If for any reason, i.e. mom rejects kit, large litter, mom passed during birth, you will have to supplement the kits. To supplement, warm your mixture, but make sure to test the temp first, you do not want to scald a newborn kit. Then take an eyedropper or needle-less syringe, fill it with this mixture and gently drop a very tiny amount on the kits lips. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SQUIRT THE MIXTURE DOWN THE KITS THROAT AS IT COULD CAUSE CHOKING. The kit should attempt to lick it off, if not, be patient and try encouraging it to eat. While supplementing you will need to feed kits every two hours, 24 hours a day, until they are weaned or supported on a hay/pellet diet.

I recommend using this recipe:

1 can goats milk
1 can water
1 tablespoon dry rice baby cereal
1 tablespoon plain active culture yogurt
2 drops of light Karo syrup 

All of this can be found at the grocery store or wal-mart. For information on hand feeding kits, please visit the supplementing section.

Some people might recommend using cow, dog or kittens milk. I do not recommend any of those as a chinchillas digestive tract is very sensitive and cannot easily digest any of these milks.

If supplementing proves to be messy, use a warm damp cloth to clean the baby, but make sure you dry the kit off completely immediately after.