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What You Will Need For A Happy and Healthy Chinchilla
This is some basic information on housing and feeding your chinchilla. We do send home information with our adopted chins, and are always willing to answer questions. Just email us!
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The Basics of a Chinchilla's Diet
The two most important parts of a chinchilla's diet are high quality pellets and timothy hay. |
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What To Feed Your Chinchilla
Each day your chinchillas should have access to pellets, timothy hay and water. It is not more expensive to feed a good quality pellet, and we do not recommend pet store brands. You can purchase Mazuri pellets by Purina from any Purina Feed dealer-just ask them to order it for you. The bags all have a mill date on them and if kept in a good container, will last up to nime months from that date. At about $10 for a 25# bag, the per pound price is cheaper that most store brands and is nutritionaly better. PetSmart now carries 5 lb. bags of Mazuri. Another excellent pellet is the Deluxe Chinchilla pellet by OxBow.Fill the bowl 3/4 full and top off or change completely if the food is soiled.
We use OxBow's timothy hay-it is fresher and of a very good quality. You can usually find it in pet stores. If not, you can order both their food and hay online at www.oxbowhay.com. Always keep fresh water available. A glass waterbottle prevents chewing, but any type will work. Be sure it is changed frequently.
Chinchillas shouldn't have alot of treats, if you want to offer different treats, stick to one at a time. Our chins love a Kellogg Mini Wheat w/Raisin biscut. If you offer dried fruits such as apples, banana chips, pineapple, or papaya, be sure it is sugar free. We offer Apple Wafers as a chew treat for the chins. These are found in stores with horse supplies or feed. They can be given as often as you wish.
Since chins are nocturnal, we have found it works best to give them their treat and feed them at night so they have fresh food during the active part of their day.
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What You Will Need In Your Cage
A glass water bottle is great since it is chew proof and easy to clean, but they can be hard to find. If you can find rubber stoppers with holes in them and some glass pipe, you can make your own with bottles from drinks such as Snapple or Yahoo. We use a wire holder with ours. Any type of water bottle will work, and you can buy guards that cover plastic bottles to prevent chewing.
We make a wire hay feeder to keep hay off the bottom of the cage. (That works for about 2 minutes!) You can also buy holders in pet stores.
We really like to use 'coop cups' for pellets. The are found in the bird section and have a holder that bolts onto the wire cage. The cup comes out for easy cleaning, and it is very difficult(but not impossible) for chins to dump the food.
Chins love to have a hiding place. You can buy plastic igloos at pet stores that work, or use pine boxes. They are easy to make from untreated pine boards, or they can be purchased. Your chin will also enjoy chewing on a pine house.
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Home Sweet Home
Chins are active, and need plenty of room in their cage. We recommend a cage be no smaller than 36"Wx24"Hx18"D, with a couple of shelves. Most of the cages we use are 36"x36"x18". It is your choice whether to have a wire or solid bottom, but we like solid bottoms. They give the chins a chance to get their feet off the wire, and work much better for babies. If you plan on breeding, be aware that the wire should be no larger that 1" by 1" or else babies can escape. Use pine shavings in your cage, never cedar. Wheels are no necessary, especially if you have a safe place for your chins to come out and play. If you do choose a wheel, get a solid surface one, preferable one with a side mount or the flying saucer type. They are much safer for your chin.
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Items You Will Need For Your Cage
Everything you need for a good meal and a nap! |
Our Custom Made Cage
We can make a cage like this for you. It is 36x36x18, with a 3 1/2 in bottom pan. There is a full width door along the bottom that opens so the pan slides out for easy cleaning. The door is 12x12 so you can get a house inside, and the top is hinged to open as well. There are 3 shelves and ramps. If you would like a cage, please check with us to make sure we have wire on hand. If we have to order wire it may take a couple of weeks, otherwise we can make a cage in 2-3 days.
PRICES
Cage- $125
10" square pine box-$8
Wire hay feeder-$5
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