First dust bath questions

[KujoSutefanii]

Just a few quick questions, how old must a chinchilla be before they can have their first dust bath?

And how long must mom wait after giving birth before she can have her dust baths again?

 

[Zoaea]

I think mom you would want to wait at least a week. *shrug*

I use litter only in pee corners typically so my cage can have a layer of dust along the shelves and bottom. My baby chin was rolling (well trying, it didn't work out for her) in the dust that collects from the adults baths at a week old. But I don't think they need a bath for a while and I'd be afraid of them inhaling the dust in an actual bath, they don't seem to be the most coordinated creatures that young. Baby fur seems really thin too so I dont think you have to worry about it getting matted from not bathing... =S

 

[Godins Chinchillas]

If a mother delivers on a day I normally dust she gets dusted as well. I don't hold the dust bath.

 

[Dreamlite]

I don't change my dust schedule cause of newborns. I dust like normal regardless.

 

[Zoaea]

Good to know. What age do you start giving the kits baths or do you just let them hop in with their mom's if they feel like it?

 

[seachin]

They'll hop in when the feel like it. I find they watch for a few times then start getting adventurous and want in.

 

[symphle]

Sorry to threads hijack but I have a question for those actively breeding chins. How often do you dust bath your breeders?

 

[Dreamlite]

I dust 1 to 2 times a week depending on the humidity.

 

[EMSChins]

I dust breeders twice a week and growers/show string daily for at least a month to 6 weeks prior to showing. The babies get a dust bath with mom when they are ready to hop in.

 

[RDZCRanch]

My breeders are dusted once a week and the growers are dusted 2-3 times a week. I can't dust daily or else their skin gets flaky and dry, which happens when your humidity sits around 10-20%.

 

[AZChins]

Everyone here gets dusted twice a week, unless I end up having to skip a dusting here and there. Once a week is a good rule to have, I think that should be the minimum to keep their fur clean.

 

[Cuddlebug]

I do once a week and babies go in with thier mothers. I dust the chinchillas in a separate cage while I clean their cages. If a chin's coat is starting to look greasy in less than a week, I will give it an additional bath.