What food can you give your chinchilla? What can you feed a chinchilla at home? What they like to eat: treats

What to feed your chinchilla?

In our last publication, we talked about the benefits of keeping such an animal as http://onlinepaydayloansusca.com/ chinchilla at home - read about it. We also touched upon the question of where the rodent should live and how best to arrange a cage for it. Today we will consider the topic, how to feed payday loans to a chinchilla. As they say, comfort is comfort, and without proper diet nutrition, this pet is unlikely to be able to live long and happy life to your delight. So, how and what to feed your pet chinchilla correctly...

Features of the chinchilla's diet

Your chinchilla is a herbivore, which means she is a vegetarian. Therefore, you should not offer her meat. The diet of this herbivorous rodent may include various herbaceous plants, legumes, cereals, seeds of such plants, moss, lichen, shrubs, tree bark and, at the request of the chinchilla itself, small insects. In principle, if we consider the gastronomic preferences of this fluffy creature, then chinchillas are not picky when it comes to choosing food. However, you can independently try to determine what your rodent likes most and periodically pamper him with such a treat.

By the way, some chinchilla breeders claim that if you have ever dealt with direct payday lenders rabbits, then you can easily cope with caring for a chinchilla, since in principle these two types of animals have a lot in common with each other.

What to feed a chinchilla

Today at any pet store you can purchase ready-made special food for chinchillas. They are the simplest answer to the question of what to feed your pet. If you have the time, desire and opportunity, you can try to create a menu for your chinchilla yourself. It may include fruits, plant seeds, and even bread crusts, tree branches, hay, dried fruits and nuts. By the way, many chinchillas adore barberry and rose hips.

True, if you prepare food for your chinchilla yourself, you should follow some rules so that your pet does not have stomach problems and does not cry in pain. So, for example,

if you want to give the chinchilla stems fresh plant, then it is better to wither or dry them a little, and only then give them as a treat, since fresh shoots can cause bloating in the chinchilla. It is not recommended to give to chinchillas raw beets and potatoes. And, it is recommended to wash all other vegetables and fruits well before offering them to your pet.

Hay for chinchilla

We have already written that your pet’s diet must include hay. It's best to have mixed grass hay (different types of grass) so you get a variety of nutritional benefits from this addition to your main diet. You can prepare it yourself or purchase it at a pet store. By the way, if you choose the first option - harvesting it yourself - collect the grass away from busy highways so that such grass is not saturated with exhaust gases. Dry it thoroughly and make sure that during storage the hay does not become wet and begin to mold.

You cannot feed your chinchilla hay that has a musty smell and has begun to mold. The animal may become poisoned and die.

Water for chinchilla

Despite the fact that the animal drinks little and not often (in nature, chinchillas don’t drink at all - it’s hard to believe, but such data can be found), in its cage there must always be fresh, clean, boiled water, which you will regularly change. Don't forget to wash the water bottle itself every day. However, without the use of cleaning agents or chemicals.

Also, you should know that giving your chinchilla tap water that comes from the tap in your home is not recommended. If the water is chlorinated, the animal may die. Therefore, it is better to use either filtered and purified boiled water, or give artesian or mineral, but without gas.

Additional food for chinchillas

In order for your rodent to have the opportunity to grind down his front incisors, and you do not have to go to the veterinarian with problems associated with the chinchilla’s teeth, be sure to put several dry branches of payday advance trees in his cage. These can be branches of apple, acacia, pear, birch, willow, hazelnut or linden. payday loans online Ah, here's to give some twigs coniferous trees It’s better not to – they have a high resin content. The same can be said about branches of citrus fruits, cherries, plums, oak and walnuts. It is not recommended to give them to chinchillas.

If the rodent does not want to chew branches, you can put special stones made of chalk or pumice in the chinchilla’s cage. Just make sure that they are truly natural and without additives. By the way, The chalk itself will also be useful to your chinchilla as a mineral supplement.

What foods should not be given to a chinchilla?

You should not give meat to rodents

And, although you adore your payday loans animal and want to pamper it, we do not recommend that you give your chinchilla food from your table, treat it with cookies, sweets... Even if the animal likes such human delicacies, this does not mean at all that they will be useful for the chinchilla. As a result of consuming such fatty and high-calorie foods, she may become obese, and this will not only negatively affect her ability to reproduce, but will also shorten the life of your pet, since excess weight It definitely won’t improve your chinchilla’s health. That's why, It’s better to find another way to express your love and don’t give your chinchilla cookies, chocolate, sweets, spicy, salty, smoked foods...

Vitamins and microelements for chinchillas

Your pet will be healthy, active and cheerful if, along with food from its diet, it receives all the vitamins and microelements necessary for its growth and development. Well, since on the day you purchased the chinchilla you swore to take care of it, we invite you to dwell in more detail on what vitamins and microelements are vital and necessary for your rodent and why he needs them.

Proteins in chinchilla foods

Fats in chinchilla foods

Fats in the diet regulate the water balance in cells, are responsible for the supply of salts and amino acids, act as a solvent for vitamins K and A, and are a source of energy. But, despite these benefits of fats, an excess of them in the diet is harmful to health. That's why, It’s still not worth overusing chinchilla nuts, sunflower seeds and seeds of other oilseeds.

Carbohydrates in chinchilla foods

Carbohydrates are also one of the main sources of energy in the animal's body, and they are also part of cells and help the body utilize fats. The most carbohydrates are found in beans, oats, corn, lentils and soybeans.

Vitamins in foods for chinchillas

• Vitamin A– if your chinchilla does not receive enough vitamin A, it may develop problems with vision and with the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract and skin. Therefore, make sure that your chinchilla eats rose hips, raw red carrots, pumpkin, bananas, spinach, lettuce, milk and corn.
• B vitamins– they regulate metabolic processes in the animal’s body, ensure normal growth, development, skin regeneration, and blood formation. B vitamins are found in legumes, cereals, milk, lettuce and spinach.
• Vitamin C– responsible for maintaining and strengthening health, helping the body fight viruses and microbes. The most vitamin C is found in berries, fruits, and vegetables, rose hips and sorrel.
• Vitamin E- responsible for healthy condition skin and muscle strength, has a positive effect on work reproductive system. Sources of vitamin E for chinchillas are wheat germ, spinach, soya beans, almonds, corn, walnuts.
• Calcium acts as a building material for bones and teeth, regulates the functioning of the heart vascular system, plays an important role in the body’s ability to resist infections. A chinchilla can replenish its calcium reserves by consuming nuts, apples, seeds, wheat, raisins, soybeans, beans and dried apricots.
• Potassium– necessary for the normal functioning of soft tissues, present in 50% of all fluids in the rodent’s body. Your chinchilla can replenish its potassium reserves by eating pine nuts, raisins, carrots, sunflower seeds and dandelion leaves.
• Zinc– if you care about the health of your rodent, then you must ensure that the animal does not lack zinc. In addition, this element is responsible for the ability to distinguish taste and the ability to smell. A lot of zinc is found in sprouted wheat, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, and legumes. But berries, fruits and vegetables, unfortunately, contain very little zinc.
• Iron- As in human body, and in the chinchilla’s body it payday loans online is contained in small quantities, but is responsible for many functions, including providing the body’s cells with oxygen and supporting the immune system. A lot of iron can be found in peas, beans, soybeans, breadcrumbs made from wholemeal flour, as well as in green leafy vegetables and instant payday loans rose hips.
• Magnesium– the role of this element is also very important, it influences energy processes and participates in immune processes. Sources of magnesium for chinchillas include oatmeal, beans, nuts, soybeans and buckwheat. In winter, you can also give your chinchilla dried fruits, prunes, raisins and dried apricots.
• Folic acid– if you are planning to breed chinchillas at home, or your female chinchilla is already expecting offspring, or maybe your rodent has experienced serious stress and illness and is just beginning to recover from it, you definitely need to make sure that its The diet necessarily contained wheat, vegetables, dried fruits and oatmeal, which contain folic acid necessary for the restoration of the body...

How often to feed a chinchilla

Chinchillas eat very carefully

Most chinchilla breeders are inclined to believe that It’s still better to feed your pet more than once a day, but to divide the daily portion of food - this is approximately 2 tablespoons of dry ready-made food, divided into 2 times. That is, you pour 1 tablespoon of food into the chinchilla's bowl in the morning, and pour 1 tablespoon in the evening, before bed. It is recommended to remove any leftover food, if any, rather than supplement it with a fresh portion.

By the way, it is better not to overfeed the animal, despite a good appetite chinchillas (healthy individuals are almost always ready to chew something), you should not indulge such weaknesses of the rodent, as this can lead to obesity, and in general spoil the character of the chinchilla. Quite often one comes across such statements from chinchilla owners that if they are overfed, the rodent begins to rage and creates chaos in the cage.

Chinchillas are two species of malt rodents native to the Andean Cordillera in South America. These animals have very soft fur, large hind legs, tiny front legs, big eyes and ears. Previously, these animals lived in Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Chile, but today their colonies in the wild are found only in Chile.

In nature, chinchillas eat dry grass., leaves and bark of fruit bushes and trees. In the high mountainous regions of the Andes, the vegetation is usually dry and for the same reason, a diet of dry plants is recommended for chinchillas living at home. Their digestive system designed to absorb most of the dry food offered in their habitats, so the length of the intestines can reach a length of 2.5–3 m, which is quite a lot considering the size of these rodents.

Today, chinchillas are popular pets, but they require special care, so it's best to buy them experienced owners pets who know everything about the needs of these animals.

Power supply has a very big influence on the health of chinchillas, as dental and intestinal diseases are the leading cause of death for these animals requiring greater dietary consistency than other small mammals. Because a chinchilla's microflora (the microbes that live in the intestines and play a critical role in digestion) are delicately balanced, your pet's health can be seriously affected if his daily diet changes suddenly or you offer him too much food.

These rodents require a lot of roughage, and their diet should mainly consist of good quality hay along with pellets made specifically for chinchillas. Any diet changes should be gradual.

What can you feed a chinchilla at home?

Food prepared specifically for chinchillas should contain 16–20% protein, 2–5% fat and 15–35% fiber. Chinchillas have special dietary requirements that differ from other rodents, and their health will suffer if they are not fed a high-quality, chinchilla-specific food.

Hay is the staple diet of chinchillas, and the main components of hay are tough, fibrous stems and grasses. They provide the bulk of the fiber. Without fiber movement long intestine of these rodents may slow down or even stop completely. This dangerous condition, known as gastrointestinal stagnation, often proves fatal in a very short time.

There are two types of hay intended for chinchillas. These are alfalfa hay and grass hay. The main difference between alfalfa hay and grass hay is that in alfalfa more protein and calories. There are other differences, such as differences in the ratios of phosphorus, calcium and vitamins. Grass hay is better for teeth, and alfalfa hay should be given to young animals, pregnant, lactating, and sick animals. Both types of hay can be purchased at any pet store.

In the wild, these animals are adapted to eating vegetation with high content coarse fibers Therefore, in percentage terms, chinchilla food should consist of 80-90% hay, 10% pellets and about 2% fruits or vegetables. The pellets must contain all the nutrients in the correct percentage.

Remember that the granules must be specific for chinchillas and should not contain grains and seeds, milk and dairy products, eggs, waste products, fruits and vegetables. When purchasing pellets, even if the packaging shows a chinchilla, always read the ingredients listed. Daily amount of granules for adults it is about 30 grams (two tablespoons).

Pelleted diets are better than bulk food mixtures. Bulk formulas can be balanced, but only if your chinchilla eats all parts of the mixture (and chinchillas tend to choose what they like from the mixture).

If you choose to feed these animals a free-form formula (with pellets, seeds, corn, etc.), be aware that there is a concern that feeding corn may cause digestive upset and bloating, although many chinchilla foods contain processed corn in them. as an ingredient. WITH scientific point vision, little is known regarding ideal diet for chinchillas. Perhaps because corn is starchy and likely largely indigestible for chinchillas, whole corn should be avoided as a major part of the diet.

Some of these vegetables - such as Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, parsley, celery and spinach should not be fed frequently as they contain high levels of calcium. Apart from carrots, other vegetables should be given in a dried state.

Fruits can be given as dessert in small quantities. It can be:

Dried fruits are preferable as fresh ones can cause diarrhea. Citrus fruits should not be given.

Sticks, branches are necessary element in any chinchilla diet. For these animals, gnawing on sticks is not only a pleasure, but also a huge help in combating the continuous growth of teeth.

Make sure the wood you use has not been treated with pesticides. In addition, you should not give branches of coniferous trees, as they contain resins. The following tree species are recommended:

These types of wood do not contain resins and essential oils, which are harmful to these animals.

There should always be water in the cage, which should be changed at least once a day, especially in summer.

What not to feed

Do not feed wet, musty-smelling hay.

Do not give acidic fruits and vegetables - lemons, grapefruit, tomatoes, etc. The digestive system of these animals Does not cope with high acidity.

Avoid corn as it will cause bloating, which is fatal in most cases. Corn is also susceptible to mold and fungi during production and storage.

Chocolate is very dangerous for animals in general and can cause damage to both the digestive and nervous systems.

It is forbidden to give meat and dairy foods. Chinchillas are strict vegetarians, and they should not be given anything other than plant food. Otherwise, it will have serious and deadly consequences.

Be very careful when letting animals out of your cage, as many indoor plants are poisonous to this animal, especially azalea, begonia, ivy, ficus, oleander, etc.

Chinchillas are active at dawn and dusk, and although they can change their habits gradually, you need to feed them around the same time each morning and evening.

These rodents are famous beggars, and you cannot indulge their requests, since they can eat almost anything you give them.

When you hand feed your chinchilla, keep in mind that they rely most on their sense of smell as their eyes are on the sides of their head, so sometimes they may have trouble finding food or may accidentally bite your finger.

Herbs fresh or dried- can be offered 3-4 times a week a small amount of. Fruits, fresh or dried, are also offered 3–4 times a week.

Vegetables or herbs need to be cut into very small pieces(1-2 pieces 2-3 times a week).

The diet of chinchillas should not be confused with the diet of rabbits, guinea pigs and other rodents.

Grains - can be offered 2-3 times a week, about 1 teaspoon.

Most foods sold in pet stores are high in sugar, fats and oils. In addition, they contain preservatives.

Because these animals love to eat and chew anything in their path and are very curious, make sure electrical cords, toxic plants, or anything breakable are kept out of reach.

What to remember when feeding your chinchilla

Fresh hay Wood and water must always be available. The water must be fresh and 100% free of chlorine and heavy metals.

A limited amount of vegetables and fruits can be given daily, but their amount should not exceed 10% of their total food.

Vegetables and fruits not eaten within 24 hours should be removed.

Consult your veterinarian if you are unsure whether you are feeding your chinchilla correctly.

When breeding, you should be especially careful about what chinchillas eat, as well as the organization of their diet. Quality food is the key normal development and animal growth. In general, the list of foods that rodents can eat is very limited. Therefore, you should prepare in advance approximate diet for chinchilla.

The natural habitat of chinchillas is desert highlands. In the wild, rodents consume a minimum of water and food. This is due to the scarcity of vegetation growing in the mountains and its high calorie content.

1. The diet should be balanced.
2. You should include sufficiently high-calorie, but not fatty foods in the menu.
3. The rodent should receive the necessary vitamins and minerals not only from vitamin mixtures, but also from everyday food.
4. Your diet should include at least 5-7 different foods.

Chinchillas change their taste preferences quite often. To some extent, this is due to the ability of animals to independently determine which beneficial substances they need at the moment. However, it should be taken into account that rodents are very fond of treats: fruits, berries, some herbs. Animals can consume them in large quantities, which is harmful to their health. Therefore, the quantity of these products should be limited.

Chinchillas are quite picky eaters. To prevent the animal from losing its appetite, it is necessary to make its diet varied. At the same time, the menu must be changed every 4-6 months. In this case, pregnant or sick animals must receive special nutrition.

Features of care

1. An enclosure for an adult rodent must have dimensions of at least 100x50x55 cm. This must also be taken into account if several individuals live in one cage.
2. It is necessary to equip the enclosure with various houses, stairs and labyrinths. Chinchillas are very active, especially during the mating period.
3. Rodents need to have their fur cleaned regularly. To do this, you need to install a sufficiently deep and wide container filled with clean sand in the cage. Chinchillas enjoy bathing in it. The sand bath should be removed from the enclosure when the female is preparing to give birth.
4. The cage must have a sufficiently voluminous bedding of shavings or hay. Do not use animal litter or newspapers for these purposes.
5. Chinchillas are pack animals. Males tolerate loneliness especially poorly: they begin to refuse food, lose their fur, and get sick. Therefore, it is recommended to have two or more rodents.

Chinchilla's daily routine and diet

Chinchillas are nocturnal animals. They sleep during the day and begin to be awake after 6-8 pm. This should be taken into account when organizing the feeding of the rodent. The animal must have access to food at night.

Chinchillas need to constantly have their teeth ground down. Their incisors become dull and renewed over time. Therefore, the enclosure must have wooden logs made from apple, birch or linden, special chalk or mineral stones, wooden toys, etc.

Chinchilla diet

A complete diet for chinchillas must necessarily include roughage, that is, hay and twig food, bark feeding, fresh herbs, various vegetables and fruits, etc. The menu for rodents should be drawn up taking into account the following factors:

• daily needs of chinchillas in a certain amount nutrients;
• sex and age of the individual;
• the health status of the animal;
• physiological characteristics: pregnancy, lactation;
• time of year.

It is necessary to carefully select the products that are included in the diet of animals. Hay, grass and bark must be clean, free from dust, rot and rot. Before giving food to chinchillas, you need to check its smell: it should not smell rotten or damp.

Rodents are very sensitive to various fungi and bacteria, which often affect wet hay or grains. Required Products can be prepared in advance in large quantities, taking into account the fact that per year one individual consumes about 10 kg of ready-made combined feed and approximately 7 kg of hay.

Animals' diets should be dominated by foods high in fiber and protein. In addition, chinchillas need adequate amounts of minerals, vitamins, fluids and fatty acids. Lack of various nutrients leads to increased morbidity in animals and their early mortality. Deficiency of protein and calcium is especially dangerous for pregnant females, as it causes various malformations in the offspring.

What to feed a chinchilla at home?

On average, an adult eats 50-65 g of food per day. In this case, the quantitative content of the diet is as follows:

In addition, a healthy animal should consume at least 20 ml of water per day.

The daily diet of a rodent includes basic food, additional feeding and treats, which the animal should receive in unlimited quantities:

• main food: combined feed, hay and branches, water;
• complementary foods: greens, fruits and vegetables, grains;
• treats: nuts, berries, special treats for chinchillas;
• vitamins and minerals in the form of granules, tablets or solutions.

Daily diet

The main daily diet of a rodent includes a combination of food and hay. These products and fresh pure water must be freely available in the enclosure at all times.

Combined feeds

Ready-made feeds vary in type; they can be granulated or extruded, that is, compressed under pressure and high temperatures. Preference should be given to products from well-known, reliable brands specializing in the production of food for chinchillas.

Do not feed formula for guinea pigs, rabbits or other animals. It is also not recommended to purchase such food in bulk or make it yourself.

In the wild, chinchillas consume a strictly limited amount of different plants, so a violation of the composition of the food or its proportions can cause intestinal disorders, liver disease and a number of other pathologies in the rodent.

Mixtures can be either homogeneous in composition or containing particles of vegetables, grains and other food components. If the animal prefers to choose some of its favorite products from the food, then it is worth purchasing homogeneous mixtures. Otherwise, the chinchilla will not receive the necessary nutrients.

An optimal combination food for a rodent should contain about 20% fiber, 15% protein, 5% fat and about 6% minerals. This balance is necessary to provide the chinchilla with sufficient nutrients. The most popular foods among breeders are Beaphar, Vitakraft, Versele-Laga, etc.

Hay

Hay is the main source of fiber in a chinchilla's diet, and animals should always have free access to it. Before placing it in the feeder, you must make sure that there are no sticks, debris or other foreign matter in the feed. To make hay, you should use clover, cereals and legumes, buckwheat, etc. These plants contain sufficient amounts of proteins, phosphorus and various vitamins. The hay should be dry, elastic, without rotten or damp grass.

Grass pellets should not be substituted for hay. For their production, dry dust and waste obtained from packaging hay are used. This food does not provide animals with a sufficient amount of nutrients and weakly stimulates the peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract of rodents.

Legumes are high in protein, and cereals are rich in all kinds of vitamins. Therefore, it is recommended to prepare several different types of hay and mix them before feeding the animals. This will allow the chinchillas to get enough nutrients.

A big advantage is the ability to harvest and dry plants yourself. Timely mowed legumes and cereals contain vitamins A, E and B necessary for the normal functioning of the nervous and vascular system of rodents. Plants should be dried in dark, drafty rooms: in open sheds, attics or haylofts. This measure will prevent vitamins from being destroyed by sunlight.

Water

When organizing an enclosure for chinchillas, it is recommended to install a special drip drinker. In cups and other open containers, water quickly becomes clogged with sawdust and sand. In addition, chinchillas are very active; while jumping around the cage, they can overturn the drinking bowl.

Important! Do not use mineral, carbonated or medicinal water. It is also prohibited to give chinchillas unboiled water from various reservoirs or from the tap.

Tap water contains: great amount various substances and impurities, including chlorine, which has a detrimental effect on the rodent’s body.

Lure

Additional feed is about 20% daily diet chinchillas. It includes a variety of different herbs and leaves, grains and rolled oats flakes.

Herbs

Fresh or slightly dried tree leaves and various herbs allow the chinchilla to receive a huge amount of vitamins necessary for health. The most nutritious leaves are legumes and strawberries, dandelions, nettles and rhubarb.

Please note that you cannot completely replace your chinchilla’s regular diet with green food. Excess fresh feed is fraught with the development of intestinal dysfunction in rodents.

Most chinchillas love fresh leaves trees:

Leaves of willow, pear, blackberry and sea buckthorn are also used for feeding. Under no circumstances should you offer animals branch feed made from elderberry, almonds and bird cherry. The bark and shoots of these plants contain toxic substances.

Other plants

In addition to tree leaves, rodents enjoy drinking tea, rose and rose hip buds, hawthorn fruits, dried fruits and rolled oats. These foods should be limited in the chinchillas' diet, as animals can eat excess amounts of such complementary foods.

Dried fruits should also be included in the diet of chinchillas. Rosehip and hawthorn berries can be given to animals in almost unlimited quantities. The fruits of these bushes contain many nutrients, which is especially important for growing chinchillas and young animals. You can treat your rodent to blueberries and pieces of dried fruit once a day. And raisins, which animals love very much, are introduced into the diet no more than once a week.

Rose hips are one of the most useful types of complementary foods for rodents.

For the full growth and development of chinchillas, rolled oats and sprouted cereals should be added to their diet.

You should check the food in advance: make sure that the grains are clean and free of mold and mildew. Hercules, sprouted oats or barley can be given to animals one teaspoon per day.

Diet of a sick chinchilla

A sick animal most often refuses to eat. In this case, you need to independently feed the rodent with a water-salt solution. In this case, 1 teaspoon of salt should be stirred in 250 ml of water.

If a chinchilla feeds on its own but is losing weight, it is recommended to use various high-calorie feeds, gels and pastes for rodents. These products can also be given to the animal from a syringe or pipette.

If the rodent cannot chew hard food, you can grind the food in a coffee grinder. It is recommended to add crushed vitamin C and a few drops of vitamins A and E. This mixture is given to the chinchilla from a syringe, spoon, or placed in a feeder if the animal is able to eat it on its own.

Vitamins

Animals obtain most of their vitamins and minerals from food. However, in winter time or a period of illness, chinchillas need to receive additional amounts useful substances. For normal development of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, rodents must receive B vitamins, which are contained in special powder complexes or drops.

In early spring, ascorbic acid will help compensate for the lack of vitamin C. When purchasing it at a pharmacy, please note that the drug should not contain flavorings, glucose or flavoring additives.

Treats for chinchillas

Chinchillas are very fond of various treats. Treats for rodents include all kinds of fruits and berries, as well as specially prepared feed additives. Animals give the greatest preference to the following products:

• fresh fruits: apples, pears and melons;
• dried fruits: prunes and dried apricots, raisins;
• hawthorn, rose hips.

Fruits are a tasty treat and a source of vitamins for rodents

You should alternate the use of different fruits and berries in your chinchilla’s diet. As a reward or for training purposes, you can also use various cereal or fruit treats that are sold in pet stores. However, you should strictly limit the number of treats your rodent receives. Otherwise, you can overfeed the animal and harm its health.

Products prohibited for rodents

Some feed additives are prohibited for use in chinchillas. These are not only poisonous plants, but also various overly sweet or high-calorie vegetables and fruits.

The diet of rodents should not include the following products:

1. Almonds and Pine nuts– they are high in calories and have a high percentage of fat. In animals, such complementary feeding causes disruption of the gastrointestinal tract.
2. Raw vegetables: beets, cabbage, peppers, as they contribute increased gas formation and indigestion.
3. Any products of animal origin. The chinchilla's digestive system is not able to digest the protein contained in meat and dairy products.
4. Poisonous plants: buttercup, fern, St. John's wort, etc. An animal that consumes them can become poisoned and even die. You should carefully study the plants that you prepare for rodent food.

Video - Food and feeding chinchillas

Organizing nutrition for chinchillas is a responsible undertaking that requires taking into account the various species and individual characteristics of rodents. A properly selected diet is the key to the health and long life of an animal.

Chinchillas are cute, funny and very cute creatures that are very popular today. The animals quickly get used to their owners, become tame, and do not require large financial costs for maintenance. The main thing when caring for animals is to organize comfortable conditions habitat and adhere to the principles of correct, balanced nutrition. Let's look at what to feed a chinchilla at home and what cannot be used as food.

What can you feed a chinchilla?

Proper nutrition for a chinchilla is the key to health, wellness, vigor and longevity of the animal. If there is a deficiency in the diet useful components, vitamins and minerals, a pet begins to weaken and hurt.

Grains, seeds and nuts

In a city apartment, grain mixtures, seeds and nuts will be indispensable food for pets. The following grains are suitable for feeding:

• oats- this cereal makes up approximately 75% of all grains in the mixture, it contains a large amount of vitamins, minerals, fiber, nutrients that have a good effect on digestion, improve metabolic processes, and strengthen the immune system;
• corn- given several times a week, in small portions; when consuming corn, you need to monitor the dosage, since it can cause digestive problems, in particular, bloating;
• wheat- useful for the growth and development of the animal, contains the necessary amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates;
• barley- has a positive effect on the general condition of the animal, promotes normal life, recommended for feeding adult chinchillas (the grain must be ground before use).

Important! The animal is fed in the afternoon or evening. This is due to the peculiarity of the lifestyle of these animals: chinchillas are awake at night and consume food during the same period.

• flax- due to the content of Omega acids, they improve the condition of the fur, making it shiny and smooth;
• pumpkins- cleanse the body of harmful substances and toxins, improve the structure skin, strengthen the hair follicle;
• sunflower- are sources of calcium, strengthen bone tissue, support the functioning of the heart muscle.

Several times a week you can pamper your pets with nuts:

• almond: strengthens immune system, increases the body's resistance to various infections;
• cashew: has high nutritional value, saturates the body with energy;
• peanut: helps improve digestion and the functioning of the reproductive system;
• hazelnut: strengthens bone and muscle tissue, promotes normal operation digestive tract.

Important! It is forbidden to include all nuts or seeds in a chinchilla’s diet at the same time. Because of great content fat, the animal’s digestive system may be damaged.

Greenery and tree branches

Chinchillas' menu must include dry food, in particular, twigs and tree bark. It is preferable to treat the animal with twigs of apple, linden, pear or aspen. They are hung in the cage so that it is convenient for the pet to get them out. It is not recommended to feed animals with oak and willow branches, as they can provoke the development of diarrhea. The use of tree branches allows the chinchilla to grind down its teeth, thereby promoting the proper development of the dental system and preventing the formation of dental hooks.
Pets are partial to various greens: leaves and shoots of hazel, acacia, raspberry, rowan, birch, chestnut. Tree greens are rich in vitamins and minerals and contain fiber necessary for normal digestion.

Important! Fresh greens are given to the animal only after it has been lying in the shade for at least 3–4 hours.

Vegetables and fruits

It is beneficial to feed your chinchilla fresh vegetables and fruits. For animals under 8 months, it is recommended to give only an apple or carrot, cut into small slices. After this age, the menu can be diversified with pumpkin, pear, squash, grapes, figs, zucchini, bananas, peaches, and apricots.
A new product should be introduced into the animal’s diet in small portions. It is recommended to alternate treats: if today the animal received an apple, then tomorrow it is better to feed it pumpkin or another vegetable.

Did you know? Chinchillas have the densest fur of all animals, which helps them survive even the coldest winters. In addition, animals do not have sweat glands, so individuals living in apartments do not leave an unpleasant odor.

Hay

One of the most important components of a chinchilla's diet is hay. Many experts believe that it should be constantly present in the cell. Dried grass contains a large amount of fiber, which helps good digestion and cleansing the body, prevents stagnation of food and its fermentation in the stomach. In addition, the hay is rich big amount minerals, vitamins, proteins.
The animal should be given only fresh, dry hay, without signs of rotting or musty odor. It must not contain foreign debris, sticks or other foreign components. The best option for pets, hay made from various herbs is considered: alfalfa, legumes, clover, buckwheat, salsify, etc. Herbs should be collected during their flowering period and dried in the shade. It is recommended to give chinchillas from 20 to 80 g of hay per day.

Water

A chinchilla needs water, so it should always be present in the drinking bowl. The water must be fresh, without signs of flowering. It is recommended to give the animal spring or bottled water. The boiled product is not suitable because during the boiling process it loses a number of useful elements.

Differences in feeding

Proper nutrition is key good health and well-being of chinchillas of any age. However, at some points in their lives, they need a balanced feeding especially acutely.

Pregnant chinchilla

During pregnancy, the chinchilla's body experiences heavy stress and needs increased nutrition. Feeding during this period has a number of features:

• diversity;
• increased content of vitamins and mineral salts;
• balance in proteins, fats and carbohydrates;
• reducing the percentage of roughage by 25% and, accordingly, increasing by 25% grain mixtures, vegetables, herbs and animal feed, in particular cottage cheese and egg whites.

Food is given to the animal in small portions several times a day. It is recommended to introduce rose hips and hawthorn into the animal’s diet, which will help strengthen the immune system and increase the body’s resistance to various diseases.

Throughout pregnancy, chinchillas are offered the following products:

• ground oats and barley - they contain vitamins A and E, which are necessary for the full development of the fetus; their deficiency can lead to miscarriages or congenital defects in babies;
• fresh apples - they should be given 20 days before the expected birth;
• specialized store feeds, with increased content proteins;
• calcium in tablets (¼ tablet per day) - if you do not provide the female with a sufficient amount of calcium, the babies will take the mineral from the mother’s teeth and bones, which will negatively affect her overall health;
• almonds - considered excellent food additive for feeding pregnant and lactating females.

A few days before giving birth, it is recommended to exclude mint, lemon balm and thyme from the animal’s menu, as they negatively affect the quality of milk.

Did you know? Animals have no seasonal molt, which makes them the most hypoallergenic pets for pets. They shed their fur only under stress or as a defensive reaction.

After childbirth

During lactation, the chinchilla needs to be provided with complete, enhanced nutrition, at which it will be supported good level milk production. To do this, enter into the animal’s menu:

• sprouted grain with high concentration vitamin E;
• green herbs: nettle, alfalfa, calendula, rose hips, strawberry leaves, which improve lactation;
• milk granules, which are a source of proteins;
• bee bread - the recommended dosage is 2–3 balls per day.

The diet of chinchillas while feeding babies is almost identical to the diet during pregnancy. The only thing is to enrich the diet with animal protein (cottage cheese, egg whites), and you also need to make sure that the animal always has fresh, clean water in its feeder.

Little ones

In the first days of their lives, chinchilla babies feed on their mother's milk.

Important! The female has only two pairs of mammary glands out of three in an active state, so if there are more newborn babies than nipples, then you need to make sure that each of the cubs receives a sufficient amount of milk.

If babies behave restlessly after feeding and look for the nipple, then perhaps the mother does not have enough milk and breeders need to feed them themselves. An infusion of chamomile mixed with condensed milk in the ratio: 2:1 is perfect for nutrition. Before serving, the mixture must be warmed to room temperature, given in small portions, from a syringe without a needle, very carefully so that the babies do not choke.
In the first seven days, babies are fed every two hours, starting from the second week - every four hours, from the third - every six hours. By the end of the fifth week, babies can gradually be transferred to solid food.

What not to feed a chinchilla

There are a number of foods that absolutely should not be present in an animal’s diet, since they can provoke various ailments. These include:

• cabbage leaves: cause bloating;
• raw potatoes: contains poisonous substance solanine, which can cause chinchilla poisoning;
• food from a person's table: pickles, smoked meats, spices, sweets, confectionery, baked goods, etc., such products can cause severe intoxication, even death;
• roasted nuts and seeds;
• any fermented milk products: causes problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
• meat: causes digestive system disorders.

As for grass food, it is necessary to exclude: fern, rush grass, cornflower, dope, raven's eye.

Important! It is necessary to ensure that the animals do not gnaw on indoor houseplants, since almost all of them are poisonous to the pet.

The best food for chinchillas

If you have doubts regarding what you can give your pet and what you should refuse, then you can use ready-made specialized feeds. Fortunately, there is no shortage of food for chinchillas in pet stores today. Manufacturers offer two types of such nutrition: regular and granular. The latter is more economical to use, since animals like to choose “goodies” from regular food, and the rest has to be thrown away. When fed pellets, animals are forced to eat everything.
Among all ready-made feed good feedback We received the following from chinchilla breeders:

Feeding chinchillas at home is a serious and responsible stage in their care. In general, organizing meals is not difficult, you just need to adhere to the main principles, which are as follows: menu variety, balance minerals and biologically active ingredients, diet stability. Only by receiving all the required components will your pet grow up healthy, strong, reproductive and able to please you for many years.