Question:
I did a search to try to find this...but forgive me if I missed it
The girls are 6 weeks old now, and Kandi's at 200 grams, Jubilee is at 238
I know they can be weaned at this age, but the things I'm not clear on is:
1. When I decide to wean them, do I need to do it gradually, like take them out for a few hours at a time, or is it okay to just separate the twins from mom?
2. Once I take them out, should I put them in sight of their mom, or put them where they can't see each other?
3. Will the twins' weight gain slow once they are on their own? Because I know they gain pretty quickly now, especially Jubilee.
4. I feed my adult chins around 2 tablespoons of pellets each day, so how much should I feed the kits?
5. I'm not sure if the kits have been drinking out of the water bottle, because I've never actually seen them do it. I'm fairly certain they are, because they go through quite a bit of water daily. But is this something that comes natural to them, or something that Lily would teach them?
6. Will their enthusiasm for dust baths grow as they get older?
Okay, this is all my husband and I can come up with...sorry for the length of the post


Answer:
1. When I decide to wean them, do I need to do it gradually, like take them out for a few hours at a time, or is it okay to just separate the twins from mom?
Every time I have weaned I have simply taken the kit (or kits) away from mum and separated them without doing it gradually. You are lucky you have two girls because they can keep each other company while getting used to being away from mum.
2. Once I take them out, should I put them in sight of their mom, or put them where they can't see each other?
I don't see anything wrong with keeping the girls in the same room with their mum. It is okay if they see each other.
3. Will the twins' weight gain slow once they are on their own? Because I know they gain pretty quickly now, especially Jubilee.
Their weight may not increase as much on a daily basis as it does now but they will keep a continuous weight gain until they reach adulthood. Sounds like they have both gained a good amount of weight so far so I certainly wouldn't worry once you wean them.
4. I feed my adult chins around 2 tablespoons of pellets each day, so how much should I feed the kits?
Are you going to give the girls separate food bowls or have them share one bowl? I think 1 tablespoon per each kit would be adequate. I have never yet seen one of my kits gorge themselves full of pellets. As they get older and bigger, increase the amount of pellets. If you feel they need more than 1 tablespoon, you can always put a bit more in their bowl(s).
5. I'm not sure if the kits have been drinking out of the water bottle, because I've never actually seen them do it. I'm fairly certain they are, because they go through quite a bit of water daily. But is this something that comes natural to them, or something that Lily would teach them?
The kits should know how to drink out of a water bottle on their own. You are right, I am sure they have drank water out of the bottle by now.
6. Will their enthusiasm for dust baths grow as they get older?
There are some chins that need some help with dustbaths. It depends on the chin. All of my chins, except for Danny immediately hop in the dustbath. Danny needs to think about it first before he actually goes in it. I think Tweety also had a hard time in the beginning but she has no problems taking one now.


Answer:
o.k. please note this is just what has worked for me :
1) Either way is fine. I personally wait until they are 8 weeks old and well over two hundred grams and then I just seperate them from mom. If mom seems to be really full of milk and uncomfortable, I may put a baby back for brief period for a day or two.
2) I put the babies where they can't see mom. My personal experience has been that they stress out more when mom is in site.
3) Weight may hold steady or lose a few grams for the first day or two but should pick up quickly and keep on gaining.
4) Start with a couple teaspoons of pellets per baby at first. More important is all the fresh timothy hay they can eat.
5) By 6 weeks, they are probably using the water bottle
6) all chins should love dust bathes and are usually enthusiastic about them even as babies!


Answer:
Thanks guys, that's great advice. Now I'll know what to do I think I might wait another week or so to wean. But Lily is seriously looking fed up with the kits at certain times I guess she'll be glad that it's going to be her last litter.