Chinchilla - Kessler

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THE CARE AND FEEDING OF THE CHINCHILLA

By Carole Kessler

HOUSING:

The chinchilla should be housed in a wire mesh cage. The most popular wire is the 1" by 1/2" which will prevent young kits from escaping from their cage. These cages can be found in the pet stores, supply catalogs or from individual people who will make your cage to your specific design. The best cage is the solid bottom with the shaving pan inside the cage as the floor of the cage. It is very important to use only pine shavings in their pans as the chinchillas is sensitive to some types of wood.

FEED:

A well balanced feeding program is very important for chinchillas. You may find chinchilla feed in pet stores but the best place to purchase your feed is from professional breeders. The quality of their feed is much more superior. The basic diet for chinchillas consists of pellets and hay. The hay may be either the hay cubes or the loose hay. Finding quality hay is very important to the health and well being of the chinchilla. Their treats should be kept to a minimum and these can include a raisin or slice of apple per day. On our feeding program we also give them a whole grain supplement treat which is fortified with vitamins and minerals. Consult an experienced breeder for information and help in setting up your feeding program.

WATER:

Good clean water is very important. The water bottles are changed at least every other day. Make sure the bottles are washed and rinsed throughly each time before filling with new water. If you have well water it might be best to place them on distilled water unless you have had the water tested.

DUST BATH:

Chinchillas clean their fur by taking a dust bath. The dust recommended is Blue Cloud. They require a dust bath at least twice a week. Every other day is recommended if you have the time. It is one of their favorite past times. You may use a fish bowl or a pan which is deep enough to keep the dust from flying out. The average length of time for their bath is 10 minutes. After taking their bath most of them will settle down for a nap in the pan if it is not removed. It is best to remove the pan from the cage or they may dirty the dust which then will have to be replaced with new dust. Each cage should have it's own dust pan.

PLAY TIME:

Chinchillas love to come out for play time. They are very inquistive and will check everything out. They have a tendency to chew on the things they find, so it is best to choose a special place for play time. All electrical cords should be out of their reach. Some household plants can be toxic to them if eaten and these are best placed where they can not get into them. A smaller area in which you can sit with them is best. They will spend more time climbing over you and sitting with you rather than exploring the wide open spaces.

BREEDING:

If you purchase a pair of chinchillas you can look forward to having some little ones. The gestation period is 111 days. The kits are born with all their fur, eyes open, twenty teeth in their little mouths and on the move a short time after birth. They are little miniatures of their parents and one of the most adorable creatures to behold. They are weaned from their parents at about 7 weeks.

If you are not interested in having babies but do want to have a companion for the chinchilla, you may place two males or two females together. Chinchillas love to have someone to cuddle with. Many pet owners are choosing to do this.