This article has been viewed 4,014 times. Never feed a chinchilla a pellet designed for mice, rabbits, or other small animals. Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. The best types of hay for a chinchilla include common prairie grass, timothy, orchard grass, blue grass, alfalfa and alpine grass. Sweet Meadow, Orchard Grass and Brome hays are also choices that can be given to your chin to add occasional variety. Feed or pellets for chinchillas Their digestive systems can’t handle high acidity. Throw out any uneaten greens after 24 hours. Growing, breeding, and nursing chinchillas may be fed a larger amount of pellets … Puya berteroniana. And water ,what kind of hay, what kind of stuff to put in the bottom of the cage..and their treats. For one, they won’t give your chinchilla diarrhoea, and they won’t give it gastrointestinal stasis. Hay should be the main component of their diet. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Usually, a chinchilla only need supplements if it's pregnant or has a calcium deficiencies. In fact, chinchilla granules should be suitable only for chinchilla. In all instances when a chinchilla cannot feed themselves it is imperative that you step in and hand feed a chinchilla … Dairy products like milk or yogurt will have severe effects on a chinchilla’s digestive tract and can even kill the chinchilla. Chinchillas may be given one teaspoon of the healthier treats every day. I love my Chinchillas, I want to know all about them. Most chinchillas love a raisin or an apple slice as a treat! Make sure to only buy alfalfa hay, timothy hay, orchard grass, or blue grass. In addition to food, keep a bowl of water out for your chinchilla at all times. Alfalfa, alpine, orchard grass, timothy, the blue grasses, and common prairie grass are the best choices for feeding chinchillas. It should take a week to complete the switch. Chinchillas that are busy will consume more foods. However, to keep the pellets clean, we suggest you provide just a little more than they need in between feedings. The best kind of diet for your chinchillas is one that’s as natural as possible, packed with plenty of fresh veg and hay. This article was co-authored by Melissa Nelson, DVM, PhD. In addition to Timothy hay, it is supplemented with oat groats, soy beans, wheat germ, electrolytes and stabilized vitamin C. It is a good idea to either sit the chinchilla on a towel on your knee or wear an apron. According to my observations, most pet owners feed their pet chinchillas grass hay. A pellet-only diet does not provide enough fiber for chinchillas. You can buy hay at most pet stores or online. Yes, chinchillas can eat apricots. They usually stay away from foods that contain fats, sugars, and water. Featured Content | Frequently Asked Questions About Dogs | Most Popular Dog Breeds | Why You Should Get Pet Insurance. What kind of treats are safe for them to eat? It usually costs around $20 per bag. Since chinchillas are rodents, their teeth grow constantly. Chinchillas are, in fact, prone to picking out and eating just what they like from a mix, making it less nutritionally balanced. Chinchillas particularly enjoy dried fruit like peaches, cranberries, bananas, and apples, and they also love sunflower seeds and unsalted nuts. Alfalfa is a sweeter hay and chins love it, but it should be given only as a treat past the age of one year old. The primary food item for chinchillas are specially formulated pellets. You can purchase dry pellets that are formulated for chinchillas from most pet stores. This is a kind of succulent, a family of plants which are like cacti but without thin spikes. Chinchillas that have a poor diet are prone to health problems, such as overgrown teeth. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota in 1998. What do you feed a chinchilla? With the right amounts of a variety of healthy foods, your chinchilla can be a healthy, happy animal. We've been helping billions of people around the world continue to learn, adapt, grow, and thrive for over a decade. If chinchilla pellets are difficult to find, they can be substituted with rabbit or guinea pig pellets. Water should be fresh or boiled, and filtered, distilled water is even better. Nor should they be given to sick chinchillas. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. If there are no special granules, animals can be given a … This will ensure that your pet gets all the nutrients it needs and doesn't get bored by eating the same thing all the time. chinchillas do well with 1-2 tbsp/day, but your veterinarian may recommend increasing or decreasing the amount, depending on your chinchilla’s weigh. Timothy is the primary hay you will feed your chinchilla. PRODUCT FACTS; A few respected brands... Hay. Salt blocks and wheels can also provide a chinchilla with minerals that might be lacking in his diet. Less fattening treats include leafy greens and root vegetables like carrots. It's also important to provide a steady supply of hay, like alfalfa hay, timothy hay, orchard grass, or blue grass, so your chinchilla has something to graze on between meals. We recommend feeding your chinchilla a measured amount of pellets every day so that you will notice as soon as possible if your chinchilla… Chinchillas require a high fiber diet and should be offered grass hay (such as Timothy hay or other low calcium hays such as orchard grass, oat hay, or meadow hay) free choice (available 24 hours a day). Feeding your Chinchillas Chinchilla’s are Herbivores – which means they only eat plants. Dr. Nelson is a Veterinarian who specializes in Companion and Large Animal Medicine in Minnesota, where she has over 18 years of experience as a veterinarian in a rural clinic. Today, most chinchillas are raised on farms and it’s important to know about the dietary needs of these furry, squirrel-like critters. If you can get these 3 things together, you'll have a healthy well-nourished chinchilla. Dr. Nelson is a Veterinarian who specializes in Companion and Large Animal Medicine in Minnesota, where she has over 18 years of experience as a veterinarian in a rural clinic. These hay cubes can sit in the cage for many days until they have been eaten. Hay should make up most of the chinchilla’s diet. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Chinchillas are wonderful pets that thrive on a diet of pellets, greens, and occasional treats. You should feed your chinchilla 1-2 tablespoons of pellets twice a day. Understanding a Chinchilla… Commercially available loose mixes with chinchilla pellets, seeds, corn, and other food may be nutritionally balanced while they are in the bag, but your chinchilla may not eat all of the parts of the mix. That’s why it’s very important to carry out proper research before settling down what sort of food to feed your chinchilla. If pellet food and hay are available to your baby chinchillas they will pick at them and start eating them gradually. Chinchillas produce two types of pellets: hard dry pellets and soft moist pellets. Water should never be put in a bowl, for the chinchilla might tip it over or get contaminants like bedding in it. Keep in mind that hay is important for a chinchilla's digestive system to work properly. Chinchillas can be offered treats of fresheafy green vegetables kept to a minimum. They need lots of hay: Vet Street recommends feeding timothy hay to non-breeding adult chinchillas, and … By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota in 1998. The chinchilla’s pellets should be put in a food bowl, and they should be given fresh pellets every day. A Chinchilla's diet should be simple. Some of them include cabbage, corn, banana, and nuts. The chinchilla should be given fresh hay every day. Chinchillas require a specific diet that isn't exactly "low maintenance." Water should be offered in a bottle placed on the outside of the cage. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Chinchillas love dried apricots. http://animals.mom.me/feed-chinchilla-2021.html, http://www.chinchillachronicles.com/chinchilla_nutrition_food_and_diet.html, https://cvm.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Caring-for-your-Chinchilla.pdf, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Watery fruits like watermelon can give a chinchilla diarrhea, while some vegetables like corn can give them bloat. A quality pellet, ample amounts of fresh hay, and unlimited access to water. Chinchillas are herbivores (plant eating animals) and in the wild their diet would be bland, feeding off seeds, roots, leaves, fruits, berries, bark, alfalfa and various grasses, all of which contain a high percentage of fibre. Talk to your vet to figure out the precise amount of pellets your chinchilla needs. Unlike other animals, chinchillas will only eat small amounts at a time and so you need not worry about over-feeding them. Chinchillas are herbivores. The basic chinchilla diet consists of a small amount of chinchilla pellets, along with a good quality grass hay. Vitamin C supplements can be added to the water. Every dollar contributed enables us to keep providing high-quality how-to help to people like you. While chinchillas enjoy dried fruit, nuts and seeds, these things are all fattening. Good grade alfalfa contains about 14% protein, and is a very good option. Chinchillas should always have access to water. % of people told us that this article helped them. Choose a commercial pellet designed for chinchillas. A diet should be made up of fresh, healthy veggies as well as a commercial chinchilla pellet. It should be given in a stoppered bottle in the chinchilla’s cage. Along with this chinchillas can be given treats such as vegetables and fruits that can give them needed vitamins. Pellets made for other animals like rabbits or guinea pigs should not be given to a chinchilla, for they can make the chinchilla sick. It provides the chinchilla with roughage, and it can give him something to gnaw.

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