weight no matter how much I fed them. My chins have been about this weight since I got them. I was just wondering if there was anything I could do or if age is a factor as well.

[MistyMeanor]

Sounds to me like you just have smaller chins. Like I said. You don't want to be adding weight to make a chin look "fuller" or "bigger" if thats not what they were intended to be.
How much do they weigh? Can you easily feel ribs? Do you have any pics?

[BizzyBear]

Can't get a good pic on short notice (keeps moving around and they are coming out blurry). This is the female (the male is hiding in the tubes and refuses to come out, even for a raisin).

[thegirlundertherainbow]

I wouldn't consider them not fat..unless you can feel the backbone..
Which I experienced for the first time with a few of the chins I bought a few months ago. I'd never seen a "skinny" chin before..and still you can't see if so much as you can feel it. The first thing to notice visibly was that their backs were a bit humped.
After 3 months they are almost back to normal.

[MistyMeanor]

Your chin looks fine to me. If you are really concerned with their weights, get a digital scale that reads in grams and has a tare function, and weigh them now and then to see if losing or gaining or staying the same.

[Jeff]

As long as you are feeding a good quality chinchilla pellet and either timothy or alfalfa hay, they should be fine. You should free feed both the hay and the pellet. Supplements should not be necessary at that point.

If you want chinchillas that look "fat", then you should look for a good brevi-type chinchilla... Or if you are talking about a female chinchilla, just get them her a male chinchila... LOL Then she has the ability to get so big you will swear she might explode!

-Jeff