Tanzy's Chinchilla Rescue NZ.

Hi Lycia,

Thank you for providing this wonderful website and service, I always like to find people who dedicate their time to helping animals! I am about to move back to NZ from Australia and am excited about being able to have a chin! As I have been in Aus for a long time and we don't have chin's here (not that I am aware of) I don't know a lot about them. Until I found your website! But one question I haven't found the answer to is: Do they bite? I have had pet rabbits and guinea pigs and know that they do occasionally nip, do Chin's do the same? Thank you!!

Hi Lycia

I just sent yuo an email but auto matically put our old email address on it, so sorry our new email addy is the one above.

Looking forward to your reply

Liz

Hello Lycia,

I think that your rescue is wonderful, and am pretty keen on adopting a lovely chin or two( I do believe that 1 would be lonely if at home alone when I go to work), my concern tho is that I live in Nelson and am wondering if I am to far away for you to do a home check?.

My daughter lives in Chch and we are up and down generally 4 or 5 times a year and with her 1st baby being due at Xmas I guess it will be much more often, we plan to be down during that period so could possibly meet with you and the chins.

I have never had a chin before but am reading up on them, the thing is tho and I dont think you'd mind, is if I am acceptable to you (and good on you for maintaining your standards) would I be able to ask you for help/advise if needed.

thanks muchly and looking forward to hearing from you

Liz

Hi Emily,

Chins love chewing on grape vine, but just ensure it's not been sprayed with chemicals of any sorts and there are no grapes bugs etc.  To do this, I wash it in hot water and pop it in the oven to dry.  A great fun thing to do is make balls and small wreaths from the vine - that way the chins not only have a not only have something to chew, but something to play with as well

All the best - Lycia

Hi Amy-Grace

Yes, there is an adoption fee fro the adoptions, I do keep it minimal though.

Cheers - Lycia

Hi I live in Monroe County W.V. and was wondering if I was to put grape vine  in the cage for my Chinchilla would that work as chew toys if I was to put it though out the cage.  

hi. does cost anything to adopt?

Hi Sheree

Please excuse my ignorance here, but Environment Southland have a ban on Chins, so just make sure your not in te area of the ban.  And I think the only breeder, that I heard of is in Cromwell,  but just because I said that, it certainly doesn't mean I know anything about her breeding standards, care etc.  Good on you for doing research before getting a chin   They are such precious and amazing wee creatures.

If you need any help or have any questions about getting one or even afterwards - please feel free to flick me an email, even if your not sure what to ask the breeder/owner prior to getting a wee one

Am certainly happy to help where I can

Regards - Lycia

Hey Lycia,

I live in Invercargill after doing lot's of research. my family and I wold love to get a chinchilla, they are so gorgeous... Do you know if there are any breeders down or way??

Many Thanks

Sheree

Thank you Lycia, I will contact you to make an order tomorrow.

KR  Saskia

Hi Saskia,

How lovely to hear from you  

One bag of pellets is $3.50 for postage, and I am more than happy to combine, I did get 5 bags sent off and that postage was $5.50 to Auckland.  Two bags is $4.50 for postage - hope this helps.

Hope all your chinnies are doing well

Regards - Lycia

Hi Lycia,

so good to see you progressing with everything chinchilla, well done!

Just a little practical question; I would like to make an order, need some pellets, how much would you charge for p&p?  Would this be for every item or per order?  'Thank you, Kind Regards ;  Saskia

Thanks! That's really helpful.

Hiya,

We are thinking about adopting a chinchilla and are currently doing lots of research about them. The cage we currently have at home is approx a 4ft x 3 ft glass tank. It is just under a mtr high with a wire top. We have space inside it to make wooden shelves and climbing apparatus. I notice that your cages are all wire- might our cage be suitable? It has successfully housed mice (who also don't like to get hot) for many years.

Cheers

[/Anita]

Hi Anita,

Sorry to say but personally - no way to glass.  Aside from it being glass and only having the top for ventilation, there is no privacy for the chin and honestly - all it would take is for someone to be out and sun to shine on the tank for something really tragic to happen.  If someone came to me wanting to adopt a rescue and put the chin in a glass tank, no matter how it was set-up - I would suggest they sell it and from the proceeds - buy something more suitable.  The size sounds wonderful though and it's wonderful your doing so much research - wire cages are fine - with shelving etc and some have wooden ones as well wtih ventilated areas on the sides and back and that's great too.

I've seen mice in tanks and yes that does work, but they are smaller than chins and a chins fur is far more dense - which makes glass really unsuitable, but that is just my opinion but one I stand by. Please feel freet o get in touch if you have any more questions.

Regards - Lycia

Hiya,

We are thinking about adopting a chinchilla and are currently doing lots of research about them. The cage we currently have at home is approx a 4ft x 3 ft glass tank. It is just under a mtr high with a wire top. We have space inside it to make wooden shelves and climbing apparatus. I notice that your cages are all wire- might our cage be suitable? It has successfully housed mice (who also don't like to get hot) for many years.

Cheers

Hi Addie

Congrats on your chins and wow, I'll say you were thrown into things the deep end, head first too.

My first advice would to be up her vitamin c and in my breeding days - I would use plain cranberry juice in a water bottle - 40% cranberry to 60% water, as well as her normal water bottle, and do this for 4-5 days then stop completely. You will need to check mum's virginal area out as well and this is to make sure there is no abnormal discharge or unusaly smells, (and if you have a good exotics vet - take her in just to make sure she has no infection since giving birth, as pyrometra can occur and if not caught early enough - unfortniately it can also kill) keep an eye that she is eating well and that she is caring her for kits. A good way to judge if the kits are drinking enough is to weigh them daily and record their weights.

If the chins diet is adequate - chin pellets, hay, alfalfa hay/chaff, there is no need to add calcium supplements unless it's a dietary issue or her teeth aren't the right colour (burnt orange/dirty yellow#, but in saying that, there is nothing wrong with adding a pinch of pure calcium powder tover her pellets either. If she is eating well, the kits will drink well off her

No dust bathing for 10 days as this gives mum time to heal #virgina really) after the birth of her twins and also helps the kits as their lungs should be properly developed by this time and they should have learnt to wipe their wee noses when things irritate a little - just ensure that the bath is big enough for the three and low sides so the kits can get in and out easily.

The kits should start tasting adult food in about 4 weeks, so make sure the dishes are low for them to nibble away at and any shelving in the cage low as they will follow Mum and have no concept of height of falls, so to prevent falling, try and block off a few of the shelves or completely remove them and add them back on at a time with ramps starting with the lowest one when the kits are about 3 weeks old, then when about 4.5 weeks - add another kinda thing.

Good on you for realising the Dad needs to be separated When the kits are a bit older - there is nothing wrong with supervising interaction of Dad and the kits - start off slowly and hold them to his cage, and watch his reaction, if he plays nicely - put the kits in the bottom of his cage and keep watch, any sign of aggression - remove them quickly. I am all for letting Dad's have time with their babies as it helps the bond and gives mum a 15 minute rest and helps the kits as well.

All the best - and any questions as you find your feet - please do feel free to ask

Hi-

I just got two chins 3 weeks ago not knowing the female was pregnant. I figured this out within a week of having them and started preparing as best I could. She had two babies yesterday. She is taking good care of them and they look and act healthy. I have a couple questions. One, is there anything special she needs in her diet? She is eating chinchilla pellets that her previous owner started her on and timothy hay. I read about calcium supplements and alfalfa hay, but haven't started her on either. Another question, when can she and the babies start taking dust baths? I separated the father but was planning on putting him back in after 10 days to 2 weeks. Is there anything else I should know about their diet or care? I feel like I was thrown into this and I want them to stay healthy and happy!!