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Today I visited a Chinchilla Rescue. I had the privilege of spending most of the day playing with the cutest bunch of chinchillas! A few of the rescues were soon-to-be mama’s. I’ve never handled pregnant chinchillas, so I had plenty of questions for the caregiver! In this post, I will share with you what learned about the chinchilla’s gestation period as well as other related questions.
The Chinchilla gestation period is usually 109 to 120 days. To help you prepare for the delivery date, I have provided a handy gestation chart below. Keep in mind the average gestation period is 111 days but this can vary. It’s best to prepare early!
Chinchilla Gestation Chart
JANUARY
Mating |
Birth |
January 1 |
April 22 |
January 2 |
April 23 |
January 3 |
April 24 |
January 4 |
April 25 |
January 5 |
April 26 |
January 6 |
April 27 |
January 7 |
April 28 |
January 8 |
April 29 |
January 9 |
April 30 |
January 10 |
May 1 |
January 11 |
May 2 |
January 12 |
May 3 |
January 13 |
May 4 |
January 14 |
May 5 |
January 15 |
May 6 |
January 16 |
May 7 |
January 17 |
May 8 |
January 18 |
May 9 |
January 19 |
May 10 |
January 20 |
May 11 |
January 21 |
May 12 |
January 22 |
May 13 |
January 23 |
May 14 |
January 24 |
May 15 |
January 25 |
May 16 |
January 26 |
May 17 |
January 27 |
May 18 |
January 28 |
May 19 |
January 29 |
May 20 |
January 30 |
May 21 |
January 31 |
May 22 |
|
FEBRUARY
Mating |
Birth |
February 1 |
May 23 |
February 2 |
May 24 |
February 3 |
May 25 |
February 4 |
May 26 |
February 5 |
May 27 |
February 6 |
May 28 |
February 7 |
May 29 |
February 8 |
May 30 |
February 9 |
May 31 |
February 10 |
June 1 |
February 11 |
June 2 |
February 12 |
June 3 |
February 13 |
June 4 |
February 14 |
June 5 |
February 15 |
June 6 |
February 16 |
June 7 |
February 17 |
June 8 |
February 18 |
June 9 |
February 19 |
June 10 |
February 20 |
June 11 |
February 21 |
June 12 |
February 22 |
June 13 |
February 23 |
June 14 |
February 24 |
June 15 |
February 25 |
June 16 |
February 26 |
June 17 |
February 27 |
June 18 |
February 28 |
June 19 |
|
MARCH
Mating |
Birth |
March 1 |
June 20 |
March 2 |
June 21 |
March 3 |
June 22 |
March 4 |
June 23 |
March 5 |
June 24 |
March 6 |
June 25 |
March 7 |
June 26 |
March 8 |
June 27 |
March 9 |
June 28 |
March 10 |
June 29 |
March 11 |
June 30 |
March 12 |
July 1 |
March 13 |
July 2 |
March 14 |
July 3 |
March 15 |
July 4 |
March 16 |
July 5 |
March 17 |
July 6 |
March 18 |
July 7 |
March 19 |
July 8 |
March 20 |
July 9 |
March 21 |
July 10 |
March 22 |
July 11 |
March 23 |
July 12 |
March 24 |
July 13 |
March 25 |
July 14 |
March 26 |
July 15 |
March 27 |
July 16 |
March 28 |
July 17 |
March 29 |
July 18 |
March 30 |
July 19 |
March 31 |
July 20 |
|
APRIL
Mating |
Birth |
April 1 |
July 21 |
April 2 |
July 22 |
April 3 |
July 23 |
April 4 |
July 24 |
April 5 |
July 25 |
April 6 |
July 26 |
April 7 |
July 27 |
April 8 |
July 28 |
April 9 |
July 29 |
April 10 |
July 30 |
April 11 |
July 31 |
April 12 |
August 1 |
April 13 |
August 2 |
April 14 |
August 3 |
April 15 |
August 4 |
April 16 |
August 5 |
April 17 |
August 6 |
April 18 |
August 7 |
April 19 |
August 8 |
April 20 |
August 9 |
April 21 |
August 10 |
April 22 |
August 11 |
April 23 |
August 12 |
April 24 |
August 13 |
April 25 |
August 14 |
April 26 |
August 15 |
April 27 |
August 16 |
April 28 |
August 17 |
April 29 |
August 18 |
April 30 |
August 19 |
|
|
MAY
Mating |
Birth |
May 1 |
August 20 |
May 2 |
August 21 |
May 3 |
August 22 |
May 4 |
August 23 |
May 5 |
August 24 |
May 6 |
August 25 |
May 7 |
August 26 |
May 8 |
August 27 |
May 9 |
August 28 |
May 10 |
August 29 |
May 11 |
August 30 |
May 12 |
August 31 |
May 13 |
September 1 |
May 14 |
September 2 |
May 15 |
September 3 |
May 16 |
September 4 |
May 17 |
September 5 |
May 18 |
September 6 |
May 19 |
September 7 |
May 20 |
September 8 |
May 21 |
September 9 |
May 22 |
September 10 |
May 23 |
September 11 |
May 24 |
September 12 |
May 25 |
September 13 |
May 26 |
September 14 |
May 27 |
September 15 |
May 28 |
September 16 |
May 29 |
September 17 |
May 30 |
September 18 |
May 31 |
September 19 |
|
JUNE
Mating |
Birth |
June 1 |
September 20 |
June 2 |
September 21 |
June 3 |
September 22 |
June 4 |
September 23 |
June 5 |
September 24 |
June 6 |
September 25 |
June 7 |
September 26 |
June 8 |
September 27 |
June 9 |
September 28 |
June 10 |
September 29 |
June 11 |
September 30 |
June 12 |
October 1 |
June 13 |
October 2 |
June 14 |
October 3 |
June 15 |
October 4 |
June 16 |
October 5 |
June 17 |
October 6 |
June 18 |
October 7 |
June 19 |
October 8 |
June 20 |
October 9 |
June 21 |
October 10 |
June 22 |
October 11 |
June 23 |
October 12 |
June 24 |
October 13 |
June 25 |
October 14 |
June 26 |
October 15 |
June 27 |
October 16 |
June 28 |
October 17 |
June 29 |
October 18 |
June 30 |
October 19 |
|
|
JULY
Mating |
Birth |
July 1 |
October 20 |
July 2 |
October 21 |
July 3 |
October 22 |
July 4 |
October 23 |
July 5 |
October 24 |
July 6 |
October 25 |
July 7 |
October 26 |
July 8 |
October 27 |
July 9 |
October 28 |
July 10 |
October 29 |
July 11 |
October 30 |
July 12 |
October 31 |
July 13 |
November 1 |
July 14 |
November 2 |
July 15 |
November 3 |
July 16 |
November 4 |
July 17 |
November 5 |
July 18 |
November 6 |
July 19 |
November 7 |
July 20 |
November 8 |
July 21 |
November 9 |
July 22 |
November 10 |
July 23 |
November 11 |
July 24 |
November 12 |
July 25 |
November 13 |
July 26 |
November 14 |
July 27 |
November 15 |
July 28 |
November 16 |
July 29 |
November 17 |
July 30 |
November 18 |
July 31 |
November 19 |
|
AUGUST
Mating |
Birth |
August 1 |
November 20 |
August 2 |
November 21 |
August 3 |
November 22 |
August 4 |
November 23 |
August 5 |
November 24 |
August 6 |
November 25 |
August 7 |
November 26 |
August 8 |
November 27 |
August 9 |
November 28 |
August 10 |
November 29 |
August 11 |
November 30 |
August 12 |
December 1 |
August 13 |
December 2 |
August 14 |
December 3 |
August 15 |
December 4 |
August 16 |
December 5 |
August 17 |
December 6 |
August 18 |
December 7 |
August 19 |
December 8 |
August 20 |
December 9 |
August 21 |
December 10 |
August 22 |
December 11 |
August 23 |
December 12 |
August 24 |
December 13 |
August 25 |
December 14 |
August 26 |
December 15 |
August 27 |
December 16 |
August 28 |
December 17 |
August 29 |
December 18 |
August 30 |
December 19 |
August 31 |
December 20 |
|
SEPTEMBER
Mating |
Birth |
September 1 |
December 21 |
September 2 |
December 22 |
September 3 |
December 23 |
September 4 |
December 24 |
September 5 |
December 25 |
September 6 |
December 26 |
September 7 |
December 27 |
September 8 |
December 28 |
September 9 |
December 29 |
September 10 |
December 30 |
September 11 |
December 31 |
September 12 |
January 1 |
September 13 |
January 2 |
September 14 |
January 3 |
September 15 |
January 4 |
September 16 |
January 5 |
September 17 |
January 6 |
September 18 |
January 7 |
September 19 |
January 8 |
September 20 |
January 9 |
September 21 |
January 10 |
September 22 |
January 11 |
September 23 |
January 12 |
September 24 |
January 13 |
September 25 |
January 14 |
September 26 |
January 15 |
September 27 |
January 16 |
September 28 |
January 17 |
September 29 |
January 18 |
September 30 |
January 19 |
|
|
OCTOBER
Mating |
Birth |
October 1 |
January 20 |
October 2 |
January 21 |
October 3 |
January 22 |
October 4 |
January 23 |
October 5 |
January 24 |
October 6 |
January 25 |
October 7 |
January 26 |
October 8 |
January 27 |
October 9 |
January 28 |
October 10 |
January 29 |
October 11 |
January 30 |
October 12 |
January 31 |
October 13 |
February 1 |
October 14 |
February 2 |
October 15 |
February 3 |
October 16 |
February 4 |
October 17 |
February 5 |
October 18 |
February 6 |
October 19 |
February 7 |
October 20 |
February 8 |
October 21 |
February 9 |
October 22 |
February 10 |
October 23 |
February 11 |
October 24 |
February 12 |
October 25 |
February 13 |
October 26 |
February 14 |
October 27 |
February 15 |
October 28 |
February 16 |
October 29 |
February 17 |
October 30 |
February 18 |
October 31 |
February 19 |
|
NOVEMBER
Mating |
Birth |
November 1 |
February 20 |
November 2 |
February 21 |
November 3 |
February 22 |
November 4 |
February 23 |
November 5 |
February 24 |
November 6 |
February 25 |
November 7 |
February 26 |
November 8 |
February 27 |
November 9 |
February 28 |
November 10 |
March 1 |
November 11 |
March 2 |
November 12 |
March 3 |
November 13 |
March 4 |
November 14 |
March 5 |
November 15 |
March 6 |
November 16 |
March 7 |
November 17 |
March 8 |
November 18 |
March 9 |
November 19 |
March 10 |
November 20 |
March 11 |
November 21 |
March 12 |
November 22 |
March 13 |
November 23 |
March 14 |
November 24 |
March 15 |
November 25 |
March 16 |
November 26 |
March 17 |
November 27 |
March 18 |
November 28 |
March 19 |
November 29 |
March 20 |
November 30 |
March 21 |
|
DECEMBER
Mating |
Birth |
December 1 |
March 22 |
December 2 |
March 23 |
December 3 |
March 24 |
December 4 |
March 25 |
December 5 |
March 26 |
December 6 |
March 27 |
December 7 |
March 28 |
December 8 |
March 29 |
December 9 |
March 30 |
December 10 |
March 31 |
December 11 |
April 1 |
December 12 |
April 2 |
December 13 |
April 3 |
December 14 |
April 4 |
December 15 |
April 5 |
December 16 |
April 6 |
December 17 |
April 7 |
December 18 |
April 8 |
December 19 |
April 9 |
December 20 |
April 10 |
December 21 |
April 11 |
December 22 |
April 12 |
December 23 |
April 13 |
December 24 |
April 14 |
December 25 |
April 15 |
December 26 |
April 16 |
December 27 |
April 17 |
December 28 |
April 18 |
December 29 |
April 19 |
December 30 |
April 20 |
December 31 |
April 21 |
|
Is My Chinchilla Pregnant?
If you want to find out if she’s pregnant or not for sure, you need to take her to a vet. There is no instant way to find out if the female is pregnant or not at home, especially if you haven’t bred before. But there are ways you can tell. If they have successfully mated, there should be a mating plug in their cage. It’s not always easy to find it. It’s about 1 1/2 inches but it can be eaten or lost among the bedding. The color of it is white/yellowish. Another sign is a pregnant female will act differently. She may become more sensitive or aggressive towards the male. She can even start a little fight with her mate if he bothers her too much. There are cases where you need to separate them if they fight often (mood swings towards their mates). A pregnant female also might sleep on her side. Weigh her more often than you normally do (you need to have a scale), this should indicate to you if her weight is increasing much more than you would expect it to.
Pregnancy
Sometimes you will find the mating plug. A mating plug looks like a small wax like plug which is small and round, whitish or yellowish and about 1cm or 1/2″ long. This is discharged from the female when she is in heat and ready to mate. Most time you will not find one, but if you do there is a chance she could be pregnant, jot down the date and check your calendar for the due date.
After conception, you will see a change in the female. She will gain weight, eat more, drink more, become more aggressive, sleep on her side, and about two weeks before she delivers you can feel the babies moving in her tummy. As it is ok to gently place your hand on her tummy, you must be sure to NEVER ever to push or palpate for babies since this may cause abortion. Be sure to handle her gently throughout her pregnancy. When you suspect your female is pregnant, start to monitor the weight gain. I believe a proper diet is very important to a pregnant chinchilla, I use Tradition pellets and offer a supplement to all my chins. Be sure to give her plenty of hay and fresh water to drink every day. This will help her milk production. Let her sleep when she needs to. She will be more tired during this time and will need her rest.
You will want to check into getting a Maternity Cage. These are great because there is no way for the babies to squeeze through any crevices or opening there might be. You will also want to provide a wooden pine house or a metal nesting house or something for the Chins to sleep in. But it would not be a good idea to put things in there that the babies could get stuck in like a hay rack. Keep that in mind.
The Birth
About ten days before she gives birth you might want to stop giving dust baths until ten days after birth. Doing this will help prevent infection. If you feel she could give birth soon, then removing the father from the mother before she gives birth would be best or else you can have a breedback.
Chinchillas usually do not need any help in giving birth. They will clean their babies and eat the afterbirth. This gives them their nutrients back for their babies. At any time you feel she is taking too long to give birth and she is pushing and pushing contact your vet, things do go wrong, and sometimes they can need a c section. Please be prepared for the cost and have a vet lined up ahead of time. There is a great site out there, telling how a chin gives birth and pictures as well.
It is important to handle the babies within a day or so after birth to get them socialized with us humans. It is also good to weigh the kits weekly, to make sure they are gaining weight. A kit at birth will weigh somewhere between 35-60 grams. You will want to wean the babies at around eight weeks. Also by doing this if you have some little boys, they could impregnant mom. Als,o you will also not want to put Dad with the girls because he can impregnate his daughters after they were weaned. You do not want any inbreeding going on. Babies can be weaned after about 6 to 8 weeks or 200g.