Chinchilla Physiology

Life expectancy 10 - 15 years
Environmental temperature Below 25°C (77°F). 10-15°C (50-59°) is ideal
Food intake 20gm pellets plus forage & fresh food
Water intake 30 - 40ml
Sexual maturity from 10 weeks
Breeding age 9 months
Gestation Period 111 days
Birthweight 26 - 60 gm
Lactation 6 - 8 weeks
Rehoming age 12 weeks+

 

Pregnant chinchillas require plenty of calcium in their diet so they have enough for their own needs and the baby chinchillas growing inside them.

This picture of day old chinchilla babies is copyright http://www.flickr.com/photos/helical_wiggler/120431057/in/set-72057594093071781/
Image of a newborn baby chinchilla is copyright http://www.flickr.com/photos/2ndglance/125145849/

 

This image of an xray of a pregnant chinchilla is copyright http://www.flickr.com/photos/helical_wiggler/124110063/

Litters of 1-2 babies are most common and, as you can see from the x-ray of a pregnant chinchilla, larger litters would place a heavy demand on the mother chinchilla's body.

Chinchilla babies are born fully furred.