Sexing a Chin

12th July 2008

Many pet stores or not so knowledgeable rescues (usually rescues that don’t specialize in chins) tend to mis-sex chins. Worse case scenario is that 2 brothers or 2 sisters, are placed in a cage together, and woops! They turn out to be a brother & a pregnant sister. Uh oh! Inbreeding! Sometimes the pregnant chin is so young that she faces calcium deficiency after giving birth. Kits of young chin mothers tend to be smaller too.

This post isn’t only for potential chin parents, but also for current chin parents (I only learned of Tubby’s real sex about 3 months after he first got home), who are planning to bring home another chin companion if you don’t want any unplanned pregnancy. You don’t want to be bringing home a pair of what seemed to be same-sexed siblings, or bringing home an already pregnant chin.

Tubby was mis-sexed by the pet store where I got him from. I feel like blaming the chain pet store for not knowing any better. Good thing Tubby didn’t have a companion. It wasn’t until I had to go away, leaving Tubby with a friend, that my friend suspected Tubby was a boy. I didn’t believe her until Tubby started mounting me!

I just don’t want chin parents to have to learn through somebody else’s mistake. I was referred to this site, which I should warn is very graphic, but very insightful in guiding you on how to properly sex a chin.

Posted in Chinchilla care | Comments (2)

2 Responses to “Sexing a Chin”

  1. Ayatollah Mugsy Says:
    July 13th, 2008 at 9:19 am

    Thank you; I will use this newfound knowledge to sex the chinchillas in my harem. I pray there are no male interlopers, lest a scandal ensue.

    Peace and belly rubs be upon you,
    Mugsy

  2. admin Says:
    July 14th, 2008 at 11:34 am

    ooo I like belly rubs!

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