I would recommend trying other options as treats :). They are a good source of nutrients that are necessary for chinchillas. Also, the food I was given by the pet store contains dried up corn kernels and peas along with the pellets. She also told us our chin was the best looking chinchilla she's ever seen. I was also wondering if it was safe to give them like plain, healthy, yogurt like strawberry or something. Treats make them feel good because the chinchilla is happy to get them, but there are a lot of healthy treat alternatives like plain shredded wheats, etc. I feed my chinchilla the chinchilla pellets from oxbow and also their Timothy hay. KALE CAUSES GAS AND BLOATING I had a female about 4 yrs. Back to chinchilla tooth health. So the pet food companies may hate this, but our babies are on a no pellet diet and are incredibly healthy, as a result. It's probably safe to assume the treat has some nutritional valued specifically for dogs (carnivores), best to not let your chinchilla (herbivore) eat one. You might want to check out this list of chinchilla treats. I will offer them a very, very small amount of a cranberry fruit. Always provide them with timothy hay and a good quality of chinchilla pellets and I use distilled water in their water bottles because tap water has too many toxic chemicals. Cooper and his younger brother Chaos came to us from the Vancouver SPCA when one of the vets taking care of Scooter at the Vancouver pet ER noticed how far I go to take care of our babies. This automatically happens when you introduce slowly. Sometimes they will get to share about a teaspoon of old fashion oats. He is such a piggins! But not honey nut cheerios! A chins liver cant filter out sugar and fat well and over time, this can cause liver damage. Good luck. Thanks in advance x. I'm glad my comment on pellets is being seen. My dad told me about it and that some "pits" are poisonois! how many times should i feed it a week? Oxbow has so many good reviews also Mizuri brand does too when it comes to everything chinchilla I get everything from chewy and get it on auto shop to save u some dough. Chinchillas who eat. Jen that's great, and I'm sure you don't overfeed those treats! Uncooked Elbow Noodle: safe, but in moderation. It seems Timothy hay seems to be the hay of choice as far as nutrition goes. depending on which type is being left in your chinchilla's food dish you will want to use your own judgement and what you feel is safest for your pet. I am a little confused to this since nature does not provide them with water bottles in the wild:) While reading, I grew concerned that this Chin maybe dehydrated. The hatred of pellets comes from loosing a chinchilla to malocclusion. Most of the time I hear corn is bad. I don't know the size of the bowl, but the mfg'a generally state a tablespoon or two per chinchilla (I think) the rest of their diet should be Timothy hay with a few treats. I do not know how accurate this is, but I would not want to risk it. chin die of lots of cases and wrong food is one of them. A few posts above I mentioned Scooter. Last edited by Marios Alexandrou. As for treats, looking at that site, although some products impress me, I am a little concerned about their inclusion of products very apparently (IMO) purchased from the bulk sweet section of the grocery store. I came on this page to find out if it had any drug type interactions. If you want to give a treat try a wood stick, new kind of hay, bit of slow cook oats ( DO NOT use the quick cook kind), a cheerio, or a shredded wheat, but no more than once a day. Very toxic! The thing with chinchillas is, surgery requiring anaesthesia is a race against time. Can chinchillas survive without hay but with a lot of wood(safe)to chew on? As for the hay, as soon S I notice it getting low in his cage I just simply add some more. If a chinchilla eats too many pistachios that contain aflatoxin, they could become sick or even die. You think they are eating Chinchilla pellets in the wild? All of the fruits, even with the sugar are not bad if given in moderation. Ty I have a far longer list of what I give to my animals and they are nice and healthy animals :) There were Daisys, carnations, and orchids. Treats should be given no more than ONCE a day, and only the size of a raisin. I moved the wire insert to 3" above the floor, with trays of unscented cat litter under this. They are both high in calcium and oxalates, and are a great source of fiber. So my dad bought me a Kaytee food bag. They are sisters. they seem to be biting her alot too , im scared that she wont make it, shes very small and weak. I would occasionally give raisins. Many people will tell you to avoid these sorts of manufactured treats. I have a good air conditioner that keeps the temperature cool. Dried Olive Leaves: i dont know. I need to cut back on their raisin intake. Make sure if you don't run the air conditioner that the temperature is below 70 degrees and that the humidity is below 55%. It's fine to give them the odd rasin but I also buy woodland her age which you can get in a pet store which is a mixture of dried dandelions and nettle leaves hay and other goodies. Do not feed your chinchilla Avocado pits, it will die! Not only are the pellets a problem, in general, I would be skeptical of any food marketed for chinchillas that contains items on the no no naughty list. please search before you give Anybody out there who can provide a loving home? Your email address will not be published. I've done a ton of research (literally hours on hours on hours) but there's so much conflicting info that im scared im still going to give them something thats going to hurt them. but why did my vet tell me to fed them kale. Temps in WV can and do get into the 90's with humidity to match. They are great explorers and will spend almost an hour bouncing around, going through the boxes, playing tug-a-war with a cloth rope, etc. This is most likely the reason that you are not supposed to give them pistachios. Tape them together with holes to join one or two together, stack one on top with hole in floor for an entrance. Avocados are unsafe for chinchilla's, well at least their pits are. You don't give them stuff humans snack on. It is banned for regular consumer sale. In the wild, they eat grass, berries, and nuts to fulfill their energy requirements. Chinchillas have very sensitive digestive systems, and don't need vegetables or fruits. Apple, pear and grape are ok, and I assume so is Alder. Instead, chinchillas should eat a mixture of hay and pellets. Honestly, there are better treats for your chinchillas than fruit such as rosehips, dandelion leaves, apple sticks, rose petals, sunflower seeds, goji berries (only once a month), basil and peppermint leaves. Maybe a piece of walnut, almond or cashews? They need to chew to keep those teeth filed down. Daily they receive 8 or 10 apple and willow sticks, always have pumice stone to chew on and carry around. Chinchillas should not be an impulse buy at a pet store. Ps any treat can be given as long as it's only the size of 1 or 2 raisins once per week,Lettuce and kale is bad for chins as well as wood from pitted fruit trees eg-Plum,apricot etc. Theyre also a good source of fiber. They are high in fiber and vitamin C. Dried Herbs (dandelion roots or leaves, rosemary, hibiscus, parsley, strawberry, and blackberry leaves). Timothy grass is a little more speedy hence I supplement with the Orchard grass. So farmers can spray the crap out of their fields with it. Chinchillas need to have their digestive system moving constantly. I would also suggest not giving a chinchilla Iceburg Lettuce! Going to be 13 on April 19, and it's true that he has become more loveable and cuddly the older he gets. Since loosing Gizmo due to tooth issues, we have pulled pellets out of their diets and added natural source items such as seeds leaves and grasses. My uncle use to ranch them for their fur and I hated him for that, now I spend my life trying to save them. However, many people feel that dried corn is not healthy. A chin's teeth is constantly growing and needs to be kept filed down in order to eat. Its high in protein and calcium and also contains acidophiles for their sensitive digestive tracks. If you look to Europe a lot of us feed fresh greens to our chinchillas and they are just as healthy as those who swear we are killing our animals. they love an occasional treat! What are you saying is Apples not good for them I had run out of feed and gave them an Apple and Ban.and carrots until I can find a store around here that has food for them, Please come t to my reply,I have never run out of feed and they are not no stores around here that has any not even Walmart I try to buy a month supply I have had them about 1year they don't seem to be eating oats or ban.or carrots what should I do, get them timothy hay, they can survive off mostly that, that is the main thing they eat, Timmothy hay should be their main food source, the list said bananas are ok but theyre not, bananas should be avoided at all costs. Sadly most chinchillas in captivity suffer at the hands of their owners are often neglected and never properly cared for in the environment they actually require. I do and they love them. Chinchillas are "High Maintenance" friends who need attention daily. I will continue to love my three legged chinchilla. Most seeds and nuts, such as sunflower seeds, peanuts, coconut, millet, etc, ar.e actually very high in fats and oils. I have been breeding for years and I have always fed mine Purina Show Quality Rabbit Formula. The closest I will get to the pellet world is hay cubes, so long as the hay is not ground to a pulp and it encourages chewing. Why would you feed unhealthy treats when there are plenty of healthy options available they they love to eat just as much as the un-healthy ones? It took over a month to get him use to bigger spaces and he finally settled in. they can handle things that you might not think they can hadle. I recently found out my only water bottle was not working properly, and I noticed my female chinchilla having really working it hard. Let's get started. Applewood sticks are great as they love to chew. not all rabbit food is bad, purina rabbit show is considered a quality pellet for chins, this comes from quality breeders.. here are the ingredients to purina show. Contrast this with their staple diet of hay and pellets which can be up to 100% of their diet. crap. I know this is properly an old post but feel I have to reply If they start to loose weight. For treats dried rose hips are safe. I got my first Chinchilla when I was 13yrs old and that was 20yrs ago. My chinchilla has plastic platforms in her cage, and she won't stop chewing them! Can Chinchillas Eat Guinea Pig Food. His cage is pretty small, but I excersize him almost every night now and he seems perfectly healthy. I don't know if posting it violates any rules, if so the mods can remove it. I have a jasmine tree in my back garden and i am wondering if its safe for me to give my chinchilla the wood, i have some dried sticks i would give her.????? You can buy wooden sticks or lava blocks at petsmart for your chins to chew on safely to prevent this. Pellets may seem hard to you, but they are simply powdered grains and hay glued together with molasses and starch. The mountains of Chile - if it doesn't grow there - chances are it isn't safe. Wishing all of you the best in taking care of your cute chinchillas! The good news is, since introducing Timothy hay, rose hip and giving very minimal pellets, Sidney has now gone 10 weeks with no sign of the malaclusions back just yet:-) so for all you out there who have chinchillas with malaclusions, don't give up hope just yet! I've been told by another chinchilla owner to rub lemon juice every so often on the plastic and then she should stop chewing it. Im trying to get my new chins to know that Im a friend. That and there really isn't all too much healthy in potato chips. As you can imagine the list of possible things to feed a chinchilla are endless. That can block their intestines and kill them. Kim. Im so sorry for your loss! The last thing you want is any weird stuff in their digestive system. Provide your pet with chin pellets, timothy hay. please could someone tell me if you can give chinchillas mussel shell? on the danger side, Cedar, oak, mahogany, Balsam, any pit fruit (Apricot, peach, cherry etc) are ridden with Cianide. @ leisha: what happend to your chinchilla? the right one can be a great source for info. You can put your chin dust in a small pan for them to roll around in to clean their fur.Sounds like you really love your chins and are a great chin parent! Some people give their chins a raisin once or twice a week. Apple, Banana, Raisns, Grapes (can be frozen), prunes, Elbow Noodles, And More and more. (Yes & How Much)Continue, Horses are herbivores and their diet consists mostly of hay, grass, and grain. They are also a choking hazard, so it is important to make sure that the pistachios are chopped into small pieces before giving them to your chinchilla. I think you're safe ;). While crackers may not be the healthiest snack for a horse, they can certainly eat them without any problems. Then there is the high oil content, corn oil comes from it, after all. Just be careful with the raisins. Hope this information helped! It got to the point where clipping did not work. They love their shelves, both for sitting and chewing. She is now on antibiotics (she drinks it right out of the syringe herself). Well. I have had my chin Pikachu for almost two years and he will chew on anything that's wooden, you can give your little girl apple wood sticks (available at any pet store) to help deter from that. she loves her plain cheerios with abit of peanut butter on them i say peanut butter cant be good for her,not sure any input would be great. Orchard grass can be found at Feed & Seed stores by the flake cheap and fresh. I am asking because I'm going to get a baby Chinchilla, so is the food going to harm the Chinchilla? If the teeth get too long the either start to curve to the side or they get pushed up and downwards by the other teeth. I'm hoping you are speaking in hypothetical and not in reference to an actual Chinchilla of known Gender. The worse the hay (Coarse etc) the better. The best thing for a chinchilla is pellets, hay, and water. Aimee, apple tree wood or branches are totally safe for your chin to chew on. I had a unilateral issue with an edible grass hut made in china. They were born in October of 2015. They really love the willow leaves. Some people give their chinchilla a raisin once or twice a week. They have to keep their teeth filed down or they will not be able to eat. No. Can chinchilla cages be cleaned with water and detergent? Also, I would try to keep electrical cords out of the room. Chinchillas should have a good quality kibble to balance nutritional needs. or if it's safe?? I currently have some chinchillas that are very healthy and happy and are over 12 years old. yes, i think she will be okay. I was wondering if you can give me advice on what kind of food I can feed my chinchilla. We just got a chinchilla and for a treat I gave her some citrus foods such as oranges and lemons. Nasturtium flowers: honestly never heard of it. while I was gone my lovely mother was eating eggs and felt my chinchilla was hungry and gave her some. I am wondering if they do something to them to make them ok? I hope you enjoy your little friend! I avoid anything and everything from China. It is more expensive than your standard hay but it is so worth it. they may seem hard but once broken up with the incisors. that being said, hay cubes do have some pretty sturdy strands in them so they can work the molars. Home (All Topics) Pets & Animals Chinchillas Safe and Unsafe Food for Chinchillas. Including my own drivel. Also, you can give them original cheerios(no sugar type cheerios.) The incisors do a great job of breaking that down before the food even hits the back teeth. For food though, I would recommend oxbow essentials chinchilla, I've never seen pikachu as happy as he is when he is on that food :), My chinchilla eats corn too and he is eight years now. We live in West Virginia, rescued them from a friend who lives close. A safe treat for your chins are plain cheerios. (Benefits/Risks), Can Chinchillas Eat Pretzels? Fact of the matter is, there is still allot unknown about chinchilla's as pets, however, high levels of oils have been proven to be unhealthy to all animals (Including humans) in autopsy's. While cockroaches may not be the first thing that you think of when it comes to chicken feed, they can actually be a good source of protein for your chickens. Not eating the right diet can lead to serious dental disease. Fat - 2-5%. Fruits aren't recommended for your chin because of the possibility of diarrhea. I haven't determined the time frame but I try to get them as dry as possible, seeing as the wood is fresh. what products should i buy to feed it? I saw it on the pictures of the chinchilla books and want to know if it's ok to feed it to him everyday. Victoria, it sounds like you have a great handle on things and this is apparent by your Chinchilla's acceptance of you. I feed vegetation based treats along with vitamin C & calcium treats. any advice What other cheap nasties did they put in there to build bulk and save money? They seem to like to hold the hay in chunks as they eat it more than strands of hay. As with any new food, it is best to introduce pistachios to a chinchilla slowly. jasmine is a safe treat for chinchillas, as long as it isnt from a plant that has had any chemicals on it. Do you even know what sugar is?? I would agree with your comment, Kathleen. Always provide them with timothy hay and a good quality of chinchilla pellets . They say alfalfa is good for young chinchillas but they say to stop after 6-9 months old as it's high in fiber and other nutrients that can cause obesity and other health issues. I am going by what my chinchilla specializing vet tells me what to give the chins that I breed and keep.all 17 of them. Oh ya, interesting how now that food plants have turned into weeds and there is no way to kill them with the existing Monsanto product (round up) they created a stronger toxin. I rescued a female chinchilla last year and he loved her but after over $800.00 in vet bills, she developed an interocular abscess and I had to put her down. Natural sugars are not deadly. Are acorns o.k for my chinchilla to eat? Whats most important is to provide them with fresh pellets and timothy hay. You should avoid citrus foods. She is still young put loves to run around the room and then she will go back in her cage. But you need to restrict treats and grains. You must check the fat, sugar, salt, carbs contents on the back of any treats given to them. i enjoy every minute with them and have two different personalities and loving it!! I have noticed conflicting information, on the topic, but I take any reference to danger seriously, when it comes to wood. A general rule of thumb is that if the fruit has a pit, it isn't safe e.g. We give them fresh apple sticks and willow sticks daily. So why risk it? The only vegetable acceptable for chinchillas is a carrot cut into small pieces. Hope this information helped Are vegitables ok for them to eat? My chi chi i think hissed @ me when I tried to give her lettuce. I was letting our new 1yr old male chinchilla wonder my office as i worked today with the door closed. I'm so worried about them developing malaclusions. (look above). Once a chinchilla figures out there is an easier way to satisfy their diet the back molars either grow up or sideways and the only solution is to bring them to a dentist on a regular basis to have them knocked out so their back teeth can be ground down or pulled out. (He had a migraine and was refusing to eat. Im not sure about jasmine trees, but apple tree branches are ok. My chins love the branches of apple trees. Chinchillas can eat nuts, but they shouldn't. This is because nuts contain a high amount of fat and low fiber, which can affect the digestibility of chinchillas. Do not feed your chinchilla meat. Reply. this. And if this person would have actually read the post, he or she would be able to tell that chinchillas dont have the same digestive tract as "other pets". Similar experience, but I was able to catch it in time, after noticing my Chinchilla was peeing orange. They will also eat plastic, if you let them and that will clog their intestinal path. My chinchillas likes dried apples, raisins, and almonds. Sorry if you already knew Be sure to check the ingredients label on mixed treats - and check their smell for the distinct cinnamon odor. I'm asking in case I want to give him a treat or snack, by using stuff at home and not waste money by going to the petshop. well, guess what. Chins love to chew wood and need to in order to keep their teeth from growing out of their chins and into their eye sockets. When feeding pistachios to chinchillas, it is important to remove the shells first. Compare that to how long the average pet chinchilla lives ( 2-5 yrs) and see where the differences are. Now Im sure none of you mistreat your chinchilla(s), but they definitely are one of the most mistreated when it comes to space, diet, and stuff inside of the cage. I never said you can not feed treats, I said they are not needed, and why would you purposely put your pet's health at risk when you can get the same enjoyment out of giving them a healthy treat? Can I give them the home grown ones? I had my chinchillas out in the bathroom(which I thought I had done a good job of chinchilla-proofing) little did I know Camille could jump high enough, and bounce off the wall to get up onto the counter-where I had a cactus plant. Buy a hygrometer, this will let you know where their environment is at. Is it just Apple that has been dried? He even sleeps with me sometimes. I have just adopted a Chinchilla and its cage. They can also eat a variety of fruits and nuts, including pistachios. This little guy loves fresh carrots, broccoli, granny Smith apples. They have too much fat and salt content. I didn't give him a lot. i dont care what you sayyou dont own my chinchilla. #5 Strawflower. I want to know if this product is ok to give and is this company reputable ? If you can tell me anything about what is going on with Jane I would greatly appreciate it because I think the doctor is guessing and I have almost spent $300.00 on vet bills. They also can only have certain types of wood. I also add in this organic multigrain crushed grain cereal (looks like oatmeal but with kamut, bran, oat and a few others) AS A TREAT IN MODERATION due to the softer nature. We don't know whether these foods are safe or healthy. We are human after all we all make mistakes so shut your tramp. Had to be super patient with a horse once too. I discovered this lack of knowledge when an apparent er vet in Surrey was poking and prodding in his mouth trying to find and remove something which the student vet discovered (in a book) this was a normal part of his anatomy. They are higher in fiber with no problems in regards to sugar/acid/fat. Kim. we have had ours since she was 6 months she is now 6. she has had a few names but chewy is her name hence she chews so we watch her careful, her cage is in our kitchen as she loves all the activity that goes on. these listed above should be a treat not to replace they daily food. Some dried herbs are safe too and some chinchillas go mad for it. Don't give your chinchillas nuts, sweetened treats, fruits or vegetables. You should feed your chinchillas: Hope this information helps! The girls are a little more accustomed to sweets so peas work for them, in combination with the above seeds. Plain cheerios are safe. Fresh Apple: unsafe, too much sugar and will cause bloat. They are great!!!! Also, may I suggest that when you are bribing them with something, talk baby talk to them. Pistachios are mostly fat with a little protein and carbohydrate. This site has lots of natural products http://www.chinchillas2shop.co.uk/TREATS.html and my boys seem to love love love apple wood sticks, but I don't want to give them anything that would harm them. Saw the one about Honey Nut Cherrios. Yes their are certain things they shouldn't have like Iceburg lettuce and ruhbarb, but come on people try using your brains. I see people bragging that they had their chinchilla for 2 yrs and it's fine that's only 10% of their life span OK, I can relate to that. A variety of vegetables is okay for chinchillas, but avoid fruits and seeds, as they can cause harm to your chinchilla. I let my chinchilla run around my entire living room for about an hour every evening. what other fruits can they have, how long should they be outta their cage. Chin's produce two kinds of droppings: a soft kind loaded with protien which your chinchilla will often eat , and then the hard droppings wich are strictly waste. if anybody else wants to say anything then have them send money to help feed it too. Chinchillas originate from a cold desert. You can give your chin a plain cheerio or unsweetened shredded wheat as a treat. right? I collect pruned sticks from peoples apple trees. I give mine plain potato chips which he LOVES and crackers, raisins, sunflower seeds, lots of stuff I am sure people will say noooooo it's not healthy for them but mine is at least 8 years old and super healthy so I give him little bits of whatever I'm munching on like I just found our right now he loves cool ranch Doritos lol! Shredded wheat without the sugar coating is fine.
© 2023 Lembecker TV 1974 e.V.