Need advice from chinny breeders

Hi I am new to this forum but not to chinchillas. I have had them for the past 10 years. I have a question though to those that breed them. I have a black velvet male and a standard female. They are about a year and a half. They are in a cage that is 3 feet by 2 feet deep by 4 feet high. I read somewhere that chinchillas may not breed if they are in a big cage. Is this true or a myth? My male has been trying to breed with ther for months but she doesnt let him. However they act like a bonded pair. They sleep huddled up together, play together, there is no aggression towards each other. So any suggestions on what is up with them? Im not trying to rush them or anything I am new to breeding and want to know if I am doing anything wrong. If it is true about their cage than I guess they just wont breed vuz I am not going to put them in a smaller cage. I like my chinny condo. Thanks in advance for your input.

[Sassy]

I have never had a problem with them not breeding in big cages, I had a cage about the size of the one you have and both of the females got preggers. I have had pairs together about 8 months before they mate.

[SIChins]

By being in a big cage, all it means is that if a female doesn't want to breed, she has a better chance of getting away from the male. Therefore, if the female doesn't want to breed, her chances of getting pregnant are less if she can escape the male.

[Becki]

I'm not really a breeder, but I've done a ton of reasearch and stuff. I've actually only heard the opposite, they may not breed if they are in a cage that is too small. In the past we've had pairs together for years that never bred

[Chrisanne]

I have big cages 2x2x3 and my chins breed just fine. I do have a pair that has been together for months and has not bred though. My guess is, she just isn't ready or doesn't want to.

Thank you for your replies I am glad to know that it was a myth. I guess she will breed when she is ready. Thank you

[SIChins]

2x2x3 is not what I would consider really big. Some of my cages are 5 or 6 feet high, and 2.5x4 around, those would be what I would consider cages that are big enough for the female to escape the male, IF she feels the need. I only use the bigger cages for my bonded pairs, as they are going to breed when they are together anyways, and then my smaller cages I use for my newer chins and non-breeders?? that I am hoping will breed. By smaller cages, I mean cages that are 2 x 3.5 x 3.5

My cage isnt 2 x 3 x 3. I originally said my cage is 3 feet x 2 feet deep x 4 feet high. After measuring it is actually bigger than that it is 4 feet x 2.5 feet deep x 5 feet high.

[SIChins]

Quote: Originally posted by RottyMommy My cage isnt 2 x 3 x 3. I originally said my cage is 3 feet x 2 feet deep x 4 feet high. After measuring it is actually bigger than that it is 4 feet x 2.5 feet deep x 5 feet high.

I was meaning Chrisianne's cage, where she stated the measurements. But basically, what I have been told by large scale breeders who use breeding runs is that because the cages are small and there is nowhere for the female to hide, that basically they are going to be bred whether they want to or not. Makes sense if you think about it.
In 4 1/2 years of breeding, my chins in the smaller cages reproduce at a steady rate (for non bonded pairs), whereas my chins in bigger cages do not reproduce as frequently.

Sorry about the confusion. I am not worried as of this point for them to breed in a steady amount. I dont want to put them in a smaller cage and cause them stress. Do you think they will eventually breed or is it possilbe she will never want to?

[SIChins]

It's really hard to say, I have a friend who had the same two chins together for almost 5 years, and she figured one or both were sterile at that point, then one morning there was a wee baby in the cage
I have some male chins that I got from a particular breeder, and they have never fathered a litter yet. It's just the males from this one person that won't breed, but I eventually changed mates and cages with one of the males, I mean, he is almost 3, and still nothing. He has been with this mate for a long time too, and nothing. Oh, and the boys mates are proven, so I know it's not the girls.
Basically all you can do is wait and see, and hope for babies

[cheshirechin]

Chins and breeding is always interesting. I had a pair together for over a year and they never had babies. They got along Ok, but not the best, but even so, the male tried to breed several times. I figured one of them was sterile, so I got a new girl for the boy and 6 months later, they had babies and have had 16 so far (thankfully, Mike and Alice have been with Sassy a while). The female (Maureen) from the barren pair seemed better suited to being by herself for a variety of reasons. I believed her to be sterile, because she had some health problems that had manefested over the year she'd been with Mike. The vet had suggested separating them, so I did. Later I put a young male in with Maureen with the intention of getting him neutered (which I did a month and a half later when he turned 6 months old). However, 2 1/2 months later, Maureen had a baby boy. Her young companion had gotten her pregnant the only time that she had gone into heat while with him (and I never had a clue that they'd mated). So now dad and son are neutered and living with Maureen (with the daddy and Maureen acting like a bonded pair minus the actual breeding).

So I guess the point is that two fertile chinchillas who get along can not produce any babies for whatever reason. Sometimes its not environment or lack of fertility or anything in particular. Now admittedly Maureen gets along better with her younger man than she ever did with Mike, but with how fertile Mike is, its amazing that he never got her pregnant.

Good luck.

Patti