Chinchilla cages

The first thing in caring for your chinchilla is choosing the right cage. There are many types of cages to choose from. They have to be a nice size for your chinchilla/s as they like to run around and jump about. There are cages with two story and larger which are nice if you're accommodating several chinchillas.

Cages can be made for you to your size and rough design. It’s nice to have hide away houses, toy shelves, maybe an exercise wheel (some breeders do not like them but if you want one, make sure it's a chinchilla wheel). If you're breeding, the cage has to be suitable for the kits (babies). They need to be able to move around but make sure the cage is secure as they can get out of small gaps very easily. If you do have kits, it's best that they have a single story cage with no shelves or wheels as they can fall and hurt themselves by jumping.

 

 

There are 2 types of bases on a chinchilla cage, a wire base or a metal pan for the cage to sit in. If you choose the cage that rests in a pan or has a solid metal bottom, you can use news paper or "natural pine shavings which contains no oils or tars" as this can harm your chinchillas. DO NOT USE cedar shavings as they can be toxic.

If you have a wire mesh base, it shouldn't be any bigger then 3/4" X 3/4". If the wire is larger the chinchilla can hurt themselves by getting their foot stuck in the mesh. This may cause them to get distressed through not being able to free themselves. They may chew their foot off or break a leg, which may necessitate amputation. If u do use a wire mesh bottom cage allow them some where to sit so they are not standing on the mesh 24/7 as this can make their feet sore.

With the chinchilla wheels, do not use wire mesh wheels or hamster wheels as they can get their legs caught to the point were they need it amputated. Using wire or hamster wheels has also been known to kill chinchillas due to them getting caught. The wheels have to be solid all the way round. Some people even have flying saucers.

Water bottles

There are many types of plastic bottles that you can buy for chinchillas from a pet shop. Lixit and Nivek are very good and work well. Make sure that bottles do not leak as the damp is very unhealthy for the chinchillas. If you are using plastic water bottles, its best to put a sheet of metal guard between the bottle and cage as they will chew the bottle.
Make sure they have plenty of fresh water every day.

Toys

Chinchillas enjoy hanging toys with bells on the bottom and wooden blocks (pine or fir) on a chain. They have fun for hours chewing the blocks and some like the sound of the bell. It is important that chinchillas have enough to chew on so that it wears their teeth down as they grow all the time.

 

Food bowls

There are quite a few types of bowls, from metal dishes to plastic. Beware though, plastic dishes are very likely to be chewed to bits so it's better to have metal ones. You can get stoneware crocks that sit on bottom of cages. The chinchillas will soil their dishes and food, so stoneware is a good choice as it can be cleaned easily. There are also metal feeders which hook on to the side of the cage and stay in one place.

Treats

You have to limit the amount of treats you give your chinchilla, we all love to spoil all our pets but it can upset their stomachs.
Chins can have:
 

*A little piece of shredded wheat cereal
* a raisin
* Ryvita small peace
* char coal nuts
* mixed herbs (not the cooking herbs)

Remember, these must only be given occasionally and in small quantities.

Too many treats can cause diarrhoea. I personally do not give chinchillas nuts as this can upset their digest system if given in large amounts, it could also kill them.

Its best not to give treats to baby chinchillas till they're at least 4 months old. Remember to give just a little bit at a time when you do.

Food and food bowls

Feeding a chinchilla the right food is important to his or her health. You can feed chinchillas on pellets which there are many different types but make sure they are for chinchillas and not rabbit. Rabbit pellets are not suitable for chins as the imprudence are totally different to the chinchillas food requirements, there are other types of food like the mixes but me personally would not recommend them as it is like giving a child a choice of chips or salad, which is healthier and better for children??... Salad. Chinchillas Also need fresh hay which helps to grind there teeth down and they love it. I prefer to feed the chins using a normal round bowl as its easier to take out and clean and to refill again, some people like to use feeders that hold more then what a bowl could hold after reading this page you may think decide other wise please click on the chinchilla below.

Water

Chinchillas like all animals need fresh water all the time. Keep the bottles nice and clean so no bacteria can form and make them ill.

Heat

Chinchillas do not like the heat. They have to be kept at a reasonable temperature i.e. 75 - 80f is too hot and can cause heat stroke. It's best to keep your chinchillas in a cool place where it isn't too draffy and damp. I keep my chins under 20 oc thought out the year.

Dust baths

Chinchillas need a sand bath either 10 minuets every day or every other day though the night this keeps there fur clean and in nice condition by removing all the oils that builds up from day to day either by holding them or them rolling on bottom of cages were they have weed.

Exercise

It's important that chinchillas have plenty of exercise. This stops them becoming over weight. They love to have a good run around and bounce of walls and anything they feel like. I let mine run around for about half hour ever other night in a room that is suitable for chinchilla. If you let them out you have to chinchilla proof your room so as not to let them get hurt or chew though cables and such like. When they're young they tend to go under the chairs and sofas, it can be a pain to get them out. Block up any little holes they might be able to get in. Never leave your chinchillas in the room on their own, they must always be supervised. To make a fun environment for your chinchilla you can put loo rolls down with a cut down the side to prevent them getting there head stuck and different sized cardboard tubes for them to run through and chew.  A few people like to use guinea pig / chinchilla balls these balls are not really suitable for chinchillas as they may become too hot which could course heat stroke, my personal opinion is do not use these for chinchillas.

Make sure any materials you use are safe for your chinchilla to chew.

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