What does a chinchilla eat at home? What does a chinchilla eat: the most suitable foods

Feeding chinchillas is a very important stage of their maintenance. In general, feeding the animal is not so difficult, since the chinchilla's diet is very diverse. But it's important to do it right.

Features of feeding. First of all, chinchillas are herbivorous rodents. But unlike their close relatives, guinea pigs, these animals eat very little. At the same time, irrepressible energy and chic fur require a large consumption of nutrients. The food for them should be high-calorie, contain a lot of protein and carbohydrates. It so happened that in their natural habitats, vegetation is sparse, food is not easy to obtain, but at the same time it is nutritious and varied. Therefore, in captivity, the diet of chinchillas must contain a sufficient amount of grain feed, as sources of complete proteins and carbohydrates, grass and hay must also be present. They have the so-called semi-concentrated type of feeding (you can read about what concentrates are in the article ).

Chinchillas, it happens, are picky in eating food, they try new food with caution, and they often get bored with the old one. Therefore, it is desirable that the diet for them is not only nutritious, but also as varied as possible. It's good to have a wide range of products on the menu. It is rare to see that a chinchilla greedily pounces on food. Most often: he will eat a grain, come up to you, look thoughtfully, eat a nut, jump around the cage, eat a grain ... It is important that the cage always contains non-perishable food: grain, hay, tasty granules. If you provide the animal with a good spacious cage so that it can actively move, let it go for a walk, do not give a lot of fatty food and treats, then it will not have obesity. Chinchillas are very energetic animals!

When choosing a diet, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the biology of chinchillas. Like all herbivorous rodents and rabbits, they have sensitive digestion. Firstly, due to the longer intestine (see article - about the biological characteristics of chinchillas). Secondly, herbivores get a lot of the nutrients they need from plant fiber. But, not a single multicellular animal, from a cow to a termite (including our animal), is able to independently break down fiber in the intestines, because this product is generally difficult to process. And herbivores call on the help of various microorganisms that do this for them. Animals, in turn, provide them with a secure habitat and a set of nutrients. In chinchillas, these bacteria live in large numbers in a well-developed caecum. This partnership is called symbiosis. All herbivorous animals are highly dependent on the vital activity of their intestinal microflora. So, for example, a cow, a rabbit, a guinea pig, and our chinchilla can use antibiotics inside only when absolutely necessary.

In order for the population of bacteria not to decrease, it is necessary that the diet contains a lot of fiber and easily digestible carbohydrates. The last animal can get from grain feed. As for fiber, you need to remember that if for us vegetables, fruits, greens are good sources of it, then herbivorous animals have slightly different criteria. Therefore, in order to provide the animal with fiber, a bundle of good hay must be in the cage in winter and summer.

Diet stability is also important for a chinchilla's well-being. And a person who has arrived in another country and switched too quickly to previously unfamiliar foods may develop a serious indigestion. Not only the stomach itself, the intestines and the immune system adapt over the years to strictly defined foods, but also various beneficial intestinal bacteria. They have already learned how to produce enzymes necessary for the processing of familiar products, but then the diet changes dramatically and they do not have time to adapt, their mass death begins. The empty place is no longer occupied by beneficial bacteria, but by pathogenic ones, which always have somewhere to come from, and they adapt much better than useful ones. This is how all the problems actually start. Chinchillas even more than people depend on the vital activity of intestinal microorganisms, because in addition to lacto- and bifidobacteria they have bacteria that process fiber, and for them this development of events is even worse. Therefore, even if you feed the animal with products suitable for him, but today give one oats, and tomorrow - only apples, you should not be surprised that he will have problems with digestion.

When purchasing a chinchilla, these features must also be taken into account. When moving to a new place, it is important to ask the breeder about the nature of feeding the animal and feed it the same way for the first two weeks. Then you can gradually, within 3-7 days, transfer to your own diet.

In very nervous animals, diarrhea can sometimes begin even simply because of the nervous reaction of the body. Such diarrhea, if timely measures are taken, passes without any special consequences for the body. In this case, it is advisable to show the veterinarian and serve only good quality hay and oak or willow twigs for some time.

What foods can be given to a chinchilla.

1. Rough feed. This is hay, branch fodder, tree bark. For chinchillas, the most suitable hay is legume-grass, containing a lot of clover, alfalfa and other legumes. It is not advisable to give legumes in their pure form. The hay must be of good quality. Chinchillas rarely eat large amounts of hay, but it should always be kept in a cage. In order for it not to get dirty, there are various hay feeders.

Dry nettle brooms are very useful and contain many vitamins. For their manufacture, nettles are harvested during flowering and dried in a dry, well-ventilated area.

It is useful to hang branches of fruit trees, linden, aspen in a cage for grinding teeth. Oak, willow, and cherry twigs also have astringent properties and are useful in mild diarrhoea. They also give the bark of all these trees.

2.Concentrates. These are grain feed, legumes, seeds, cereals, bran, bread. Ready-made feeds for chinchillas can also be classified as concentrates, many of which contain other components besides grain.

The easiest way is to buy ready-made food at the pet store. A fairly large number of good balanced feeds are now being produced. It is only important to determine which one your pet will like. There are feeds containing various grain mixtures, dried fruits, whole nuts and granulated ones. The latter are convenient in that the animals do not choose individual tasty grains from the feed, they have to eat all the granules. They are more economical. And the first version of the chinchilla is usually eaten more willingly. It is important that the food consists mainly of grains and grass flour and does not contain a large amount of delicacies: dried fruits, nuts, dried vegetables. Many of these chinchillas are simply thrown out of the bowl. You can choose your favorite delicacies yourself.

It is advisable to purchase food only in specialized stores, and when buying, pay attention to the expiration date. It is useful to consider a small part of the food before giving the chinchilla: is there any mold, bugs. Various insects are not dangerous for animals, but they indicate improper storage of food and it is better not to give such food.

If the pet store did not find food specifically for chinchillas, then you can buy it for guinea pigs or rabbits (but not for hamsters and rats). A chinchilla will not die if you give it such food a couple of times for lack of a better option, but it is better not to feed it all the time, because the nutrient needs of these animals, although similar, are still different. It is also not advisable to feed the animal with one food.

Grain, if you decide to feed them, most often you have to buy it on the market. It is important to purchase it from trusted suppliers. Knowing what kind of grain is good for chinchillas is also important for those owners who buy ready-made feeds and read their composition. It's nice to have an idea of what the money is spent on!

Of the grain feeds for chinchillas, the following are suitable:

Oats are a very valuable product that contains a lot of healthy protein, fats and at the same time does not cause obesity. But, unfortunately, chinchillas, like children, eat everything that is useful worse. Chinchillas can be given not only grain, but oatmeal, oatmeal, they are better perceived by animals. The mucous substances contained in oatmeal and decoction are useful for digestive disorders. Oats are commonly used as the basis for a grain mixture and can make up up to 75% of the total grain.

Barley is also a very valuable grain product, but very hard. It is better to give it to adult animals and in ground form.

Corn - contains even more protein than oats, but this protein is worse in composition, so you can’t feed it with corn alone. Corn, in the stage of milky-wax ripeness (only ripe) has a sweetish taste and is very liked by animals. It can be fed on the cob, but in large quantities it can cause bloating of the intestines, it must be given carefully. At the stage of grain maturity, it can be up to half of the total amount of grain feed. It is best to feed it ground. The most useful are bright yellow and red varieties of corn. They contain carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the body.

Millet is a very useful food, especially red varieties containing a lot of carotene. But chinchillas do not eat it very well, so it is better to introduce it into the diet a little. From economy.

Wheat. It contains a high amount of carbohydrates and proteins, and a low amount of fats, B vitamins. In addition to wheat, wheat bran can be fed to chinchillas. They are introduced into the feed mixed with grain.

Chinchillas should not be given rye. It is very poorly absorbed by all animals.

Grain is fed dry to chinchillas. It is undesirable to constantly give one kind of food, it is better to make a mixture of different types of grains, legumes, seeds. The grain mixture, moreover, will be better eaten.

In addition to grain, you can cook various crumbly cereals: corn, oatmeal, millet, rice, peas (naturally, without salt, oil and ketchup!). Kashi is usually fed as supplementary feed in a separate container. Keep in mind that they quickly deteriorate, and clean up leftovers after feeding. Chinchillas grow well on cereals, as they digest them better than whole grains.

germinated grain very useful for animals, especially during the breeding season, as it contains a lot of vitamin E. This vitamin is responsible for the good functioning of the genital organs, affects the development of embryos. If it is not enough in the diet, animals can be sterile. In addition to this vitamin, they contain a lot of other biologically active substances. They usually germinate oats, barley and wheat, as they are more nutritious. To get such a product, you need to take grain of good quality. Germinated grain is usually prepared in small quantities. The grains are washed and poured in a thin layer into some flat container, such as a tea saucer. Then pour water at room temperature so that it does not completely cover the seeds. After 10-12 hours, the water is drained and washed again. The container is then covered to retain moisture. It is necessary to ensure that the grain does not sour and does not dry out, you can sprinkle it with water. After one or two days, it pecks and the product can be fed to animals. It is strongly not recommended to germinate, as in this case nutrients are lost. Germinated grain should be introduced into the diet gradually, preferably mixed with other food. Germinated grain also spoils quickly, and you need to make sure that it is eaten without residue.

Oilseeds - most often these are seeds (sunflower seeds). They eat with great pleasure. Seeds contain many so-called essential fatty acids, which have a good effect on the condition of the skin and coat. Therefore, it is very useful to give them if you want to improve the appearance of the animal's skin, with various skin problems. Seeds can make up to 20% of the total grain feed. You can not give too much of them because of the high fat content. It is also necessary to monitor their storage, since this feed, if stored incorrectly or for a long time, deteriorates faster than grain. Rancid fats, which in this case can form in seeds, contribute to the development of a dangerous, almost incurable disease - liver dystrophy. Fried seeds are very dangerous for chinchillas, with which children sometimes unknowingly like to feed animals.

Legumes. Peas, lentils, soybeans, beans are superior in protein content and its usefulness to all grain products. They must be included in the diet. But, at the same time, they should never be given in pure form, as they contain substances that can cause bloating in the stomach and intestines. They are included in the grain up to 10-15%. They are given in crushed form.

Nuts! Delicious, love! Nuts of all kinds are very nutritious and highly digestible food. They are also classified as concentrated feed. The hazel is especially useful. It contains up to 70% fat, 20% protein, 8% sugar. But eating nuts in excess can cause indigestion and obesity. Peanuts, like a legume, also often cause bloating. Nuts are best given 1-2 times a week, quite a bit as a food supplement and treat. Agree, if you give nuts every day, then how to lure a chinchilla into a cage after a walk? They must be peeled (chinchilla is not protein!) and raw.

In addition to the above feed, chinchillas can be given raw cereals: rice, buckwheat, barley; corn flakes without additives, a mixture of grated carrots and crackers, weed seeds, stale white bread - all this in small quantities and only as a supplementary feed, they can replace a small part of other concentrated feeds.

Chinchillas can also be fed pumpkin, watermelon, and zucchini seeds. They are healthy and eat well.

3. Juicy food. Juicy food contains a lot of moisture and vitamins. These are various vegetables, fruits and herbs. Here you have to choose those that your pet will like. Some of the succulent foods can become favorite treats, and some animals will not even be touched. Chinchillas are different.

Chinchillas can be given cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, pumpkin, carrots, , kohlrabi, lettuce; from fruits - apples, pears, figs, bananas, grapes, berries. It is advisable to cut large fruits into small pieces. Greens: wheatgrass, clover, knotweed, dandelion, stinging nettle, alfalfa, tops of vegetables (carrots, turnips, Jerusalem artichoke, peas), twigs of fruit trees with leaves. All these feeds can be given in plenty, but it must be borne in mind that they deteriorate very quickly.

When feeding vegetables and fruits, you need to make sure that they are not rotten and spoiled. They must be thoroughly cleaned before use. Buying, just like for your family, is necessary in verified places so that the products do not contain excessive amounts of nitrates and various toxic substances that are used to grow fruits. Like rabbits, it is undesirable for chinchillas to give white, red, cauliflower, red beets. These foods can cause gastrointestinal illness.

When feeding grass, you also need to be careful. Chinchillas should not be given growing along the road, in walking areas of other pets. Care should be taken to feed very young grass in spring, young Jerusalem artichoke tops and all legumes (clover, alfalfa, chin, lupine, etc.). All this is very useful, but under certain conditions it can cause bloating, which is very dangerous for chinchillas. They should be introduced into the diet gradually, in small amounts, preferably mixed with other herbs or after feeding hay. Wet grass can also cause problems with the intestines. The grass is not washed before feeding, but for greater safety and better storage, it is advisable to slightly dry it. Poisonous herbs: bindweed, buttercup, euphorbia, raven eye, horsetail, sweet clover, lily of the valley, henbane, hemlock, etc.

Juicy food and grain, bread often form dangerous combinations that cause fermentation processes in the intestines, so it is advisable to give them at different times.

The best time to give succulent feed on weekdays is in the morning. Then, if something does not fit the chinchilla from the feed, you will be able to notice and fix the problem by the evening.

4. Feed of animal origin. These feeds are especially needed for young, lactating females, especially if the offspring exceeds a couple of babies. Animal feed can be introduced up to 5% of the diet. These include whey, skim milk, curdled milk, meat and bone meal. Like succulent foods, they spoil easily. For them, it is better to use a separate container, which will be thoroughly washed after feeding. Chinchillas can be given powdered milk: it spoils less and can be mixed with grain. We use milk replacer milk for calves in small packages as a cheap option for powdered milk. Comfortable!

5. Vitamin and mineral supplements. A mineral and salt stone must hang in the cage. It will be eaten by the animal as needed. Vitamin preparations are given with an insufficiently balanced diet, lactating and pregnant females, young animals, sick and convalescent animals. It is best to buy liquid vitamin preparations designed specifically for rodents and give them with water, or fortified food. It is difficult to give tablets and powders to rodents. For all other animals, you can simply enrich the diet with foods high in vitamins: red varieties of pumpkin and carrots, sprouted grains, nettle hay, rose hips and mountain ash. You can add dry yeast (2-5 g) to the feed, they contain protein and a lot of B vitamins.

5. Don't forget dessert!

Chinchillas should not be given cookies, sweet buns with vanilla, roasted seeds and nuts, muesli with a high content of various additives. All this animal can eat with pleasure and not even die after the first time. But subsequently feeding such goodies can seriously affect the health of the animal.

Currently, many delicious treats are produced specifically for rodents. There is something to enjoy here. These are various sweet sticks, crackers, baskets with nuts, sweet hearts and circles, biscuits with berries - and all this without the content of various harmful substances. They can brighten up your pet's life, make a great food diversification, be used for training, and some of them are also fortified. The main thing is not to get carried away! A chinchilla is already difficult to feed to satiety, and in this case it will become even more difficult.

Feeding rules. To summarize all of the above, we can say that the animal should always have concentrates in the form of a grain mixture, porridge or ready-made feed about 30 g per day for adult animals in the diet, and young animals and lactating females can have more and a small bunch of hay. All succulent foods are fed in small quantities as they are eaten, in summer they can be given quite a lot. Animal feed is provided as needed. The cage must have fresh water. It is best to use a special teat drinker. When feeding, you need to take into account the nocturnal lifestyle of chinchillas and give the main part of the food, but not succulent food, to give at night. You can feed as many times a day as it is convenient, but the main thing is that a small amount of food is always in the cage.

Feeding chinchillas- an important component of the care of these fur-bearing animals. By the nature of their diet, chinchillas are herbivorous, and they eat any parts of plants with pleasure: herbaceous, woody or shrubby. They also enjoy eating their seeds and fruits.

In nature, they eat little, but at the same time their food is high in calories and contains all the substances necessary for their development, the chinchilla at home also requires that its nutrition be optimally balanced - it must be high in calories and contain many minerals and vitamins.

All feeds that chinchillas should consume at home are divided into concentrated feeds, grain mixtures and greens. At the same time, there must be fresh water in the drinking bowl in the cage.

concentrated feed

Concentrated foods must be present in the diet of chinchillas, as they are the most easily digestible and nutritious. These feeds include grains, legumes and their derivatives.

The grains of wheat, millet, barley and corn contain many minerals, starch and vitamins, so they have a high nutritional value. In addition, they contain lipids and fats, which play a large role in the diet of chinchillas.

Legumes - beans, lentils, beans, peas contain amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, calcium, zinc, potassium and other vitamins necessary for the normal functioning of the body of animals.

You can feed chinchillas and ready-made food, which is sold in pet stores. It is well balanced and contains all the substances necessary for the body.

hay and greens

Hay must be present in the diet of any breed of chinchillas.

Animals can be fed young greens of dandelions, wheat and oat sprouts, which contain fiber, proteins and various minerals. Herbs can be used both ordinary and meadow: horse sorrel, plantain, burdock, strawberry leaves, nettle, etc. It should be borne in mind that greens should be an additive to the main diet and must be dried or completely dry, as it can lead to indigestion.

Hay in the cages should be present year-round, as it helps the absorption of other nutrients and its absence can lead to the death of the animal. Chinchillas should eat at least 25 grams per day. Hay can be given both from meadow grasses and from legumes - clover, sweet clover, alfalfa. Well suited for feeding chinchillas and hay from cereal plants - meadow fescue, timothy grass, meadow bluegrass.

In this case, the hay should be well dried. If it gets wet or has traces of mold on it, you can not feed it to an animal.
In addition to the above plants, the animals consume leaves, shoots and bark: pears, apple trees, hazel, blackberries,

Often, animals are fed with the fruits of trees and shrubs, such as wild rose, hawthorn, pear, apple tree and many others. Chinchillas eat them with pleasure in a dry form.

In no case do not purchase a feed mixture in which the main component is corn: it does not contain useful and necessary nutrients for rodents. In quality feeds, corn is used only as a binder and filler.

Hay in a chinchilla cage should be available throughout the year (animals need about 25 grams per day), as it helps to absorb other nutrients. Lack of hay in the diet can lead to the death of the animal.

Hay contains a lot of fiber and carotene, which is necessary for normal metabolism, growth, development and reproduction of chinchillas; to a large extent it affects the state of the nervous system.

Hay may vary in composition. It is prepared from meadow (not marsh) plants, better than legumes (clover, sweet clover, alfalfa, etc.), as they have the highest nutritional value and contain all the necessary substances - digestible protein, vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, etc. .

For feeding chinchillas, you can use grass hay (meadow fescue, meadow bluegrass, timothy grass, cocksfoot), which is perfectly absorbed by chinchillas, although it contains much less valuable protein and minerals.

Particular care should be taken to ensure that poisonous and harmful plants for chinchillas do not get into the hay: crow's eye, poisonous buttercup, sedge, poisonous milestone, henbane, dope, rush, St. John's wort, ferns, horsetails, marigold, white hellebore, etc.

The nutritional value of hay largely depends on the time of mowing and the quality of drying. Each plant has a specific harvest time when it reaches maturity and contains the most nutrients. So, for example, legumes, meadow and other herbs are recommended to be collected before budding, cereals - during the earing period. It is desirable to select leafy plants: the leaves contain much more minerals, proteins, fats than the stems; besides, they are better absorbed.

Hay, along with combined feed, forms the basis of the chinchilla diet. Therefore, it is very important that it be of high quality, harvested on time and properly dried; Rotten and moldy hay is destroyed.

It should be remembered that in plants mowed later than the required dates, the content of useful substances and carotene is sharply reduced.

The quality of hay depends largely on the method of drying. It is necessary to dry and store hay under a canopy, in an attic, in a barn or shade on grates. Folded in stacks in the open air, after a while it loses a lot of useful substances, especially vitamins. Properly dried hay should be dark green, not yellow. Wetting and warming hay should not be allowed, since the toxins secreted by mold fungi are deadly for chinchillas.

A special diet is required for pregnant and lactating females, young and aging animals. You should be aware that in females and young puppies, the need for calories and nutrients is much higher than in adult animals, and in aging ones it is lower.

The nutrition of pregnant females generally remains the same, however, during this period, they need to be given high-quality, easily digestible and fortified food, with a sufficient content of vitamin E and glucose.

During lactation, it is recommended to include oatmeal in the diet of lactating females and puppies (for females - 6-9 g, for puppies - ground, 2-3 g each) and infant milk formula (respectively 5-7 g and 1-2 g ). Despite the fact that lactation in chinchillas lasts up to 2 months, at the age of one week, puppies can already be given some food intended for adult rodents: dried fruits, supplementary food. Green and juicy food should not be given up to 1.5-2 months.

In the event that the females do not have milk, the puppies are transferred to artificial nutrition. They are fed from a pipette with 26% dry milk (diluted at the rate of 2 tablespoons per 0.5 cup of warm water), 5-6 drops 6 times a day. After about 3 weeks, they are transferred to 5 meals a day, and after another 1.5-2 months - to 2 meals a day. Feeding is done 2 times a day in the morning and in the evening.

When the puppies reach 1.5-2.5 months of age, young willow branches and dandelion leaves are gradually introduced into their diet, then clover and various cereals. You can offer them dried carrots, apples, crushed walnuts

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Farm feed

Hay Meadow

Hay must be present in the diet of chinchillas. Hay is better to give plenty. High-quality hay - dark green, dry and fragrant, without straw, sticks, leaves and other debris

Hay Meadow

Clover and Lucerne

The best hay is made up of legumes such as alfalfa and clover. It is the most nutritious, contains the most digestible protein and calcium and phosphorus necessary for mineral nutrition of animals, the most important vitamins.

Clover and Lucerne

Nettle

It is unusually rich in vitamins, mineral salts, microelements, plant hormones, hence the expediency of application. Stimulates the secretory function of the stomach, pancreas, liver and has a positive effect on intestinal motility.

Nettle

Birch

Leaves and branches are rich in vitamins and sugars, contain a lot of phytoncides, substances with antimicrobial properties. Animals bred in captivity usually lack them, especially young animals. In young birch leaves there is a lot of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), in the kidneys - vegetable fats and other valuable substances. Substances were found in the leaves that stimulate the vital processes of animal organisms, resembling in their composition similar substances of ginseng. Branches are harvested in summer and winter, leaves - in spring and until mid-summer, buds - in early spring during their swelling, before the leaves bloom.

Birch

Rose hip

Use fruits rich in vitamins C, B, B2, K, E, P, PP, carotene, organic acids (citric, malic, etc.), pectins, salts of potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium and manganese, essential and fatty oils, sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose), protein and tannins. Fully ripe fruits are harvested in autumn.

Rose hip

Normalizes the digestive tract, has antimicrobial properties. Horseradish is useful as a general tonic. The roots and leaves of horseradish are rich in vitamin C, contain a large amount of B vitamins, carotene, essential oils, potassium, calcium and trace elements. The plant contains many phytoncides that have a detrimental effect on pathogenic microbes.

Various types of willows are good chewing gum for chinchillas. They use leaves and branches, as well as bark, which contain: a whole set of biologically active compounds - flavones, tannins, glycosides, vitamins, mineral elements; tannin, vitamin C, resinous substances, sugar, etc. Branches are harvested during the winter, bark - in early spring, from branches of medium thickness.

Inflorescences (linden blossom) containing vitamin C, carotene, carbohydrates, tannins and sugary substances are used. Inflorescences (together with the covering leaf) are harvested from the 1st to the 4th day of full flowering, since it is at this time that they contain the greatest amount of nutrients. Inflorescences (together with the covering leaf) are harvested from the 1st to the 4th day of full flowering, since it is at this time that they contain the greatest amount of nutrients.

In recent years, it has become very popular and fashionable to keep chinchillas at home. This cute domestic fluffy animal has become a real favorite of both children and adults. If you already have a chinchilla living in your house, or you are just going to get to know it better, here are some useful tips on how to care for this animal at home ...

First of all, let's understand what kind of animal is this chinchilla ... The chinchilla belongs to the order of fur-bearing animals, its maximum height can reach thirty-eight centimeters, and its weight can be up to five hundred grams. Chinchillas have very beautiful fur in a wide variety of colors, from white to velvety black. With proper care, these small animals live from fifteen to twenty years.

So, we already have a general idea of \u200b\u200bthe chinchilla, now let's talk about how to provide this pet with the most comfortable living under the same roof with a person. Chinchilla, like any domestic animal, needs its own home. A chinchilla can have a metal spacious cage at home (the approximate dimensions of such a “house” are 70x50x70). For ease of cleaning, it would be nice if the tray at the cage is retractable. Many owners of chinchillas let their animals roam around the house or apartment, but even with this mode of free movement, the animal needs a home where it can rest or hide from prying eyes.

Chinchillas love sawdust. So stock up on those. The pallet in the cage is lined with sawdust. Sawdust can be anything except oak. It is necessary to change such a carpet in the chinchilla's house as needed, but the more often you do this, the cleaner it will be in your pet's cage and in your home.

Now, about what must be in the cage ... This is a special drinker, in which there should be clean drinking water (it is better to change the water twice a day), a plate for food, a “bath” or a bath and a shelf or a special elevation on which your chinchilla will sleep. Wet cleaning of the cage (but! Without the use of chemical cleaners - replace them with ordinary soda) should be done twice a week. Then the chinchilla will not bring any smell, any garbage and any microbes into your home.

We mentioned that the cage should have a special bath - "bathing". But, do not rush to fill it with water. By doing this, you can cause irreparable harm to the health of the animal. Fill the bath with special fine sand. It is sold in specialized pet stores or you can take ordinary sand, sift it and ignite it. Animal fur after such sand procedures shines and shimmers. You can not bathe a chinchilla in water !!! Zoologists explain such intolerance to water by the fact that the birthplace of the chinchilla is an arid climatic zone with low humidity. Therefore, high humidity can lead to chinchilla disease and even death. Chinchilla owners are advised to take care to provide their animal with a suitable temperature and humidity regime. The most optimal and useful indicators for a healthy and happy life of a chinchilla are considered to be temperatures not lower than twenty degrees Celsius and not higher than twenty-five degrees Celsius, the humidity level should correspond to fifty-five to sixty percent.

Despite the fact that the chinchilla is an affectionate, cute, homely fluffy animal, don't take it too often- this can harm the health of your pet. Try to express love and care in other available ways.

The diet of this animal should consist exclusively of plant foods.- grains, herbs, vegetables. You can give chinchilla croutons to gnaw. Chinchillas love to gnaw on branches of trees and shrubs, so treat your pet with such a delicacy for him. After all, the chinchilla not only receives nutrients from the branches, but also sharpens its teeth. By the way, about the teeth… In the cage of your chinchilla there must be a special stone with which the animal will grind down its teeth. Otherwise, dental problems, various diseases can shorten the life span of a chinchilla.

How many times a day should a chinchilla be fed?

Veterinarians and specialists in breeding these animals at home come to a consensus on this issue - once a day eating a chinchilla will be enough. By overfeeding an animal, you do not bring him benefit, rather, on the contrary, harm.
In order for a chinchilla to look luxurious, its coat must be looked after. If she is able to carry out sand procedures herself, then you should definitely help her with combing the wool. For this, special combs with long teeth are perfect.
Do not forget also that your pet is a nocturnal animal, which is used to behaving quite actively at night, and during the day, on the contrary, to sleep quietly. Therefore, you should not place a cage with a chinchilla in the bedroom or in the nursery, of course, if the rustling of the chinchilla does not have a lulling effect on you.

You should not start a chinchilla for people who are allergic to animals and small children. The latter must grow up a little more in order to understand that a chinchilla is not a toy, but a living creature.

Any pet in your home is a responsibility, care and care, but it is also joy and positive emotions.

Shevtsova Olga

A small fluffy animal with a cute muzzle and black beads - eyes conquered many animal lovers with its unusual appearance and meek disposition. How to properly care? What to feed a chinchilla? These questions are of interest to novice breeders. For fluffies to be healthy, their feeding must be approached responsibly, choosing good foods.

Chinchillas first appeared in South America. An animal with a long tail lives among the mountains of Chile, and with a short one it is most common in the Andes and Argentina. Animals live on the northern slopes of the mountains.

Chinchillas prefer vegetarian food: various branches of shrubs, plant seeds, fruits and cacti. Fluffy animals do not particularly need water, as succulent feed contains a sufficient amount of liquid. Sometimes chinchillas drink fresh dew. In the natural environment, animals rarely get sick and live up to 20 years, as they feed on a large amount of greenery, including plants, which include astringents.

Rules for feeding chinchillas at home

Chinchilla is primarily a herbivore, so the basis of the diet is plant foods. It is necessary to feed the animal in a balanced and varied way, including vitamins for chinchillas and minerals in the menu. Since the animals eat very little, the food must be of high quality. You need to know what you can and cannot feed a chinchilla.

Chinchillas are very fussy and always choose the most delicious pieces from all the food offered. In this regard, the owners need to ensure that the animals completely eat their portion, as it contains vitamins and nutrients necessary for the health of chinchillas.

You need to purchase capacious and comfortable feeders for chinchillas. If excess food is often left in or around the pet's feeder, reduce the amount of food and also offer fewer treats.

Feeding chinchillas is not an easy task, as they are distinguished by a weak digestive system, therefore it is strictly forbidden to overfeed the animal, treat it from the table and give low-quality products. The food must be of good quality, fresh, without signs of mold, rot or mustiness. The grass included in the diet of fluffy chinchillas should be collected in ecologically clean areas, away from roads and industrial enterprises. Fruits, vegetables, herbs must be thoroughly washed and dried before offering them to the animal.

If the chinchilla ate compound feed and had never tried green food before, you need to accustom it to it slowly, giving in small portions, gradually increasing the amount. If the pet feels good, you can safely introduce juicy food into the chinchilla diet.

It is necessary to give food to the animal once a day, mainly in the evening. Before feeding, the bowl should be washed with plain water without soap and cleaned of food debris.

A certain list of products is put on one animal per day:

compound feed - 1-3 teaspoons;
30 grams of hay;
5 grams of green fodder;
6 grams of additional food (twigs of shrubs and trees);
water;
1-2 pieces of any treat of your choice.

Important! Chinchillas have no sense of proportion. They are happy to eat all the offered delicacies in any quantities. Everything that the chinchilla loves so much - vegetables, fruits, dried fruits and nuts - must be given in strictly defined doses.

Approximate composition of chinchilla food:

carbohydrates make up half of the entire diet;
proteins - 25%;
coarse fibers and fiber - about 15%;
fats - 5%.

Main menu

A chinchilla living at home and eating compound feed must be given vitamins and healthy delicacies. For convenience, you can make a table that will indicate the number of products and the time they are served. How do you properly feed a chinchilla? Basic feeding rules to follow.

In a bowl at the same time, preferably at night, you should pour a certain amount of feed for the chinchilla. What is better to give food, you can find out from breeders or veterinarians. If the animal quickly eats what is offered, then the portion needs to be increased.
Don't forget about water. The drinking bowl should always be filled with clean and fresh water. It is better to pour spring water, but in no case boiled and not mineral.
In the pet's cage, you can put a comfortable hay, where there will always be soft hay.
If the rodent's diet is not completely balanced, a certain amount of vitamins must be added to the chinchilla feed. They should also be given to sick and weakened animals, during pregnancy to a female and lactating females.
Salt and mineral stone can be attached to the bars of the chinchilla cage. From time to time, the pet will gnaw them, grinding off the teeth and at the same time receiving all the substances necessary for the body.
So that the animal does not suffer from a protein deficiency, in addition to vitamins, you can also give a little yeast.

Rough and juicy food

Juicy food includes various vegetables and fruits, greens and tree branches. They contain vitamins and minerals useful for chinchillas. At any time of the year, you can treat your pet with all kinds of branches and twigs of trees and shrubs. Gnawing on hard twigs, the pet grinds off constantly growing teeth.

In autumn, animals are offered vegetables: cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, zucchini. Carrots are given to chinchillas at any time of the year. Animals are very fond of fruits: pears, various varieties of apples, pomegranates, berries.

Fruit is a favorite treat. They need to be given to the chinchilla 2 times a week in a certain amount, for example, one berry or a piece of apple.

Due to the weak digestive system, vegetables also need to be limited, twice a week one small piece will be enough.

The new product is introduced gradually, in small doses, so that the reaction of the animal can be observed. If everything is in order with the pet and there are no problems with digestion, then juicy food is suitable for him.

Rodents are very fond of fresh grass: dandelions, carrot tops, clover. Greens are best given in a clean and dry form.

Combined feed

Ready-made industrial feeds are the main thing in feeding chinchillas. They can be divided into two types: granular and compressed. It is necessary to give only high-quality fresh food of famous brands. The product must be made specifically for chinchillas and not for rabbits or hamsters. The mixture must be well packaged and not expired. Compound feed by weight for chinchillas is not worth buying, as well as cooking it at home.

Violation of the recipe can lead to negative consequences, for example, pet poisoning or the development of various diseases and pathologies in it.

Vitakraft Pellets is the most popular correct food;
Chinchilla Complete - food with fairly soft granules;
Chinchilla Duo is a good food, but chinchillas don't eat it very well.

fragrant hay

Fiber is an indispensable product for the successful functioning of the gastrointestinal tract of chinchillas. The highest amount of fiber is found in hay. In the cage, fresh hay should be in unlimited quantities, so that the animal can get it at any time. Before putting the product in the sennik, it is necessary to carefully check it for the presence of mold, debris, suspicious smell and rot.

You can make your own hay or buy it at a pet store. It is necessary to use such herbs as clover, cereals, bird buckwheat, legumes. Dry hay for chinchillas in a clean and dry area with good ventilation. The resulting product should be dry and fragrant, without foreign inclusions.

It is impossible to allow such herbs as St. John's wort and rush to be in the hay. Breeders should be aware that poisonous plants are very dangerous for chinchillas: crow's eye, poisonous ranunculus, henbane, marigold, white hellebore, poisonous milestones.

Hard food

Instead of compound feed, sometimes chinchillas are fed with grain mixtures, especially in winter, which include:

Oats are the best medicine for indigestion in animals. It contains vitamins B1, B2, B6, as well as healthy fats and carbohydrates. Oats are the basis of the grain mixture.
Millet, containing such a useful component as carotene.
Wheat can be given to animals in the form of bran. It is low in fat and contains many nutrients.
There is a lot of protein in corn that chinchillas need.

In a mixture of various cereals, nuts, legumes and seeds must be present. Porridges are also prepared from grain mixtures, they are especially useful for young animals. Sprouted grains should be given to animals as a source of vitamins. They are added to the diet of animals in a limited amount, as digestive problems can occur from fresh shoots.

Favorite treats for chinchillas

An affectionate pet can easily get used to the owner and even come to his call. For this, you can reward your animal by treating him with a tasty reward. As a treat, you should use delicacies rich in proteins, potassium, calcium, such as: fruits, vegetables, dried fruits and nuts.

In no case should juicy fruits displace dry food from the diet, because it is contraindicated to give them to animals in large quantities.

Chinchillas are very fond of sunflower seeds and nuts such as cashews, hazelnuts, walnuts. Dry rose petals, tea leaves or rowan berries are suitable as sweets.

Chinchillas are big gluttons and are very fond of sweets, so you should not abuse sweet berries and fruits, especially during pregnancy and nursing.

Prohibited Products

A properly formulated diet, rich in useful trace elements, will protect the animal from all kinds of diseases, obesity and early death. It must be completely balanced. A large amount of protein can cause poisoning of the pet's body. If a chinchilla is fed fatty food, the liver and heart will suffer. Too many carbohydrates in the diet will lead to obesity and poor health of the animal.

An approximate list of products - what you can not, under any circumstances, feed a chinchilla.

Do not give any cabbage, beets and potatoes. They can cause indigestion in the animal.
Stale foods, including hay. Food that shows signs of spoilage, rot or mold.
Roasted seeds and nuts, as well as pine nuts, are very fatty foods that are bad for chinchillas. If you regularly treat the animal with fried seeds, the animal can get fat.
You can not give to eat meat and other products of animal origin, because the animals are herbivores.
Veterinarians say that foods with highly allergenic properties, such as citrus fruits, should not be given.
Foliage, branches of coniferous and stone fruit trees. They are poisonous and may contain harmful substances. For chinchillas, their use can lead to irreversible consequences.
Any pastry and bread. Fresh baked goods can cause bloating and upset in the animal's abdomen.
Carbonated and boiled water, as well as tap water.

As soon as the animal appeared in the house, you should immediately try to accustom it to healthy and proper nutrition, as well as a strict feeding regimen. If you follow all the rules and follow the recommendations of veterinarians on how to properly feed chinchillas, you can be sure that the animal will be healthy, mobile and live a long happy life.

A small, fluffy animal is able to win the heart of every person. Moreover, the sellers persuade the future owner, telling how unpretentious, omnivorous, affectionate the chinchilla is. What is there cannot be taken away. This is a charming creature, sweet and gentle. However, you need to think about what to feed your chinchilla long before you bring the fluffy home.

Food for this animal is the most important pleasure from life. He is ready to give anything for food. But you can't feed it to everyone. However, looking at how much energy this creature has, the owner himself is ready to switch to chinchilla food.

Some features of the diet

Speaking about what to feed a chinchilla, it must be remembered that there are a number of rules that must be followed. First of all, in the bowl there should always be a grain mixture or ready-made food for these rodents in the amount of 2-3 tablespoons. If your pet scatters food, selects only individual seeds, then portions should be reduced. Do not forget that the bowl should always have fresh water, as well as soft hay.

In a week, an ordinary chinchilla eats 100 g of hay and drinks 100 g of water. This is a large and mobile animal, whose needs are appropriate. If you are thinking about what to feed your chinchilla, immediately make it your responsibility to prepare a sufficient amount of fragrant hay. Chinchilla loves to steal it very much. Prepare some twigs near the cage and start cleaning. Surely the animal will not resist the temptation to drag a twig from the common pile and, running off to the side, sit down to gnaw it.

Treats for your pet

Speaking about what you can feed a chinchilla besides food, you must also talk about various tasty dietary supplements. As always, a good little bit. But these animals have a surprisingly well-developed sense of proportion. They themselves will not eat more than they should. Chinchillas are very fond of ripe bananas, it is also useful to treat pets with corn and flax seeds. In summer, you can bring your pet leaves of plantain, nettle and dandelion every day.

Dried fruits are great for dessert. It can be an apple, carrot or pear (pre-dried). Once or twice a week, you can give one raisin berry. Chinchilla is a vegetarian, keep this in mind when picking up a treat. The entire diet consists of only natural products.

Daily routine and feeding regimen

Speaking about what to feed a chinchilla, it is necessary to remember the periods of its maximum activity. This is a nocturnal animal, so with the onset of evening, you can put a bowl of food in the cage. This will solve two problems at once: as soon as the animal sees that the bowl is already in the cage, he will run to the place himself, and no additional efforts will be required. However, it is rare to see that a chinchilla greedily pounced on food. Usually she will eat one grain and run to jump around the cage, then return to the cup and circle again.

Do not forget that the stability of the diet is important for the well-being of the chinchilla. If you want to introduce new food into it, then this process should take no less than a week. It is always necessary to keep a mineral and salt stone in a cage. The animal will gnaw them as needed. Now we will take a closer look at how to feed a chinchilla at home.

Food is rough and juicy

It is the main source of trace elements and vitamins. Juicy foods include fresh herbs and tree branches, vegetables and fruits. Organic matter that is important for your pet's growth and development is a great addition. In the autumn, the chinchilla will be happy to gobble up root vegetables, it can be carrots, celery, parsley. From fruits, apples are very useful for these rodents, and from dried fruits - prunes, apples, rose hips, barberries. It is very good if you have the opportunity to collect meadow herbs, it can be alfalfa, garden lettuce, spinach, chicory and raspberries. It is better not to give other plants, since it is very difficult to foresee the reaction. Cabbage should not be given any, any varieties of it cause bloating.

In order for fluffy animals to grind their teeth and at the same time enjoy goodies, it is better to use twigs of apple and pear, willow and acacia, birch and oak. It is these feeds that help provide the body with tannins and biologically active compounds that improve metabolism.

Food is dry and rough

Speaking about how to feed a chinchilla at home, it should be noted that she will need hay in any case, no matter how balanced the diet looks. It is best if you prepare it yourself. To do this, you will have to spend quite a bit of time getting out into nature, walking through the meadows and cutting off the tender grass. Upon returning home, it must be laid out in the shade and dried well. Good quality hay is green in color and has a pleasant aroma. Brown, damp, moldy hay should not be used even for bedding. The animal can try it on the tooth.

If there is no opportunity to collect hay, then you can order it in the village or buy it at a pet store. Your pet will be very happy with such a makeweight to his diet.

Nutrient mixtures

They are sold in every pet store. Speaking about what you can feed a chinchilla, these foods can be put in the forefront. It is in store packages that a balanced mixture is contained that is necessary for the full functioning and development of the animal's body. At the same time, pay attention to the composition - the richer and more diverse it is, the better. But the use of any one type of grain is not recommended.

The composition of the mixture should contain 20% proteins and 5% fats. Feed must be enriched with vitamins and trace elements. Therefore, it is very convenient to buy mixtures that are made at the factory - it is much easier to take into account all the features of your pet's body than to feed a chinchilla at home with various products and hope that a balanced diet will result. Granulated grain mixture is very convenient to serve - the animal will not choose one of the varieties of seeds that he liked the most, but will eat the whole thing.

If the nutrient mixture is not available in the pet store

This may happen, but do not panic - your pet will not go hungry. Now we will consider what you can feed a chinchilla at home. You will need to make a mixture yourself that will contain 20% oats, 20% wheat, 10% buckwheat, 10% barley, 7% peas, 55% crushed corn, 8% flax seed, wheat bran - 10%, dried nettle or alfalfa. In addition, the mixture must be necessarily enriched with special vitamin preparations. It can be Poltamix L or Poltamix F. Additionally, the mixture is enriched with ground calcium and methonine. The result is an excellent nutritional blend.

However, there is one difficulty: unlike nutritional granules, in which all components are thoroughly mixed, here each grain is separated from the other. Your pet does not know that his diet must be balanced, which means that he will choose only what he likes. As a result, the chinchilla will quickly shake out the grains she likes from the feeder and beg for food again. This upsets the necessary balance.

What not to give furry animals

Not everything that you have in your kitchen will suit your animal. Let's talk in more detail about what you can and cannot feed a chinchilla. First of all, you need to eliminate all baked goods. Keep in mind that the animals are very fast, they can get into the kitchen and steal cookies or candy. Chinchillas should not be given white cabbage, cauliflower, red beets, persimmons, peppers. These foods cause intestinal diseases and disorders. There are poisonous herbs that should not get into your pet's cage. These are bindweed and buttercup, euphorbia and crow's eye, sweet clover, lily of the valley, henbane and much more. Don't forget that too much fresh fruit and vegetables can harm a chinchilla's delicate digestive system. It is better to give dried fruits in small quantities.

Summing up

Chinchilla is a funny and cute animal with its own character and passions. However, its nutrition must be carefully monitored, the only way your pet can live a long and happy life. Do not give your furry anything from your table, especially spicy, salty, baked and sweet. This is a pure vegetarian, and therefore you need to feed him exclusively with natural products. If suddenly your pet is poisoned, sick and began to refuse to eat - contact your veterinarian immediately.