| Things to know about your pet chinchilla |
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| TREATS - SUPPLEMENTS - TOYS Here are some ideas ....but first - There is no need to give treats. We do this more for us then the chins. DO NOT feel like you are being a bad keeper if you do not offer treats every day. never feed more then one treat a day. If you give one treat a week that will be fine. BUT NEVER give more then one treat a day! Ranchers do not give treats as a rule and their chins seem to have fewer health problems and diet related issues. Never give treats to a hungry chin. If there is anything abnormal with the poops, then no treats that day as only normal healthy adult chins should have treats. No treats for chins under 6 months of age. Plain unsweeted cereals are great. Cherrios and shredded wheat are both used, but my chins seem to like the crunchiness of the shredded wheat. 1 or 2 cherrios or 1 square of spoon size shredded wheat. The mini wheat square can be broken into several smaller pieces for training sessions. Oatmeal - Old fashions quaker oats, raw... about a teaspoonful once every week or two. Hamster/gerbil mix - a teaspoon or so in place of the oats Red Pellets - marketed under the name Animax and Calf Manna, these should be offered like small bits and hand fed. I hand out 3-4 as a treat on the day of the week. Also nice for the mother that just started lacting, but not good when in gestation. Other Pellets/biscuits - Guinea pig pellets are higher in fat and have more vitamin C. While maybe not the best for a regular diet, they work for a hand fed treat, offer like the red pellets. Some chin keepers report feeding their chins horse biscuits. Most made with apple, fiber and molasses. I have never used them, but would warn NOT to over do these. Grain supplements - These are sold by various names and there are several sweet feeds used that are sold for horses. Do not over feed and add any treat like this slowly. Toast - Whole wheat or whole grain toast offered in 1 inch squares is fine, no more then 1 per day. Cuttle bone - these add some minerals to the diet. This is the same thing offered as a supplement for birds. I find it best to offer it like a treat (every week or two) and this seems fine by the chins too! Chew Toys - Most wooden toys offered for parrots and other birds are safe for chins. Kiln dried pine, willow, balsam, apple and pear are all safe wood for toys. Pumice/lava stones sold for pets are good, but I find hanging them in the cage keeps them cleaner. Same with hay cubes..... Hay cubes - Fresh dried compressed hay, often alfalfa or mix of alfalfa/timothy. Some chins love these to eat, others just like to shred them. Either way, it is pretty heathy and not expensive. Yogurt - The yogurt drops sold in pet shops are junk food, but offer your chin some fresh berry flavored yogurt with active cultures included upto 3 times a week if you like. Enhances immune system. Chewable Vit C - 500 mgs tabs, broken in 1/4's to 1/2, offered to the chins once or twice a week Rose Hips - dried, from the health food supply - another source of vit C. Some chins really love them, others not so much. Fresh Vegetables/fruits - Not much should be offered in this area... IF feeding these, small amounts only... offer dark green leafy vegetable or apples...most just cause bowel problems and gas. Dry pasta - Can be offered in limited amounts, helps slow loose bowels. Plain or spinach base. Dried cranberrys - No sugar added, but not my favorite. Wheat Germ - 1/2 teaspoon as a supplement, once every week or two. More on treats - click Raisins * Dried fruits This is a hot button issue for me, since most chins get way too many! Click here for more. |
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| Things to avoid: Peanuts, pitted fruits (peaches, apricots, mangos, almonds, cheeries, plums or prunes or anything with a pit), hardwoods (oak, walnut), green pine, citrus, root crops (onions, potatoes, carrots), cabbage, corn in any form, Nut in any form including peanuts & Cashews |