Chinchilla questions

[dustybird]

Ok first I don't have one but my much younger sister inlaw(she's 19 but act's like she's 12) does....let's just say really shouldn't have got her.

She has had her for a year now and I have tried to stay out of it but cannot any longer. She said something the other day about her which upset me so now I must butt in.

She hasn't been providing for like she should, now I don't know a lot about them but the basic's.
I went out today and bought carefresh bedding(she's been useing pine), food, dusting powder, pumice stone for chins, hay(I don't think she has been giving her any) and a toy with blocks and a bell made for chins.

Now for my questions:

Carefresh bedding is pricy and I was wondering if there was something else that would be just as good but a little cheaper(if she gives up her chin to me I will buy carefresh).

How much pellets should she have a day, I know you need to be careful that they don't have too many so they don't get fat but how much should they have in the morning and evening.

If she doesn't eat the hay what other alternatives are there for ruffage(sp).

I tried to find other toys but there doesn't seem to be many where I live, I looked at bird toys but they all had chains or plastic parts. I read they like bells but what else do they like.

She is shedding/molting right now and she looks a little skinny to me or do they normaly look slimmer when shedding/molting and then fill out when the newer fur grows in more(she's not bald anywhere). I can't pick her up....as of yet to see if she feels skinny. She just doesn't have that rounded look like I have seen in the many photos of chins on the net.

In short I just want to educate her a little more and if she decides she doesn't want her anymore then I will take her. I cannot keep her but between myself and my mom we know a lot of animal lovers and should be able to find her a good home with a return to us policy if they change their minds. Oh she's also not all that tame, she doesn't run from you when you put your hand in the cage, she'll sniff and then do a little snort. Is there anything in particular I could do to get her tame as I have read that they like to be petted in time and like little scratches.

I just want to help the poor little girl(chin not my sister inlaw), she just seems to be missing out on life.

Thank you in advance for any advice/tips. I just feel bad for her and don't want to start any family wars.

[Element~5]

Now for my questions:

Carefresh bedding is pricy and I was wondering if there was something else that would be just as good but a little cheaper(if she gives up her chin to me I will buy carefresh).

Carefresh is definately the best for chin's. Shaving and such get caught in their furr, and is uncomfortable for them. What about Yesterday's News? I'm not sure if that is cheaper or not though.

How much pellets should she have a day, I know you need to be careful that they don't have too many so they don't get fat but how much should they have in the morning and evening.

About 1-2 tablespoons of pellets a day, usually given in the evening because they are nocturnal animals, and that's when they are most active. I never really measured with mine though, and ended up giving a small handful. If you want to feed in the morning or mid day, that is ok too, just try to make feeding time consistent. (less stressful on them that way)

If she doesn't eat the hay what other alternatives are there for ruffage(sp).

Does she eat any types of hay, like timothy or alfalfa? They need a constant supply of hay to get the proper fiber in their diet.

I tried to find other toys but there doesn't seem to be many where I live, I looked at bird toys but they all had chains or plastic parts. I read they like bells but what else do they like.

I know that I bought alfalfa cubes for my chinchilla, and before he would eat it, he would toss it around his cage for a while, using it as a toy Also, they like to be outside of their cages (with supervision) and that in itself is play time for them. This website has some neat toys for chin's though, and you could probably find most of them in your local pet store
http://www.chinworld.com/sitemap/CW03.html

She is shedding/molting right now and she looks a little skinny to me or do they normaly look slimmer when shedding/molting and then fill out when the newer fur grows in more(she's not bald anywhere). I can't pick her up....as of yet to see if she feels skinny. She just doesn't have that rounded look like I have seen in the many photos of chins on the net.

I'm not too sure about what their weight should be. I know that with mine, he felt pretty plump. It's hard to tell because they have so much fur, which is naturally puffy, and gives their body a false image. Try just giving her a feel when you are able to pick her up, and go from there. Also, if you're giving her the right amount of food, hay and water, and she is eating it, then she should be good

In short I just want to educate her a little more and if she decides she doesn't want her anymore then I will take her. I cannot keep her but between myself and my mom we know a lot of animal lovers and should be able to find her a good home with a return to us policy if they change their minds. Oh she's also not all that tame, she doesn't run from you when you put your hand in the cage, she'll sniff and then do a little snort. Is there anything in particular I could do to get her tame as I have read that they like to be petted in time and like little scratches.

Just spend time with her and bond with her. If she is not use to company, then she is probably nervous.

I just want to help the poor little girl(chin not my sister inlaw), she just seems to be missing out on life.

Good Luck!!

Thank you in advance for any advice/tips. I just feel bad for her and don't want to start any family wars.[/QUOTE]

[Melinda]

the best exercise I find for mine is once a day I put some dusting powder in the "dry" bathtub, sit in there with him and let him roll and run, they love tunnels, you can order cedar blocks for them to chew on, at most pet feed shops they sell these "rods" that you hang in their cage and on it you put their salt block, calcium etc, it acts as a toy for them also, the blocks are in all different shapes, I don't recommend the large exercise ball for them. They enjoy their time out of the cage, you can lightly brush them, mine enjoys it, they love jumping and can jump straight up 8 feet, believe me, *L* it's true, you can purchase extra "ledges" for their cages, they like hoping from ledge to ledge, they're called "leapen ledges", raisins are a wonderful treat, but only one or two per day, you have to watch for wait gain, they put it on very easily, dried banana's (grocery store) is another treat they enjoy, they love having their heads, neck and ears scratched and will turn their head while you're scratching them, they don't like having their backs or tails petted, they have very delicate ribs, thats why it's not reccommended to buy them as a pet for a child. This is a wonderful site for chin supplies http://www.lonestarchinchilla.com/ and for information, they really don't eat much, they will "bark" if they want company. Hope this info helps you, I know it's been a joy owning Timothy for over 5 yrs so far. If introduced young enough, they do get along with dogs, mine will call to the dog and Brina (dog) gets up near the cage to visit.

Peeking out of his dust bath, and yes, he chewed off the wall paper

Playing in the bathroom

[dustybird]

Thank you for the quick responses, they 're helpful.

I had a chat last night with my sister inlaw and she is feeling guilty about the comments she made at dinner about Coco and she infact does love her and wants to do right by her. She said she wouldn't use shavings anymore and that she will be sure to buy hay before she runs out, thus providing it every day. She said she does let her out every night to play/exercise.

I was wondering about yesterdays news also, it is cheaper but I was concerned that she might ingest some of it and if she does would it cause a problem. I assume that once it is in her system it would puff up so to speak like it does when it get's wet. The bag of carefresh I bought was the medium size and it since it is compressed should fill her cage no problem, but at $16.00 a bag I worry she won't keep buying even though she said she will.

I will continue to keep an eye on things as she lives in the upper level of the house. For once I think butting in paid off...I just hope it continues to.

[thatdaveguy]

I got a little pet Chinchilla as well. His name is Chinchie. He is going bonkers in his dust bath as I type this.

I would suggest getting a better cage as your first step. After I upgraded from my crappy Petsmart cage into a Martin's Cage, I have no idea how I dealt with that crap. It's so much easier to clean and so much better for the Chin.

You'll save a bit of money as he won't be running in the shavings so you can use crappy pine (elevated false floor, off the shavings).

Give hay cubes, it's way less messy anyway. Timothy is best, alfa is OK too but must be moderated more closely.

As for food per day, it's just like other animals or people: Some animals can moderate themselves, some can't. My Chin can no problem, I fill it up and it gets slowly eaten over a week. No issues.

My last suggestion: Avoid most Chinchilla boards on the net. They are INSANE about Chinchillas and if you don't treat it like a bloody spoiled child your a horrible person. It's one thing to take good care of your Chinchilla, but these people are insane.