At what age can a chin be breed?

[Raisinggrace]

I am just curious as to how old a chinchilla must be in order to be bred? I thought I read somewhere it was like at least a year old but I could be wrong. The only reason I ask is because I was on Craigslist and came across this chinchilla ad http://tampa.craigslist.org/psc/pet/2894917842.html. The woman has two five monh olds in with an older male who when I emailed her she said was the father and now one could be pregnant. I don't ever plan on breeding but I thought I'd ask the age at which a chin would be eligible to breed because I thought 5 months was to young and I would like to send her a nice email but like I said I could be wrong as I haven't researched anything for breeding as I have no intentions to. Thanks

 

[tunes]

She is absolutely wrong. They can definitely get pregnant at 5 months and younger. There has actually been a case of a chin getting pregnant before she was weaned at 8 weeks.

You might refer her to the forum when you send her an email.

 

[lauralynne]

"Eligible" and "able to impregnate/get pregnant" are two totally different things.

Chinchillas have been known to impregnate or get pregnant at just a few months of age. An ethical breeder will generally put them in breeding at around 1 yr of age.

So yes, it's quite possible she's pregnant.

 

[Raisinggrace]

Yeah I am defiantly referring her here but she has the attitude of one of those people who even though you tell them something they know everything and they are always right. I knew they can get pregnant that early I just didn't think any one would allow them to be bred that young ( minus the accidents, like tunes said at 8 weeks).

 

[summerdays]

omg 5 mos old.. what is with people today..

 

[Dreamlite]

?ost breeders will wait till the females are 8 months to a yr old before introing them to a male. So 5 months is definetly too young. Like everyone else has said they can get bred as young as 8 wks, but is like a 14 yr old girl having a kid. Its bad for the child and the parent. And longer term can harm the mothers health.

 

[Riven]

First of all, referring her here will do no good. She doesn't care, she's selling them.

Secondly, I don't see any beige chin in the pictures.

Lastly, if whites are rare, I have many rare chins for sale! $500 each!!!

Yea, it's not good to breed them that young. I know some breeders put females in at 6-7 months with no complications, but unfortunately you need to offer to educate the buyers, because the seller doesn't care, she's selling them.

 

[Godins Chinchillas]

9 mos of age for breeding. For those-never.

 

[Cuddlebug]

I put my females with my males when they are 8 months to a year old (or older if I purchase an adult female for breeding). It depends on how big they are. I will wait longer for a female that is a little on the small side. If she stays small, then I don't breed her at all.