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How to feed chinchillas at home tasty, healthy and varied? Is it possible to feed a chinchilla with fresh fruits and vegetables.

Chinchillas, although they are rodents, are not omnivores. When buying an animal, you need to understand that its health will completely depend not only on the correct conditions of detention, but also on proper feeding. Therefore, every breeder should be aware of what can be given to chinchillas, and which foods are prohibited and even dangerous.

Prohibited Products

Persimmons are prohibited for feeding. This fruit, useful for humans, is rich in iodine, which is contraindicated for animals. In addition to iodine, persimmon contains a lot of sugar and astringents, which will lead to constipation.

The root crop is useful, but has a laxative effect. In rare cases, small pieces of beets can be given for constipation. Any type of cabbage leads to strong gas formation. Chinchillas are very fond of feasting on tea rose petals - they taste good and have an attractive aroma. If the flowers are grown in your own garden, there is no danger, but it is better not to give store ones. They contain a lot of pesticides and chemicals that will cause serious poisoning.

When harvesting tree branches for the winter, it is worth remembering which species are dangerous and unsuitable for feeding. Branches of which trees can not be harvested:

apricot,
white acacia,
Buka,
ash-leaved maple,
common buckthorn,
cedar,
chestnut,
Branches of any citrus species,
cypress,
elderberry,
Cherries,
Cherries,
Branches of any coniferous species,
holly,
hydrangeas,
juniper,
common maple,
Mirta,
Oleander,
Plums.

Bark and twigs of oak can only be given to animals suffering from diarrhea. In healthy animals, they cause severe constipation.

The branches of stone fruit trees (cherries, sweet cherries, plums, and so on) are dangerous because they contain a dangerous cyanide compound, as a result of which hydrocyanic acid is formed in the chinchilla's body. If you feed the animal with such branches, you can get not only severe poisoning, but also a quick death of the pet.

Prohibited products also include any kind of honey, as well as purchased cottage cheese and sour-milk products.

Not all breeders know that leaves, stems and flowers of indoor plants should not be given to chinchillas. Most of them are poisonous to the animal and very often cause death.

It is also not recommended to give any food from a person's table. Everything that is normal and habitual, even useful for people - for a chinchilla becomes the cause of digestive problems, allergies, obesity and other serious diseases. The animal will never refuse tasty and fragrant food and can eat both a piece of cake and cheese, meat or fish. However, such food is not normal and familiar to the stomach of a fluffy pet. And the possible consequences are very sad.

Foods that can be given in limited quantities

Many breeders argue about the need or possibility of feeding these types of products to the animal. However, in small quantities they are more beneficial.

The first such product is nuts. Chinchillas just love them. Nuts contain many useful trace elements, vitamins, acids and amino acids. The danger lies in the fact that nuts can cause allergies, diarrhea and provoke the development of obesity. However, once a week, you can offer your pet a delicious treat - walnuts, almonds, peanuts or hazelnuts. The main thing is that there should be only one nut.

A lot of controversy arises about seeds. They contain a large amount of fatty acids and those who are engaged in breeding and exhibitions know what a positive effect the seeds have on the condition of the fur and the appearance of the animal. However, an excess of seeds in the diet can lead to obesity and problems in the stomach. Chinchillas can be given some pumpkin or watermelon seeds, sunflower or flax seeds. It is very important to remember that the seeds must be fresh. Fried seeds - pumpkin or sunflower - will cause constipation and poisoning.

Dried fruits are most often used as a treat. If you really want to treat the animal with a piece of raisins or dried apricots, we give it no more than once a week and only in small quantities.

Any type of dried fruit has a number of very useful substances for humans, but they are not entirely suitable for chinchillas. Raisins are too sweet and can cause problems with sugar levels. Most often, raisins are given to sick animals that refuse to eat or to a female who has just given birth. Prunes have a strong laxative effect and you can give a small piece only for constipation.

It is better not to give candied fruits and berries - the animals eat them with great joy, but such products contain too much sugar and too few useful components. You can treat your pet with canned pineapples or papaya. However, it is better to avoid such experiments. The intestines of a chinchilla are very delicate and no one can guess in advance about the reaction to a new kind of treat.

Breeders also argue about the acceptability of feeding with crackers. It is not recommended to give fresh bread to animals - it often leads to the formation of gases, but fresh crackers, especially from yeast-free bread, can be a good delicacy.

Approved Products

The list of foods that can be given to chinchillas is quite large. Animals can be fed fruits:

bananas,
Apples,
pears,
Figs.
Vegetables:
Pumpkin,
milk corn,
Bell pepper,
Kohlrabi,
zucchini,
zucchini,
Kohlrabi,
squash,
Ripe red tomatoes.

Roots:

Carrot,
Jerusalem artichoke.

Rose hip,
Strawberry,
Blueberry,
Strawberry.

Greens:

lettuce leaves,
spinach leaves,
Clover,
Alfalfa,
sorrel leaves,
Dandelion leaves and stems
Celery,
Chicory,
cornflowers,
Vika,
common nettle,
Sagebrush,
Raspberry leaves and stems
Strawberry leaves and stems
plant tops,
Twigs with leaves of apple, pear,
birch and linden twigs,
Hazelnut branches.

Cereals:

Corn (corn grains are part of the feed mixture and are given in ground form),
Barley (given crushed)
Wheat (grains and bran),
Oats (grains, bran, flakes),
Millet,
Buckwheat,

Peas,
beans,
Red and white beans
Lentils.

Apples, pears, as well as carrots, pumpkins, zucchini, berries - can be given to animals both fresh and dried.

Some chinchillas are more willing to eat dried foods, and besides, they are safer for the digestive tract.

Fresh grass for furry pets is recommended to be collected in places remote from roads and landfills, walking pets and industrial enterprises. It is not recommended to feed grass that is wet from dew or rain. And also carefully monitor that poisonous plants do not fall among other grass.

In catering, it is not enough to know what you can and cannot feed a chinchilla. Proper feeding also means following the diet, keeping the feeders and drinkers clean, as well as understanding the characteristics of the animal's digestion. The first and most important rule is that there should always be hay in the cage, as well as drinking water. Feeders and drinkers must be clean. To do this, they must be disinfected regularly (at least twice a week) with boiling water. It is better not to use wooden feeders - they absorb odors, become sources of mold and fungus. Preference should be given to ceramic ones, which are perfectly attached to the cage and are easy to clean.

Chlorhexidine can be a whole-cell disinfectant - it kills germs well and is odorless, but it is best not to use it for drinkers and feeders. Some breeders use ordinary laundry soap as a disinfectant. You can wipe the drinkers and feeders, as well as the cage, with alcohol. It is also necessary to keep the cage clean because sometimes the animal prefers to eat on the recreation area or even in the house. Many owners have noticed how the chinchilla takes a piece of food and runs for cover.

It is also important to ensure that all feed is fresh, clean, does not contain dust, rot, mold. It is recommended to buy ready-made food only in trusted pet stores. All succulent foods, as well as lettuce or spinach, should be washed well before getting to the animal. The branches and bark of trees that are offered to the pet must be well dried and not contain traces of insect activity.

Vegetables and fruits intended for chinchillas must be washed and cut into convenient small pieces.

It is necessary to feed the pet at the same time, and all leftover food is removed from the feeder the next day. It is most preferable to give roughage in the evening, and succulent - in the morning. If the chinchilla is reluctant to eat, you should change the food. The first reason for poor appetite is monotonous food. New types of feed should be introduced gradually and little by little. If you are not sure whether this or that type of product is possible for chinchillas, it is better to refuse it altogether and add something that the animal has already tried and eats with pleasure.

Feeding chinchillas is an important part of caring for these animals. They are herbivores by the nature of their food and in nature they are happy to eat any parts of shrubby, woody or herbaceous plants. At home, the animal needs an optimally balanced diet - high-calorie, containing many vitamins and minerals. Chinchilla nutrition consists of concentrated feed, greens and mixtures. There must be a drinking bowl with fresh water in the cage.

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Features of feeding

Chinchilla is a herbivore, so the basis of the diet is plant foods. This is a very fastidious animal that chooses the most delicious pieces of food offered. That is why the owner must ensure that the chinchilla completely eats its portion. The feeder is purchased capacious and comfortable. If excess food remains in it, then the amount of feed is reduced.

Chinchillas have a weak digestive system, so it is strictly forbidden to overfeed them, give low-quality products and treat them from the table. Food should be fresh, without signs of mustiness, rot and mold. Grass, which must be included in the diet, is collected in ecologically clean areas, away from industrial enterprises and roads. Greens, vegetables, fruits are thoroughly washed and dried, and only then offered to the animal.

If the chinchilla ate exclusively compound feed, then you need to accustom it to greenery gradually, starting with small portions. If the animal feels good, you can safely introduce juicy food into the diet.

Pet food should be given once a day, preferably in the evening. Before feeding, the bowl is washed with plain water without soap.

On the day of the chinchilla, the following list of products is needed:

compound feed - 1-3 tsp;
green fodder - 5 g;
hay - 30 g;
additional food (twigs of trees and shrubs) - 6 g;
water.

This animal has no sense of proportion. It can eat a treat in any quantity. Foods such as nuts, dried fruits, vegetables and fruits should be given to chinchillas in strictly defined doses.

Food for animals should have the following composition:

Main menu

Basic rules for feeding a chinchilla:

Feed for the animal is poured into a bowl at the same time, preferably at night.
The drinking bowl should always have clean and fresh water. It is advisable to pour spring, but in no case mineral and not boiled.
A convenient sennik is placed in the cage, where there will always be hay.
If the diet of the animal is not completely balanced, then a certain amount of vitamins is added to the feed.
A mineral or salt stone can be attached to the bars of the cage. The animal will periodically gnaw it, grinding its teeth and at the same time receiving the substances necessary for the body.
If the pet suffers from a protein deficiency, you need to give some yeast.

Rough and juicy food

Juicy food for a rodent is fruits, vegetables, herbs and tree branches. They contain the necessary vitamins and minerals for the pet. In any seasonit is recommended to feed the chinchilla with twigs and twigs of shrubs and trees. This helps her grind down her ever-growing teeth.

In autumn, the animal should eat vegetables:

zucchini;
salad;
tomatoes;
cucumbers.

Carrots are given at any time of the year. The animal loves fruit: pomegranate, various varieties of apples, pears, berries. They should be given 2 times a week in a small amount, for example, part of an apple or one berry. Also, due to the weak digestive system, the consumption of vegetables is limited - one piece 2 times a week will be enough.

A new product should be introduced gradually, in small doses, observing the reaction of the pet. If there are no problems with digestion, then juicy food is suitable for him. Chinchillas are very fond of fresh grass: clover, carrot tops, dandelions. Greens are recommended to be given in a dry form.

Combined feed

The basis of the diet of these animals is prepared industrial feed. They are of two types: compressed and granulated. There are foods made specifically for chinchillas, not hamsters or rabbits. Compound feed can be made at home, be sure to follow the recipe, the violation of which leads to negative consequences, for example, poisoning the animal or the development of various pathologies.

Vitakraft Pellets;
Chinchilla Complete;
Chinchilla Duo.

Hay

Fiber is an indispensable product for the work of the gastrointestinal tract of the animal. Most of it is found in hay. In the home of a pet, it should always be in unlimited quantities. Previously, the product is carefully checked for debris, mold, rot and a suspicious smell.

Hay is purchased at a pet store or harvested independently. You can feed the chinchilla with the following herbs:

bird buckwheat;
cereals;
clover;
bean plants.

Hay must be harvested correctly - in a dry, clean room with good ventilation. It should not include herbs such as rush and St. John's wort. Poisonous plants are very dangerous for chinchillas:

hellebore white;
marigold;
henbane;
ranunculus is poisonous;
raven eye.

Hard food

Instead of compound feed, animals can be fed with grain mixtures, which include:

Oats. Helps eliminate indigestion in rodents. It contains vitamins B1, B2, B6, healthy carbohydrates and fats. Oats are the basis of the grain mixture.
Millet. Contains carotene, which is necessary for normal metabolism and development of the pet.
wheat. It is given in the form of bran. It has a lot of nutrients and little fat.
Corn. It contains a large amount of protein.

Seeds, legumes and nuts are necessarily added to a mixture of various cereals. Sprouted grains should be given to chinchillas as a source of vitamins. They are added to the diet in a limited amount, since digestive problems arise from fresh shoots.

Feeding chinchillas- an important component of the care of these fur-bearing animals. By the nature of nutrition, chinchillas are herbivores, 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 feeds 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 a lot of 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 ranunculus, 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, but during this period they need to be given high-quality, easily digestible and fortified food, with 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 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

Extraordinarily rich in vitamins, mineral salts, trace elements, plant hormones, hence the expediency of use. 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.

Chinchilla is an animal that can fall in love with itself at first sight. Such delicate and soft fur and large expressive eyes, chic mustache, which are in constant motion, can be admired endlessly. But let's talk about what chinchillas eat.

What do chinchillas eat?

Despite the fact that the chinchilla is a rather exotic animal, compiling a “menu” for them is not difficult. Unlike most rodents, they are exclusively herbivores, but some individuals can catch and kill an insect on their own. The easiest way to buy food for chinchillas in a pet store. The special food contains a mix of grains, herbal pressed pellets, dried vegetables, fruits and even popcorn. Sometimes the composition includes a little sunflower and pumpkin seeds.

List of foods that you can eat chinchilla:

Hay. This is one of the main "meals" that can be given to the animal without restrictions and every day. It’s not worth putting it in the feeder a lot, if it turns out to be superfluous, the chinchilla will scatter it around its home. Scattered hay is, of course, not bad, it will do as a bedding. Hay has a good effect on the digestion of the animal. You can prepare it yourself, but it is better to buy it in a specialized store, because the cost of hay is low. When buying hay, look at its quality: it should be green and smell good. If the hay is damp and has a blooming or other smell unusual for hay, look in another store of proper quality, a poor-quality product can harm the chinchilla.
Alfalfa. It can also be given to a chinchilla without fear. This annual plant belongs to legumes, respectively, contains vegetable protein that is useful for animals, and is well absorbed by the animal's body.
A mixture of grains: wheat, oats, buckwheat. Oats are best given unshelled. The grain must be of high quality, without harmful substances, without blossoms and insects. You can give flakes from cereals, there are a lot of them on sale today, but whole grains are preferable. If there is no confidence in the quality of this food, it is better to abstain and give the food in which there is confidence in its safety.
Corn. You can feed a chinchilla with corn, but in limited quantities, it is difficult for the stomach. One or two grains per day will be sufficient for the animal. You can also give corn in the form of popcorn, which is often found in specialty chinchilla foods.
Peas, lentils, soybeans. They are good for replenishing the protein in the chinchilla's body.
Porridge for chinchillas. Cooked without any additives and salt. You can cook them from grains or legumes. They are especially suitable for children. Half-eaten porridge must be immediately removed so that it does not decompose in the "house" of the animal.
Fresh carrots, zucchini, squash, pumpkin, Jerusalem artichoke, zucchini, tomatoes, cucumbers, kohlrabi. They can be given dry. Fresh ones should be cut into thin slices; in this form, chinchillas eat them more readily.
Greens. It also needs to be given carefully and little by little. Some chinchillas tolerate it normally, but sometimes it has a bad effect on the stomach of the animal. This requires a competent and individual approach.
Nuts (hazelnuts, peanuts, walnuts) and seeds (sunflower, pumpkin). You can give it as a yummy, the animals love them very much. This food is very fatty, so you can not often treat your pet with it. The allowable fat content in food consumed per day is 6%.
Granular feed (granulate). This is a food crushed and compressed into granules of various shapes, containing useful natural products necessary for healthy and proper feeding of chinchillas. Granulate is sold in specialized stores. You should buy granular food designed specifically for chinchillas, and not for rodents in general.
Fruits and berries are treats for chinchillas. Their consumption should be limited due to their high sugar content. Before giving a fruit or berry, they must be washed and dried. Allowed: apples, pears, figs, bananas, grapes, rose hips, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, currants, strawberries, bananas. It is difficult to count everything, but citrus fruits should not be given because of their ability to cause allergies. Fruits, like vegetables, are best served dried. It would be nice to dry them yourself, but if fruits are bought (dried apricots, prunes, raisins, etc.), they should be thoroughly washed and dried.
Bread croutons from ordinary white bread can be given a little, the animals adore them. But only a little!
You can give the chinchilla branches of certain trees and bushes, they are very useful for the constantly growing teeth of the animal. Gnawing on dry twigs, the chinchilla wears down its teeth. You can give branches: pears, apple trees, raspberries, mulberries, lindens, birches, mountain ash, currants. Do not give chinchilla branches of coniferous trees. You can also treat your pet with leaves of trees from the list of allowed ones.
Water is essential and vital for a pet. It must be fresh and clean. You can use filtered or unmineralized bottled water. Change it in the drinker should be every 2-3 days.
A salt roller, a mineral stone, a pumice stone (a stone for grinding teeth) must be present in the animal's cage so that it can sharpen its teeth.

What not to give chinchillas

List of foods that you can not feed a chinchilla:

Cabbage, beets, potatoes, rye. Chinchillas have a bad effect on digestion, can lead to fatal consequences.
Citrus fruits (tangerines, oranges, grapefruits, lemons and various citrus hybrids). Their branches and leaves can cause allergic reactions.
The branches and leaves of stone fruit trees contain hydrocyanic acid, which is poisonous to animals.
Branches of coniferous resinous trees. They are also poisonous.
Feed for rats, mice, hamsters. These mixtures have a different composition, individually balanced for other rodents, which are mostly partially carnivorous.
It is forbidden to feed unwashed fruits, vegetables, herbs, branches and leaves.
It is impossible to collect fruits, berries, nuts, herbs, herbs, branches and leaves in an ecologically polluted area. Feeding them to an animal is dangerous, the pet can get sick.
Animal protein (meat, dairy products) are contraindicated. Chinchillas are vegetarians.
Stale hay, alfalfa, and other chinchilla foods can cause various diseases.
Fresh bread and other baked goods are not suitable for chinchillas. Bread is too heavy for digestion, the composition of other bakery products is unknown and can harm the animal.
Fried seeds and nuts are also dangerous, they can cause irreparable damage to the liver.
Confectionery and sugar are contraindicated for chinchillas, the consequences are difficult to predict.
Tap water can contain harmful substances or bacteria and can harm your chinchilla's health.

Boiled water is “dead”, it is devoid of useful substances and microelements, the use of exclusively boiled water can cause a lack of them in the animal's body.
You can not feed the chinchilla for a long time food rich in protein, as this can cause poisoning. Excess fatty foods can damage the liver, and this also applies to fat-soluble vitamins. An excess of carbohydrates can cause obesity in an animal.

How to feed a chinchilla

As we have already found out, the chinchilla feeds exclusively on plants. The diet can be very diverse, and for this there is no need to puzzle over how to feed your favorite animal, fortunately, all the components in the chinchilla "menu" are available.

But still, there are feeding rules, and if you love your animal, you need to know how to properly feed a chinchilla.

Advice from a chinchilla breeder, what should be the composition of the feed:

carbohydrates should be approximately 50%;
protein - 16-20%;
fiber - about 13%;
fat - 2-6%

When purchasing a chinchilla, ask what she was fed before. If you decide to feed the animal in a different way, there is no way to feed the same, transfer to another food gradually. The first time you give an unfamiliar food to an animal, give a little at first, gradually increasing the portion. If diarrhea comes from a new food, give a little oak bark as a medicine (it is also impossible to do much) or a little dry black tea.

Chinchilla breeders feed them with compound feed for rabbits and guinea pigs - feed No. 122 or feed No. 90 intended for feeding young rabbits. Finding it for sale is not a problem, it is certified and tested by experienced chinchilla breeders. When purchasing this food, make sure that it is of appropriate quality, with a good shelf life. As previously mentioned, it should be started with small doses, and if there is no disorder, the animal feels well, you can continue to feed this food. By the way, please note: this feed should not contain fishmeal.

Today it has become very popular to keep such an animal as No less important is the question of what the chinchilla eats, and how, in general, to properly feed this animal. Indeed, in order for this pet to be healthy and feel great, it is necessary to take its feeding seriously.

Chinchilla diet

So, in the very first place, I would like to say that the main component of the chinchilla's diet is food in granules, since it contains a large amount of useful trace elements and vitamins. Provided that this animal came to you from another owner, you need to learn more about what the chinchilla likes to eat, and adhere to approximately this same diet in order not to harm the stomach of the animal. Since the owner decides what his pet will eat, it is necessary to highlight in a separate list what chinchillas can eat and what not. Of course, you can buy food at a pet store, but it’s worth considering its contents, and most importantly, its usefulness. Of course, various treats such as bananas or some varieties of nuts are very tasty, and these products can be safely included in the list of what the chinchilla eats. However, how much they are necessary for the body and whether they are useful is a completely different question.

There is no need to pamper your pet, because in order to please him, you gradually wean him from normal healthy food, thereby disrupting his stomach. To the question: "What to feed a chinchilla?" - you can safely answer: "Everyone." The main thing is to be able to find a balance between feeds and follow the proportions. So, it is best to give preference to granulated food and do not forget about hay, which contains a lot of everything useful for chinchillas.

Delicious and healthy food for chinchilla

It is worth remembering that the chinchilla has its own characteristics, and therefore it is necessary to be extremely careful in feeding this animal. Despite being practically everything, there are a number of foods that can harm her body. It would be useful to mention that it is poorly adapted to the digestion of food. It is often impossible to feed a chinchilla with sweet foods, since sugar, which is contained in large quantities in various sweets, can provoke something like an insulin shock. Don't feed your chinchilla a lot of raisins or sweet fruits. Sometimes you can give small pieces of bread, preferably only rye, but in this case, you should also remember about certain features, namely the content of yeast, which in some cases can cause bloating.

The diet of the animal can be diversified with vegetables, but it is worth giving them only in dried form - it is better not to use fresh vegetables. You can treat your pet to apple or carrot slices, but these should also be dried. Enrich the body of the animal will help. As for the grass, it can also be used as feed. However, it must be remembered that the grass must also be well dried. In the list of what the chinchilla eats, you can safely include dried leaves of clover, dandelion and nettle.

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