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Cheeky Chinchillas - Feeding Your Chinchilla
The
digestive
system
of
the
chinchilla
is
very
delicate,
therefore,
it
is
important
that
they
are
fed
the
correct
food. Chinchillas require a high fibre diet which helps to keep their digestive tract healthy.
I
feed
my
chinchillas
approximately
2
tablespoons
of
chinchilla
pellets,
as
much
fresh,
good
quality
hay
as
they
want
and
water
every
day.
The
amount
of
pellets
given
can
vary
and
some
chinchillas
will
eat
more
than this, but I find this amount is ample for my own chins.
See separate page for HAND FEEDING
It
is
best
to
keep
to
a
regular
feeding
time
if
possible.
Most
people
usually
feed
their
chins
in
the
evening
when
they
are
more
active.
Try
to
use
the
same
brand
of
pellets.
If
for
any
reason
you
need
to
change,
it
is
best
to
mix
a
little
of
the
new
brand
with
the
old.
This
allows
the
chinchilla's
digestive
system
to
gradually
adjust to the new food.
I
do
not
recommend
using
a
mixed
food,
as
some
brands
contain
large
amounts
of
treat
type
foods,
which
your chinchilla will eat rather than the pellets which are good for him.
Always
remember
to
introduce
any
new
food
or
hay
gradually
so
as
not
to
upset
you
chinchillas'
digestive
system.
You
can
find
a
list
of
some
types
of
chinchilla
pellets
at
the
bottom
of
this
page,
showing
their
ingredients
and content analysis
I
can't
stress
enough
how
important
it
is
to
look
after
chinchillas'
teeth.
Their
teeth
are
open-rooted
and
grow
all
the
time.
The
incisors
can
grow
2
to
3
inches
in
a
year.
So,
as
well
as
providing
a
healthy
diet
of
chinchilla pellets and quality hay, you must provide items he can chew on too.
See separate page on
Health
You
can
buy
all
sorts
of
different
items
from
a
pet
shop
or
on
line.
Some
items
include
Cholla
Rings,
Bark
Bites,
Pumice.
Cuttlefish
is
a
good
chew
and
also
provides
calcium.
They
also
enjoy
stripping
the
bark
from
small
apple
twigs.
If
preparing
apple
twigs
yourself,
make
sure
they
are
thoroughly
dried
out
by
baking
or
dehydration, so they are free from any insecticide or bacteria, which could be harmful to your chins.
Chinchillas
will
often
chew
their
wooden
shelving,
so
make
sure
it
is
safe.
Untreated,
kiln
dried
pine
is
ok
to
use
for
shelving,
as
long
as
it
does
not
contain
any
phenol
oils
etc.
Phenol
oil
is
part
of
the
sap
that
is
left
in
the wood after a quick drying process has been used.
Ensure
there
is
plenty
of
fresh
hay
and
water
every
day,
as
well
as
good
quality
chinchilla
pellets.
If
your
chinnie
pulls
out
large
amounts
of
hay,
remove
it
from
the
cage
floor
...
If
it
is
left
it
may
become
soiled
and
contaminated.
You
may
need
to
shop
around
for
good
quality
hay.
Make
sure
that
it
is
free
from
chemicals
and
is
always
fresh.
Do
not
use
musty,
dusty
or
mouldy
hay.
Eating
mouldy
hay
could
cause
health
problems.
Loose,
coarser hay is best for chewing and grinding and so good for your chinchillas' teeth.
See separate page on
General Care
Hay
plays
a
very
important
part
in
their
diet.
It
is
an
excellent
source
of
fibre
and
the
chewing
action
also
helps in grinding down their teeth.
There
are
a
number
of
different
types
of
hay
available;
Timothy
Hay
being
a
popular
one.
If
you
are
in
the
UK,
you
might
want
to
try
some
dust
free
hay
from
dustfreehay.co.uk
It's
lovely
hay
and
organically
grown. Particularly good for you too, if you suffer from hay allergies
If
you
have
trouble
feeding
hay,
Readigrass
is
a
good
alternative,
particularly
if
you
have
a
chinnie
with
dental problems. See
Hand Feeding
Do not be tempted to buy cheap substitutes if it does not tell you what is in or on the product.
Make
sure
there
is
always
fresh
water
available.
Scrub
the
water
bottles
well,
to
prevent
bacteria
from
forming. An ideal brush, is the long angled type that is used for cleaning baby's bottles.
Chinchilla food bowls are usually the earthenware type, although you can buy stainless steel.
Plastic bowls should
not
be used as this would be harmful to the chinchilla if he chewed it.
Examples of two types of bowls
Chinchillas
are
Coprophagic,
which
means
they
sometimes
eat
their
own
droppings.
You
may
have
noticed
your
chinnie
doing
this.
It
is
quite
normal.
They
can
produce
two
types
of
droppings;
the
softer
type
they
will
eat as they contain good bacteria which they can take back into their system.
Chinchillas, like all animals, love a treat and it would be very easy to give them too many.
But remember, a chinchilla's digestive system cannot tolerate too much sugary food, so avoid sweet treats.
An
example
of
a
treat
would
be;
a
few
rolled
oats
(just
a
tiny
pinch
and
not
the
quick
cooking
or
instant
sort),
maybe
a
dried
rose
hip,
which
is
high
in
vitamin
C,
or
a
few
dried
leafy
treats
suitable
for
chinchillas.
Treats should only be given occasionally - perhaps 2-3 small treats a week.
Dried, healthy treats can be found in the larger pet shops or on line.
Do
not
use 'our' dried vegetable that might contain additives.
A
sunflower
seed
or
a
bit
of
a
peanut
now
and
then
will
probably
not
harm,
but
it
is
best
to
avoid
them
altogether as they are high in fat.
Chinchillas
do
not
have
a
gall
bladder,
which
means
any
foods
containing
high
levels
of
fat
are
bad
for
them.
The
gall
bladder
is
an
organ
which
contains
bile,
produced
by
the
body
to
break
down
fat
during
the
digestive
process.
As
chinchillas
do
not
have
a
gall
bladder,
eating
treats
containing
high
levels
of
fat
might
build up fatty deposits which could cause liver damage i.e. Hepatic Lipidosis.
Treats should not become a substitute for pellets and hay, which provide a healthy, balanced diet.
Some Chinchilla Pellets
These are guide lines only of the main ingredients - not all ingredients and contents may be listed here
Cheeky Chinchillas
For Owners of pet Chinchillas
Charnwoods
Chinchilla Pellets (Breeding & Active)
Protein 20.1% Oil 4.0% Fibre 12.4% Ash 7.6%
Science Slective
Protein 16.0%, Crude Fibre 19.0%, Fat Content 3.0%, Inorganic Matter
7.0%, Calcium 0.8%, Phosphorus 0.4%
Lucerne meal (alfalfa), soya hulls, wheat, soybean meal, wheat feed,
extruded locust beans, dried parsley, dried plantain, linseed, monocalcium
phosphate, salt, calciumcarbonate. No added suagar.
Beaphar Care +
This formula is low in fat, high in roughage and contains
Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids.
Cereals, derivatives of vegetable origin, vegetable protein
extracts, seeds, minerals, yeasts, vegetables, Yucca
schidigera, algae (Spirulina 0.01%).
Henry Bell
Protein 17%; Fibre 14%; Ask 7%; Oils 4.5%; Vitamin A D3 & E
Ingredients:
Wheatfeed
Oatfeed
Extracted
Sunflower
Grass
Meal Peas Barley Soya Vegetable Fat.
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