Question about breeding.

[peter01]

Hello all

I know its months away but i just want to be 100% ready for when spring comes around. Basically I'm looking for any tips on breeding, the do's and donts of what you have all experienced from breeding yours. I've picked my tamest, friendlist chips and i will be breeding from these chips. I will have 1 breeding pair inside (Lilo and Mac) And in the outside aviary there will be 1 boy 3 girls (Buster + 3 unnamed). I know that inside chips can have 2 litters in the one year but the outside only once. Since its 3 girls and 1 boy outside, will he get them all pregnant or just choose one to be his babies mother? Basically thats all I'm asking for just some tips and hints that you think will help me

Also: How many litters do you think each chip should have? I don't want to overbreed them as i know it will take a lot out of them. Do you think 1 litter per chip or 2?

[Nick]

Hi Peter,  Mine have had 2 litters outside each year apart from Cream who only had 1 litter, but this was her first. I think you'll find your outside male will have a ball and will try to mate with who ever is in season.

[peter01]

So they don't just have one litter each then, I'm sure he will too. Forgot to ask: My three girls who are going out with Buster are inside, what month do you think they will be ready to go outside in? They were born the end of July 2011

[Nick]

I've never moved any from inside to out so can't really comment.

[peter01]

Okay thanks anyway Nick

[Nick]

Im sure others on here have and will be able to advise

[tarcus/Kevin]

So they don't just have one litter each then, I'm sure he will too. Forgot to ask: My three girls who are going out with Buster are inside, what month do you think they will be ready to go outside in? They were born the end of July 2011

It depends on whereabouts you live and what the weather is like also what kind of accommodation are they moving into.
The further south in the UK the sooner you could move them as an example spring in Kent will be around the end of march beginning of April while here in Northumberland it is end of April beginning of may.
Should the weather forecast be frost free then by all means let them have the space to explore making sure you have adequate protection for them in the way of warm dry beds away from the prevailing wind.
If like some you provide a shed as part of the living accommodation then you can advance the moving time by another two weeks in my opinion making a move around mid February.
Is Buster currently outside?
If he is you may find your girls calling for him sooner than February which is ideal as they are more likely to accept being moved if they are looking for a mate. Should they start calling by the end of January however I would advise waiting 2 weeks until they call again just to be sure.
Hope I haven't put too many dates in but it is a weather based and personal decision which only you can make when the time comes.
Buster however will not complain if he has 3 willing friends moving in, He will probably offer them all space to keep warm 

[mrchips]

Seems to me that you are likely to have a lot of related chiplets if the outdoor females all happen to produce.  This could produce problems down the line - next year or even later this year, when this years babes are ready to start producing.

Best to find another male maybe to father the second litter and avoid the chance of 'in-breeding' later or make sure you clear out all the 1st litter chiplets.

Just a thought.

[peter01]

Hi Tarcus, I'm in Edinburgh Scotland. Buster is outside already with his sister Cloud but she will be moving inside. The aviary is quite large and has an insulated shed where they sleep. We were thinking about moving them start of March but i suppose the mild winter we've had and no snow they probably could move outside mid Feb. I also don't have my heating on an living in a cottage with only 3 other houses next to us my room isn't all toasty and warm so they are not used to extremely warm heat. Thanks for the advice Tarcus its been really helpful. I'm sure Buster will be happy too get 3 girlfriends haha!

Hi mrchips. All the babies will be sold on and if i were to keep any they would come and live inside in the cages in here

[jennyb]

Hello all

I know its months away but i just want to be 100% ready for when spring comes around. Basically I'm looking for any tips on breeding, the do's and donts of what you have all experienced from breeding yours. I've picked my tamest, friendlist chips and i will be breeding from these chips. I will have 1 breeding pair inside (Lilo and Mac) And in the outside aviary there will be 1 boy 3 girls (Buster + 3 unnamed). I know that inside chips can have 2 litters in the one year but the outside only once. Since its 3 girls and 1 boy outside, will he get them all pregnant or just choose one to be his babies mother? Basically thats all I'm asking for just some tips and hints that you think will help me

Also: How many litters do you think each chip should have? I don't want to overbreed them as i know it will take a lot out of them. Do you think 1 litter per chip or 2?

Hi Peter,

Last year I had three sisters living together but only one of them had babies. One of these females somehow produced milk and helped feed Lottie's babies but as far as I know Isabella was not pregnant herself. My other females who had babies Willow, Nutkin and Hermione were all housed separately.

My situation with the sisters is more unusual I think in most cases the male will get all females pregnant in his aviary.

Mine have always had just one litter a year even the indoor Chipmunks except for one of my very early females Sandie who had two litters one year but her second litter was one baby who didn't make it. She lived indoors.

You may find your indoor pair may start breeding earlier, all my indoor boys are already in breeding condition but no sign of the girls coming into season yet. My litters have all been born in March or April and I had the one litter born in August. The August litter was born outside.

There is a chance yours could breed as early as late January/ early February but I think it may be dependant on the weather. Buster may get to his sister Cloud before you can separate them, I have already separated my opposite sex siblings, Mother's and Sons or Father's and Daughters, didn't want to take any chances.

[peter01]

Hi Jenny.

Perhaps Buster might only choose 1 female like your boy did or maybe he will breed with them all. We'd be able to rehome them all anyway to great homes. Maybe the number of litters they have depend on when they start breeding or if the boy/girls feel like it ?

I've heard a few stories about another chip helping out look after there cage mates babies, i think its facanating and very cute. Its weird how they can feed them without being pregnant themsevles

We're deciding to try out pairing Cloud with Lilo first and if it doesn't work out then Lilo will be moved in with the boy and breed.

I'm going to seperate them this month anyway to prevent anything happening, i'm going to do it in the next couple days was just waiting till the Christmas and New Year are over

Thank you for all the advice!

[Marci]

If Remy and Martyn are living apart now, will they breed in the spring?

When they first arrived in June, they were inseparable.  Now that I have been trying to bond with the both of them, they have been staying in separate boxes and stay on separate cage levels when they are both awake.  I also think that Remy has been very territorial and chases Martyn down to the bottom level when they are both awake.

What does Tarcus and the chipmunk psychologist forum members think?

[pinkpill]

i wouldnt worry too much, my bitsy n bobs are often apart then she lets him in then she throws him out and so on but babies always come

[Marci]

Awesome, Pinkpill, I was really worried!

Remy and Martyn were not flown half way around the world just because they look pretty!  They need to reproduce some of those fine quality UK chipmunks over here in the States.

Congrats on your Global Moderator Status!

[pinkpill]

Congrats on your Global Moderator Status!

cheers