The basis of the diet of chinchillas as herbivores is food of plant origin. In nature, these rodents feed on herbaceous, cereal and legume plants, seeds, fruits, twigs, moss, and roots. That is, those where cellulose is contained in large quantities. Therefore, your pet’s diet must certainly include hay and twigs.

Feeding a rodent: hay for chinchillas

Hay is the most important component of a chinchilla's diet. Most experts believe that there should always be hay in the cage of these rodents so that the animals can eat as much of it as they want. It is rich in fiber, which is so necessary for animals.

Properly harvested high-quality hay smells pleasant, without sticks, debris and other impurities. Wet and moldy food is not suitable for animals.

In specialized stores you can find various types of hay (from legumes, meadow, forest, etc.). You can prepare it yourself.

The best hay is made from leguminous grasses (clover, alfalfa, vetch). It contains vitamins necessary for animals and minerals(phosphorus and calcium). In addition, it is very nutritious and contains a sufficient amount of digestible protein. Leguminous grasses need to be mowed in the budding phase or at the beginning of flowering.

The best time for mowing cereals is the heading phase. Cereal hay (meadow fescue, timothy, cocksfoot, meadow grass) is somewhat inferior to legume hay (it contains less protein and minerals).

Forb hay is very nutritious if it contains legumes and cereals, as well as bird buckwheat, salsify, etc. Before flowering, herbs are especially rich in vitamins and nutrients. Therefore, the hay should consist of forbs, mowed before the first flowering of the grass. Late-cut grasses have low nutritional value.

Ready-made feed

Today in any specialty store You can purchase ready-made food for furry pets. They come in two types: regular and granular. Granulated food is more economical, but chinchillas often prefer whole food, in which all components are contained in natural form. Animals often choose individual “goodies” from them, but the rest has to be thrown away. When feeding granulate, the diet turns out to be more balanced, since the animals, willy-nilly, have to eat everything. The granules, as a rule, contain all the vitamins and minerals the animal needs, including calcium. 1-2 tablespoons of this food per day will be enough for the animal.

From time to time, you can feed rodents with ready-made rabbit food. In principle, feeding chinchillas is not much different from feeding rabbits. IN summer period the same green grass, vegetables with tops, plant seeds, fruits. In the cold season - hay, tree branches (birch, apple, linden, pear, hazelnut, willow, willow), dried fruits (apples, raisins, dried apricots, nuts). Dried fruits are offered to the animal without seeds, finely chopped. The fruits of barberry, rose hips and hawthorn are very useful. They are given one berry 1-2 times a week.

Green food, vegetables and fruits

The warm season makes it possible to significantly expand the chinchilla menu. In spring, the first greens are given very carefully, starting with portions of 1-2 well-dried dandelion leaves per day. To prevent the animal from having a bloated tummy, the stems of legumes and clover are always used dry or withered. You should not feed your chinchilla only green food, forgetting about hay. This may lead to gastrointestinal disorders.

Here are the characteristics of some plants that will be useful to include in a chinchilla’s diet:

• salad is a storehouse of vitamins and mineral salts. You can give your pet 1-2 leaves per day;
• spinach – rich in easily digestible iron, contains sodium and lime. Spinach is believed to increase fertility in rodents. You can give 3-4 leaves per day;
• chicory - contains a lot of phosphorus, which growing organisms especially need. The cleansing plant acts on the stomach, regulates liver function, and increases appetite;
• Strawberry leaves – have a diuretic effect, help with diarrhea. Can be given for indigestion;
• celery – contains vitamins A, B, C. Very useful for nursing females, 2 leaves 2 times a week;
• wormwood – increases appetite, strengthens nervous system. The pet is given several branches a week.

In addition, the animals happily eat plantain leaves, yarrow, burdock, young nettles, horse sorrel, and dandelion.

From vegetables and fruits you can give carrots, pumpkin, squash, apples, pears, sweet pepper, bananas, grapes, figs, zucchini, potatoes, tomatoes, peaches, apricots, melons, watermelons, etc. Fresh cabbage leaves It is not recommended to give to chinchillas.

Grain food in a chinchilla's diet

The following grain foods can be given to chinchillas:

• oats – contains proteins, fats, vitamins B1, B2, B6, K, carotene. For indigestion, the mucous substances contained in the broth and oatmeal are useful. Typically, oats are used as the base for a grain mixture;
• barley is a valuable grain product; contains vitamins A, D, E, PP, B vitamins, as well as calcium, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, iron, copper, manganese, iodine, etc. 6% consists of fiber necessary for animals. It is given to adults and preferably in ground form;
• Buckwheat is a valuable dietary product. Rich in amino acids, vitamins (B1, B2, B6, PP, P) and microelements. How complex carbohydrate, buckwheat gives a feeling of fullness for a long time;
• corn is rich in protein, but it is worse in composition than oat protein. It must be given carefully; in excessive quantities it can cause bloating;
• wheat – contains enough proteins and carbohydrates and little fat. Animals can also be offered wheat bran mixed with grain;
• millet - red varieties containing large amounts of carotene are especially useful. However, chinchillas don't like it too much.

You should not constantly give one type of grain feed; it is better to feed chinchillas a grain mixture ( various types grains, legumes, seeds).

You can offer your pets porridge (oatmeal, corn, rice, millet). Young fish grow well on porridge (they digest it better than whole grain).

Sprouted grain is also very useful for rodents, especially during the breeding season. Usually barley, oats, and wheat are sprouted.

Animals eat the seeds with great pleasure. They contain essential fatty acids, which have a positive effect on the skin and fur of animals. However, due to high content It is not recommended to give them too much fat. The share of sunflower seeds should not exceed 20% of the total grain feed. They are only given raw.

Legumes. Beans, lentils, peas, and soybeans contain more protein than all grain products. They should be included in the chinchilla's diet, but not pure form, and as part of a grain mixture. The share of legumes should be 10-15%. They are given in ground form.

Nuts are a very nutritious food. Chinchillas love them. But you can give them very little and no more than twice a week, otherwise digestive upset will not be avoided. Of course, the nuts must be raw.

Treats for chinchillas

Fresh vegetables and fruits are a delicacy, and they should not replace the main food. The intestines of chinchillas are designed in such a way that succulent food in large quantities is contraindicated for them. The main thing is not to feed your pet treats. A piece fresh apple or pumpkin, a slice of tangerine, a couple of grapes a week - this is enough to pamper your ward. Once a week you can give 1-2 raisins and a special supplement with vitamins.

Animals love pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, peanuts, walnuts. Pumpkin seeds are used not only as a treat, but also as a preventive measure against worms. Pine nuts contain a lot of fat, so giving them is not recommended. You can offer your pet dry tea leaves or rose petals.

Chinchillas have a sweet tooth and love treats very much and do not know when to stop eating them. When given treats in an irregular manner, animals may refuse the main food. And eating only “delicacies” will lead to metabolic disorders, diabetes and obesity.

You can diversify the treat for the animal each time: on the first day give a nut, on the second day - dried apricots, hawthorn fruit or chokeberry, on the third - a piece of apple or melon.

After feeding any new type of treat, you need to monitor the reaction of your pet’s body. If the animal feels well and does not suffer from diarrhea or constipation, then this food is not contraindicated for it. It happens that after eating fresh vegetables and fruits, a rodent experiences indigestion. This means you need to give up succulent food.

Roasted seeds and nuts, citruses, cabbage and potatoes, meat, eggs, mushrooms, chips and confectionery cannot serve as treats! Firstly, all this can cause allergies (including hair loss). Secondly, it can lead to intestinal problems. Thirdly, it contributes to the animal’s obesity, which can be very dangerous for it.

Water

The water in a chinchilla's drinking bowl should always be fresh without any signs of flowering. It is better to give spring water, but not boiled, since it no longer contains those beneficial microelements that the body needs. Many breeders and hobbyists use bottled water from companies such as Shishkin Les, Nestlé and others. And, of course, the water should be still.

Daily diet

A chinchilla's diet should consist of:

• 20-25 g of ready-made feed or from the same amount of concentrated feed (grain feed, legumes, oilseeds, bran, cake);
• 20-30 g of hay;
• 4-6 g of green food;
• 4-6 g of additional food (tree branches);
• 2-4 g treats;
• 10-25 g of water.

Chinchillas love precision, so they should be fed at the same time every day (the maximum error can be 1-2 hours).

What should you not feed chinchillas?

Rodents should not be given:

• food from the human table with salt, spices, sugar, animal products, fats, etc.;
• pastries, bread;
• nuts, grains, fried seeds;
• rye grain;
• spoiled products.

And finally, we note that for the animal’s well-being, a stable diet is important. There is no need to change the food that your pet is used to very often. It is better to transition your pet to new food gradually, over 1-2 weeks. Don't forget, the chinchilla is a delicate animal. And above all, this concerns feeding. The stomach of a furry pet is very sensitive to dietary disturbances. And mistakes in feeding can lead to serious health problems for your chinchilla.

All goodies are in dry form, they are given infrequently and alternately, with constant feeding, large amounts of goodies begin with indigestion, diarrhea or constipation, in the worst case, bloating or prolapse of the rectum.

Hay - the most important component of the chinchilla’s diet. It should always be available to the animal.
It must be added in small portions so that pets do not scatter it around the cage and pollute it.
If the chinchilla starts throwing hay around the cage, you need to stop adding it for a while.
Hay helps chinchillas move food through the intestines, thereby preventing it from stagnating and causing fermentation.
Herbal food is also a source of vitamins, microelements, fiber and protein for chinchillas. Dried or young green foods (which can be fed to chinchillas in limited quantities) are rich in chlorophyll, which chemical composition close to blood hemoglobin.
Chewing hay helps chinchillas wear down their teeth evenly and in a timely manner, which prevents the development of dental hooks on the back incisors.
Chinchillas eat well hay from sown grasses (alfalfa, clover, timothy) and soft meadow hay (timothy, cocksfoot, meadow fescue, wheatgrass, bluegrass), mowed during the flowering period of legumes.
About 100 species of herbaceous plants were experimentally identified, which are most preferred by chinchillas. These species belong to 24 families.
Chinchillas eat legumes (alfalfa, clover, vetch) especially well, then cereals (sudanese, wheatgrass, bluegrass, umbelliferae). They also love hay from the Rosaceae family (mantle, burnet, cinquefoil, rose) and Asteraceae (thistle, cornflower, wormwood, dandelion, chicory tartar, salsify).
They do not like plants of the sedge and horsetail families.
The herbs include plants such as burnet, mantle, cumin, parsnip, raspberry, yarrow, cornflower, kulbab, dandelion, plantain, hogweed, which help improve the taste of hay and stimulate appetite.
Mountain hay.
Mountain hay contains little fiber, but is rich in protein. It has high nutritional value and delicate aroma.
The composition of such hay is very diverse. It includes such cereal crops as: hedgehog, bentgrass, timothy, fescue, ryegrass, mouse peas and other plants.
Legumes: vetch, clover. Forbs: mantle, bindweed, yarrow.
Alpine mountain hay is of higher quality and nutritious in composition and contains many umbelliferae and plantains.
Meadow hay.
Meadow hay consists mainly of forbs: vetch, clover, red and meadow fescue, bluegrass, bentgrass, pike, sainfoin, astragalus, wheatgrass.
This hay is rich in cereals and moth grasses. The less coarse grasses such as sedge and horsetail in the hay, the better quality it is.
Meadow hay contains significantly less protein than mountain hay, but exceeds it in the amount of fiber. It has a pleasant, fragrant smell.
Forest hay.
Forest hay is cut in forest areas, forest edges and clearings.
It is inferior in quality to meadow hay. Consists of cereals and legumes, as well as herbs. It usually contains tree leaves and pieces of moss.
This hay contains: vetch, clover, forest rank, fragrant spikelet, shaker grass, pearl barley, forest fescue, bluegrass, and boron.
Remember, any hay should have a pleasant smell, green and look delicious. There should be no foreign objects, debris, sticks, or debris in the hay. Brown, moldy and musty-smelling hay should not be given to chinchillas. Also, hay is never used as bedding in an animal's cage.

BASIC DIET

Animals' bodies are adapted to dry plant food.
IN wildlife Chinchillas' diet is poor. It consists of stems and leaves, seeds, roots and bulbs of drought-resistant herbaceous plants - lichens, cacti, moss, as well as fruits, leaves and bark of evergreen shrubs.
Chinchillas quench their thirst with succulent plants and dew.
When keeping chinchillas at home, the issue of nutrition should be approached very carefully.
The composition of the feed must be balanced and adapted to the digestive system of the animals.
Chinchillas are very picky about the quality of their food.
Perhaps this is due to the very small amount of food they consume, which is a consequence of their habitat in natural conditions, where chinchillas could only eat ephemeral ( herbaceous plants, having a short life cycle) and other highland vegetation, which has a very short growing season and therefore retains a large supply nutrients.
In this regard, the chinchilla’s diet should contain dry, balanced and nutritious food. Western and domestic chinchilla breeders prefer to feed their pets granules, which are small oblong sticks of gray-green or brownish color.
Granular food for chinchillas usually includes:
grass flour, wheat bran, crude fat, oats, barley, sunflower meal, wheat, molasses, limestone flour;
feed yeast, fish meal, salt, lysine, premix with a full range of vitamins and minerals.
For puppies and lactating females, food with a high protein content (up to 25%) is preferable.
For adult chinchillas, granules are used, in which protein makes up 18-20% of the total mass.
Protein plays an important role in the development, growth and quality of chinchilla fur. If there is insufficient amount of protein in the diet (especially in the diet of puppies), the growth of animals stops, the fur becomes dull, “waddly,” dry and brittle.
An important component of the feed is also crude fiber, which should be at least 10-15%.
The chinchilla's digestive system needs plant fiber to improve peristalsis.
Fiber “pushes” food through the intestines, forcing it to work.
The percentage of fat in the granulate should be 3-4%.
A balanced mineral and vitamin composition of feed is of great importance.
The chinchilla granules contain the following mineral additives:
calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sodium;
sulfur, iron, zinc, iodine, selenium, manganese;
vitamins: A, B, D, E, K, PP, biotin, carotene;
various organic acids (malic, folic, ascorbic).
The energy value of one kilogram of feed is 2900 kilocalories.
Every day, a chinchilla should eat about 20 grams of food (1-2 tablespoons).
Chinchillas are very picky, and first of all they will choose all the most delicious things from a bowl. To receive complete nutrition, the animal must eat the entire food, not just the tidbits. The pet must eat everything that is offered to it.
Do not add a fresh portion to his bowl until he has eaten the previous one.
If your chinchilla starts scooping up and scattering pellets from the feeder, it means you are giving him too much food. Reduce the amount of food, remove treats from the diet, break the daily amount of granules into several parts and add small portions.
The most harmful animals can be put on a diet: leave the feeder empty for several hours so that the animal gets hungry and natural instincts kick in - food is not always available, so you need to eat “in reserve.”
It is better to underfeed your chinchilla a little than to overfeed it with treats.
A healthy chinchilla will eat any food. Of course, if given a choice, she will prefer something more consistent with her tastes, but teaching your pet to eat properly is possible and extremely necessary.

1 Calamus - root

2 Astragalus

3 Birch - bark, branches, leaves, catkins

5 Hawthorn - fruits, bark, flowers, leaves

6 Lingonberry - berries, bark, leaves

7 Cornflower - flowers

8 Willow - bark, buds, leaves

9 Vika (mouse peas)

10 Grapes - leaves

12 Hercules

13 Ginkgo Biloba - bark, leaves

14 Knotweed

15 Buckwheat - grain, flowers

16 Pear - bark, leaves, fruits, flowers

17 Oak - bark

18 Oregano motherboard

19 Hedgehog

20 Blackberry - berries, stem (without thorns)

21 Jasmine - flowers

22 Ginseng - root

23 Green oats

24 Green tea

25 Strawberries - strawberries - fruits, leaves

26 Cereal rice

27 Willow - bark, leaves

28 Ivan tea

29 Irga - fruits, bark, leaves

30 Calendula - flowers

31 Viburnum - bark, fruits, leaves

32 Hibiscus - Hibiscus

33 Chestnut - leaves, bark, (fruit???)

34 Kislitsa

35 Clover

36 Cranberry - fruits, leaves

37 Goat's rue

38 Fragrant spikelet

39 Kostrets

40 Nettle - leaves, root

41 Corn

42 Linen

43 Hazel - hazel - bark, leaves

44 Linden - bark, leaves, flowers

45 Lucerne

46 Raspberry - berries, leaves, branches (without thorns)

47 Mallow

48 Ordinary cuff

49 Coltsfoot

50 Melissa

51 Juniper

52 Carrot

53 Mouse Peas

54 Mint

55 Meadow bluegrass

56 Sea buckthorn - fruits, leaves, bark (without thorns)

57 Oats - preferably peeled

58 Red fescue

59 Meadow fescue

60 Dandelion - leaf, flower, root

61 Aspen - leaf, bark

62 Bell pepper

63 Parsley - root

64 Plantain

65 Sunflower - flower

66 Polevitsa

67 Millet

68 Wheat

69 Wheatgrass

70 Ryegrass

71 Milk thistle

72 Rye

73 Rose - bud, petals

74 Chamomile

75 Red rowan - leaves, bark, berries

76 Chokeberry - leaves, bark, berries

77 Birch earrings

78 Currant leaves, branches, berries

79

80 Pine - bark (without resin)

81 Soybeans and soybean meal

82 Sudanese

83 Jerusalem artichoke

84 Timofeevka meadow

85 Poplar - bark, leaves

86 Shaker

87 Yarrow

88 Chicory - root, flowers, stem

89 Thyme

90 Series

91 Blueberries, berries, leaves, branches

92 Lentils

93 China

94 Mulberry - bark, leaves

95 Rose hips, berries, flowers

96 Alder cones

97 Hop cones

98 Pike

99 Eleutherococcus

100 Sainfoin

101 Echinacea

102 Apple tree - bark, leaves, fruits

103 Barley

Chinchillas should not be fed the following foods:

Any fermented milk products

Meat;

Any pastries, pasta, noodles, pancakes, bread, cookies, etc.;

Potatoes, cabbage, salad;

Eggs;

confectionery, ice cream, sweets, chocolate, sugar;

Mushrooms;

Popcorn, chips and other fast food;

Any fried grains (seeds, nuts, cereals).

Chinchillas’ daily diet should include branches, twigs, driftwood, and pieces of wood. various breeds trees and shrubs. This is done not only in order to diversify the animal’s diet and supplement it with natural vitamins and microelements, but also due to the peculiarity of the structure of the chinchilla’s dental system.
Wooden pieces also serve as toys that have a positive effect on animal behavior and prevent the development of bad habits (for example, chewing fur).
Dried branches in their properties (nutritional value) are close to average quality meadow hay.
Chinchillas prefer to eat shoots, leaves and bark from woody foods:

hazel, apple, acacia, willow.

raspberries, linden, rose hips, hibiscus, willow.

You can also include branches and leaves in the diet of animals:

rowan, pear, birch, black currant, sea buckthorn.

hawthorn, chestnut, hazel, alder.

Tree greens are rich in vitamins, contain proteins (8-15%), fats (5-8%), fiber, nitrogen-free extractives, and microelements. IN industrial scale Vitamin flour is obtained from tree greens.
Branches of trees and bushes cannot be cut in the city, parks, along roads and highways. They should be harvested during the growing season, in environmentally favorable areas.
The branches should be free of mold, lichens, traces of fungal infection, and pests. The branches should be washed under hot water and dry well. Do not free the trunk from the bark. It is the bark that is the main source of nutritional value of tree feed.

Wood species that are harmful or poisonous to chinchillas:

coniferous, citrus fruits;

plum, cherry, apricot and others with resinous wood;

wild rosemary, wolf's face, buckthorn, lilac, elderberry, bird cherry, maple.

Mixture is an additional complementary food that can be used in a chinchilla’s diet as a natural source of vitamins and microelements, as well as to diversify the pet’s diet. It is mixed with the main granular food or given separately.
This mixture includes various grains, fruits, vegetables, fruits and nuts.
It should be remembered that all these products are not the main food for chinchillas, but only an additional component to everyday food.
IMPORTANT: Product standards for chinchillas are approximate.
The list of feed additives is not mandatory. Do not include all foods in your chinchillas' diet at the same time.
Remember that the stomach and liver of chinchillas can be damaged due to the high content of fat, carbohydrates and other elements contained in some types of food.
________________________________________
From the main components nutritional mixture for chinchillas
The following products can be distinguished:

Dried carrots - a wonderful treat that is safe for the chinchilla’s digestive system. Carrots belong to the Umbelliferae family. Contains a large amount of carotene (65%), vitamins A, B, C, E, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium. Good for chinchilla fur, strengthens the heart muscle, stimulates the appetite. Phytoncides contained in carrots are a natural antimicrobial agent and help chinchillas cleanse themselves. oral cavity and teeth from a pathogenic environment.
Carrots also help with anemia and dysbiosis in animals.
The daily intake of carrots is no more than half a teaspoon.
Per 100 g of product there are: proteins - 1.3, fats - 0.1, carbohydrates - 8.9 grams.

Dried apples - with a low calorie content, they contain a lot of fiber, which helps chinchillas move food through the intestines. Apples are also rich in pectin, a natural enterosorbent that removes toxic substances from the body of animals. Improves fur texture and strengthens the hair follicle. Apples normalize the body's metabolic processes and strengthen the cardiovascular system.
Daily norm: a day you can give your chinchilla half a slice of dried apple.
Per 100 g of product there are: proteins - 2.2, fats - 0.1, carbohydrates - 59 grams.

Hawthorn - rich in vitamin C. Strengthens the heart muscle, helps with diarrhea. It has a calming, anti-stress effect on the nervous system of chinchillas.
Daily norm: 1-2 berries.

Dandelion leaves and roots - contain calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, vitamins A, B, C, E, and a large amount of protein. Stimulate appetite and normalize intestinal function. Increases lactation in lactating females.
Weekly dosage: a teaspoon once or twice.

Flax seeds
- rich in alpha-linolenic acid, omega-3 fatty acid(is a vital biological additive for animals), protein, fiber. Contains large amounts of vitamin E, A and F. Improves appearance chinchilla fur, making it shiny, lively and elastic. They strengthen the immune system of animals and are a natural anti-allergen. They increase potency in males and improve the course of pregnancy and childbirth in females. They have a calming effect and have a mild laxative effect.

Per 100 g of product there are: proteins - 40, fats - 40, carbohydrates - 22 grams.

Buckwheat
- contains 18 essential amino acids and is equal in composition to plants of the legume family. It is also rich in iron, folic acid, and flavonoids, which activate the protective functions of the chinchillas’ body. Useful for pregnant females. Stimulates hematopoiesis, increases endurance, and helps chinchillas fight diseases.

Per 100 g of product there are: proteins - 11.3, fats - 2.7, carbohydrates - 58.3 grams.

Chicory root
- contains a large amount of inulin (a substance that improves the body’s metabolic processes and normalizes the digestive system), vitamins B and C. Increases appetite in chinchillas (especially useful for a weakened, exhausted body, during or after an animal’s illness), normalizes blood flow, is an astringent , anti-inflammatory and anthelmintic agent.
Weekly dosage: 1 teaspoon.
Per 100 g of product there are: proteins - 4.0, fats - 0.2, carbohydrates - 81.7 grams.

Hibiscus (hibiscus, Chinese rose) - it contains: fruit acids, microelements, many vitamins, bioflavonoids. Hibiscus is an excellent vitamin supplement for chinchillas' diet. Improves metabolism, tones and strengthens the body's defenses, increases resistance to infectious diseases.

Calendula (flowers)
- contains organic acids, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, calcium. It has a beneficial effect on the body of pregnant females and prevents the threat of miscarriage. It has pronounced antiviral and antimicrobial properties and supports the liver.
Weekly dosage: 1 teaspoon.

Nettle
- contains chlorophyll (the substance with which chinchillas produce blood), vitamin C, K, iron, sulfur, potassium, calcium. Useful for anemia, bleeding (increases blood clotting). Increases lactation in lactating females, prevents cramps, removes water from the body and has a pronounced restorative effect.
Weekly norm: 2 tablespoons.
Per 100 g of product there are: protein - 24, fat - 2.5, carbohydrates - 5 grams.

Corn
- rich in iron, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, contains ascorbic and folic acid, vitamins B, D, K. Improves gastric and intestinal motility in chinchillas. Removes “garbage” from the body and is used for constipation.
Weekly dosage: 1 teaspoon.

Wheat - contains vitamins B, E, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, rich in carbohydrates and proteins. Improves the structure of chinchilla fur, evens out color. Normalizes the intestinal microflora of animals, is a source of energy and vitamins.
Weekly dosage: 1 tablespoon.
Per 100 g of product there are: protein - 13.8, fat - 1.8, carbohydrates - 66.6 grams.

Raspberry - a source of organic acids - such as citric, malic, formic, salicylic. Contains iron, magnesium, potassium and copper salts. Supports the body of chinchillas, helps with bleeding and prolonged diarrhea in animals.
Weekly norm: 2-3 berries.
Per 100 g of product there are: proteins - 0.8, fats - 0.3, carbohydrates - 14 grams.

Lentils
- seeds contain B vitamins, a lot of iron, folic acid which improves metabolism. Lentils are also rich in zinc, this microelement heals the fur and outer cover of chinchillas and regulates appetite.
Weekly dosage: 1 tablespoon.
Per 100 g of product there are: proteins - 9, fats - 0.6, carbohydrates - 22.1 grams.

Chokeberry - contain a huge amount of vitamin P, many different micro- and macroelements, acids.
Stimulates chinchillas' appetite, accelerates digestive processes, normalizes the balance of microelements and vitamins in the animal's body.
Weekly dosage: 1 teaspoon.
Per 100 g of product there are: proteins - 1.5, fats - 0.1, carbohydrates - 13.6 grams.

Raisin - contains B vitamins, fiber, iron, magnesium, as well as up to 86% sugar, which is harmful to the chinchillas’ body and causes dental problems. Used for anemia and general weakness in chinchillas. Raisins calm the nervous system, optimize the functioning of the heart and lungs.
Weekly or even monthly norm: 1-2 berries.
Per 100 g of product there are: proteins - 2.9, fats - 0.6, carbohydrates - 6.6 grams.

Sweet pepper
– a source of antioxidants, as it contains vitamins A, C, E. A large amount of vitamin C (up to 350 mg) makes pepper a valuable food product for chinchillas. Strengthens gums, tooth roots, prevents the appearance of hooks, and is a powerful immune stimulant.
Daily dose: half a teaspoon.
Per 100 g of product there are: proteins - 1.3, fats - 0, carbohydrates - 7.2 grams.

Sunflower seeds
- are a source of calcium, the content of which is superior to dairy products. There is five times more magnesium in seeds than in grains. They influence fat metabolism and support the heart muscle.

Per 100 g of product there are: proteins - 21, fats - 35, carbohydrates - 4 grams.

Oats
- rich in vitamins A, C, E, PP, contains magnesium, phosphorus, chromium, zinc, nickel, calcium, potassium. Oat grains contain a lot of vitamin B6 and B12. It is considered a dietary product. Biotin relieves drowsiness and lethargy. It has a good effect on the chinchilla's digestive system.
Weekly norm: one teaspoon.
Per 100 g of product there are: proteins - 3.2, fats - 4, carbohydrates - 14.2 grams.

Linden flowers
- contain bioflavonoids, ascorbic acid, carotene, a complex of biologically active compounds. It has a calming effect on the nervous system of chinchillas, improves digestive processes, and has an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect.
Weekly dosage: 1 tablespoon.

Green tea - rich in vitamins B1, B2, C, PP, K, copper, potassium, iodine. Contains fluoride, which strengthens chinchillas' teeth and supports the liver. A powerful antioxidant, optimizes and strengthens the nervous system, removes toxins from the body.
Weekly dosage: half a teaspoon.
Per 100 g of product there are: proteins: 0, fats: 0, carbohydrates: 0 grams.

- Is it possible to give a chinchilla pine nuts?

You should not give pine nuts to babies! They are just lard for chinchillas! Instead, offer the chinchilla peanuts, hazelnuts (hazelnuts), dried apples and pears - all in “homeopathic” doses.

- Do chinchillas need a special diet or vitamins for the heart during hot periods?

The animals will arrange a special diet themselves - they will almost stop eating, they may drink more water.

- If yes, in what quantities?

You can treat them to a couple of dried petals; chinchillas will love it (the petals must be clean!). If chinchillas are offered fresh roses, they must be their own, i.e. grown on your own plot, not bought in a store. The fact is that industrial roses, i.e. those sold in flower shops and on trays, they must be treated with chemicals, and several times!

- Is it possible to give chinchillas tea?

Chinchillas love dry tea leaves. You can also give green tea, both black and mate, but always natural. It is not advisable to give tea with artificial flavors. Remember also that tea contains tannins, which have strengthening properties. Therefore, give a serving of tea no more than 1/3 of a coffee spoon and preferably not every day.
You can give "hibiscus tea" (dry Sudanese rose petals) in limited quantities, as it causes a slight laxative effect.

- What plants can be given to chinchillas?

4-5 buds of rosehip and rugosa rose (from which jam is made).
When the gardens are blooming, you can give 2-3 brushes cherry blossoms, i.e. a small twig with small leaves and flowers.
2-3 small birch branches with young, but not sticky, leaves.
Blooming linden buds: 5-6 pcs.
4-5 leaves of dandelion and plantain. These leaves should be washed thoroughly under running water and blot almost dry with a napkin.
1 lettuce leaf each.
You can give strawberry and strawberry leaves.
Chinchillas love alfalfa and clover! But they need to be given them in limited doses: both fresh and dried (fresh no more than 4-6 g per day, dried no more than 8 g per day).
As a rule, chinchillas do not eat anything that can definitely poison them. However, before offering anything to your chinchilla, check the list of permitted plants, and if in doubt, don’t give it, don’t risk it!

- How to disinfect purchased hay?

Place the hay in the microwave at 2/3 power for 1 minute (mine is 90 W). The hay becomes almost sterile, although it practically does not heat up. Inspect the hay before microwaving (this will happen naturally when cutting the hay and weighing the portions). There may be metal or other foreign objects in the hay, such as nails...
Inspect the hay carefully and carefully set the mode, otherwise you may start a fire.

- How long can a chinchilla fast without harming its health?

A chinchilla can fast for a week without any harm to its own health (if there is water and hay, of course).

- Is it possible to give chinchillas a lot of carrots?

Back in the sixties of the last century, E. Barantseva and her colleagues at VNIIOZ scientifically proved that when a chinchilla consumes more than 4 grams of carrots per day, the digestibility of the main food is almost halved.
Even if a chinchilla loves carrots, there is no need to indulge her, otherwise she will not live long with such feeding!

- How to give frozen currants or cranberries correctly? It needs to be defrosted, but then the juice will come out?

I can only recommend defrosting in the regular compartment of the refrigerator, placing it on a strainer. This is how I defrost fruits and berries for pies. The excess water will, of course, drip off, but the berries will still remain damp... Will chinchillas eat this? As a rule, chinchillas prefer fresh, non-watery or completely dry fruits and berries.

- In what quantities can you give dried rose hips to chinchillas?

1-2 berries every 1-3 days.

- Can you give clover without adding hay? Or is it better to mix it and in what proportions?

Hay cannot be replaced with dried clover! It’s better to add it to the hay, but very carefully, at first just a little and not every day.
I give mine about 1 tablespoon on the face once every 2-3 days.
It is generally not recommended to give clover to babies under 2 months of age. From 2 to 5 months you can give dry 1 teaspoon every 3-4 days.

- Do you need to peel rose hips before feeding them to chinchillas?

The berries have prickly fibers inside. These lint and bones can be cleaned out before serving to the chinchillas for dinner.
Well, if you don’t clean it, then the chinchillas will eat it anyway, but they will also spit out bones and rub their faces with their paws, and the lint will make their tongue a little red.

- What fruit and berry seeds can be given to chinchillas?

I didn’t try to give “peach nuts” (pits), but I did give apricot pits, although I first tried it myself to see if they were bitter. If the peach pits are not bitter, then you can probably give them a try. For the first time, give half a bone, if the animal will eat at all, and if the next day everything is in order with the droppings, then you can give a couple. Chinchillas should not eat cherry pits!

- I read that chinchillas can be given sprouted wheat. Is this true?

As for fresh sprouted wheat (consisting mainly of water), animals should be given no more than 6 g per day, and this is such a small amount that it will not affect the balance of the diet in terms of proteins and fats.
Chinchillas can be given "Wheat germ" 2 g per day, if, of course, they are on sale in departments healthy eating. You just need to pay attention to the fact that this product does not contain any impurities (spirulina, sugar, preservatives, etc.) - only pure germ crumbs.

This FAQ was compiled based on forum correspondence
The authors of this FAQ are conference participants.
Compiled by: , edited by Alena Maklakova
No part of the FAQ may be reproduced (in paper or online) without the written permission of the author and originator.

The chinchilla is a cute fluffy animal, the most difficult rodent in terms of culinary preferences.

And it’s not that chinchillas are very picky, however, if you violate the feeding rules, your pet may have serious problems with health.

So, ? All the answers are in our article.

Examining the question of proper nutrition chinchillas, you need to start with the fact that, like other rodents, they are herbivores. And, therefore, the basis of the diet is plant foods.

In their natural habitat, chinchillas consume food in limited quantities. This is not surprising, because in high mountain areas food is not easy to find.

Plants that grow in high mountain areas are very high in calories and contain all the necessary nutrients. It is difficult to remove them from such rough food, but chinchillas have a long intestine.

At home, you need to take care of a varied diet for rodents. It is important that it includes organic and mineral substances and vitamins. But fatty, sweet and too high-calorie foods must be excluded.

Ready-made food for chinchillas

Granular concentrated food is easily digestible and therefore is the basis of the chinchilla’s diet. A pet will need about 25-30 grams per day (approximately 2 level tablespoons).

Granules are small gray-green or brown sticks, which usually include: oats, wheat bran, grass flour, sunflower sprat, limestone flour, barley, feed yeast, salt, lysine, fish meal, a premix with a set of vitamins and minerals.

Buying ready-made food for rodents is not a problem today. In our pet store you will also find a wide selection of food for chinchillas from the best manufacturers. Can't make a choice? We will tell you the best way to feed your chinchilla at home.

The rodent's drinking bowl must contain clean water, to which the pet must have constant access.

Make sure the water is cool and preferably filtered. It is not recommended to give boiled water to chinchillas. Make sure the drinking bowl is clean and in good condition every day.

What and how often to feed chinchillas at home?

How many times a day should you feed your chinchilla? The correct answer is once a day. Choose a convenient time for yourself and try to always feed your pet at that hour.

The optimal time is evening: from 18.00 to 20.00.

Seasonality does not affect the diet of the animals in any way, because neither fresh grass, nor vegetables, nor fruits are used to feed chinchillas.

However, in spring and summer, you can prepare and offer your pet his favorite treats: nettle leaves, plantain, dandelion, chamomile flowers, alfalfa shoots, green peas and much more.

Before offering your chinchilla green treats, you need to wash and dry these foods thoroughly.

Keeping your chinchilla fit

If fed improperly, a chinchilla can become obese, especially if the pet leads a sedentary lifestyle. Excess weight in a pet negatively affects health, the activity of males and the fertility of females, and in addition, it can interfere with normal delivery in pregnant females.

Reduce the number of treats, exclude seeds, dried apricots, rice and nuts from the chinchillas’ diet.

Products for grinding teeth in chinchillas

Rodents' teeth grow throughout their lives, so chinchillas need to constantly grind them down. The back teeth are worn down by chewing hay, and the front teeth require a sharpening stone, a twig or a toy.

Calcium or salt sharpening stones must be kept in a cage at all times. Branches of various sizes are very suitable for chewing.

Use twigs of alder, hazel, rowan, raspberry, currant, and hawthorn.

Do not offer your pet branches from stone fruit trees, citrus fruits, or coniferous species, shoots of oak, elderberry, maple, buckthorn, lilac.

If you pay close attention to your furry friend's diet, you won't have to worry about his health. Your pet will feel great, and what else does a caring owner need?

Chinchillas are interesting and active animals that have won many fans. But keeping a rather exotic animal in the house requires responsibility and knowledge of its habits. One of the most important tasks of caring for a pet is to make proper diet, without which the well-being of the animal is impossible.

What does a chinchilla like to eat?

In the wild, chinchillas mainly feed on plant foods: cereals, legumes, shoots of bushes, trees and bark. Even cacti, moss and fruits are used. Very rarely, an animal can catch and eat an insect.

At the same time, feeding a chinchilla at home is not difficult: a complete diet can be made up of products that are easily found in our latitudes. It usually includes grains, grass, dried vegetables and fruits, seeds and nuts. To meet the body's needs, the pet is also given special supplements and healthy treats.

The chinchilla is an energetic animal, and a lot of nutrients are wasted on its thick coat. Despite this, rodents eat little and are picky. Therefore, food should be given in small portions, but only high-quality food should be chosen.

The daily amount of food is 20-30 g, but you will have to adapt to each pet. If he eats all the food, you can give him a little more. But if the animal leaves or scatters food, this means that the portion must be reduced.

It is recommended to feed the chinchilla once a day in the evening, since she is awake in dark time days. Thus, the body gets used to the regime, and food is digested more easily.

What can you feed a rodent at home?

Exotic animals have long intestines and a rather sensitive digestive system. Therefore, chinchillas need food of high quality, without signs of spoilage.

Every time before feeding, you should remove yesterday's leftovers and wash the dishes. warm water without detergents. Once every 1-2 days, the water in the drinking bowl is also changed to fresh: filtered or bottled is suitable for this.

Be careful with new products and monitor your pet's well-being. When switching to a new food and adding fresh greens to the diet, you need to add them little by little to your regular food, gradually increasing the dose.

Feeding chinchillas at home includes several types of food.

The food is rough and juicy

Such food consists of greens, branches of bushes and trees, vegetables and fruits. From them, the chinchilla receives fiber, microelements and vitamins, while the wood wears down the teeth that are constantly growing in rodents.

All products must be washed and dried before giving to your pet. After feeding new food, monitor the chinchilla’s condition: some animals may have intestinal upset from succulent food, in which case you will have to give it up.

The list of suitable vegetables includes:

• carrot;
• zucchini;
• zucchini;
• tomatoes;
• cucumbers;
• celery;
• pumpkin;
• kohlrabi cabbage (not white cabbage).

Fruits and berries that are suitable for chinchillas:

• pears;
• apples;
• melon;
• banana;
• grape;
• raisin;
• dried apricots;
• figs;
• cherry;
• viburnum;
• rose hip;
• strawberries;
• blueberry.

Tangerine and other citrus fruits are allowed, but strictly limited: one piece (for tangerine - half a slice) per week.

It is better to give vegetables and fruits in dried form; it is most beneficial to cook them yourself. If you do buy dried fruits, you need to wash them thoroughly and let them dry well.

You can feed your chinchilla fresh fruits and vegetables, but it is important not to get carried away and monitor the reaction. Usually the animals are given a couple of pieces of fruit and berries a week as a “treat”; vegetables are added to the main food 1-2 times a week. Large fruits are cut into thin slices.

Greens are also given little by little and under supervision, as some animals do not tolerate it well. Suitable for chinchilla: clover, parsley, sorrel, mint, chamomile, nettle, carrot tops, pea greens.

Twigs are taken only from safe species plants: apple, pear, willow, raspberry, mulberry, linden, birch, willow, currant, sea buckthorn, rose hip.

Coniferous, citrus and stone fruit trees (cherry, plum) are contraindicated. Make sure there is no resin on the branches. For chinchillas, one twig 1-2 times a week is enough. Some plants can also be given with leaves if they are dried: apple, pear, willow, birch.

Food is dry and rough

In addition to food, chinchillas must be given dry hay. It is rich in plant fiber, which is extremely important for the digestion of rodents, vitamins, protein and microelements. Rough plant food moves well in the intestines, prevents stagnation and fermentation, and teeth are evenly ground down on it.

Chinchillas require up to 30 g of hay per day. If there is a lot of it, the animal will simply scatter it around the cage and use it as bedding - this is not scary, but next time try to give less.

Dried grass is harvested by hand or purchased at a pet store. High-quality hay looks green and fresh, without moisture or mold, smells pleasant, and not musty. It should not contain sticks or debris.

The healthiest hay is made from a combination of several types of grasses. Legumes are especially good: alfalfa, clover, mowed during flowering. Cereals are slightly inferior in the content of valuable substances, but are also useful: fescue, Sudanese, timothy, wheatgrass, bluegrass. They are mowed before the first flowering.

Poor quality, raw hay can harm animals, and some plants should absolutely not be given to them:

• fern;
• horsetail;
• dope;
• white hellebore;
• raven eye;
• rushwort;
• knapweed.

Do I need to give nutritional formula?

Nutrient mixtures contain healthy foods that chinchillas eat: grains, seeds, legumes, bran. They are composed so that the animal receives all the necessary components in the optimal ratio.

There are two types of such food: granules or a regular mixture of grains and seeds. Many breeders feed chinchillas with granular mixtures: their composition is properly balanced and, in addition to grain, sometimes includes herbs, dried vegetables and vitamins. Hard granules evenly wear down teeth, which is also beneficial for rodents.

When choosing food in the store, check its composition and shelf life: you should avoid flavorings and preservatives that can harm the chinchilla. If the food is stored longer than 3 months, it most likely has a preservative added to it. After purchase, it is recommended to pour the food into a container with a lid.

You can make a simple grain mixture with your own hands. If there is no high-quality granules on sale or the chinchilla does not eat it, this will be a successful replacement, although it will require a little more effort. The feed is prepared taking into account the proportion of substances:

• 50% carbohydrates;
• 15-25% proteins;
• 15% fiber;
• 5% fat.

To prepare mixtures, they usually use:

• whole grains: oats, wheat, barley, buckwheat;
• corn - no more than 2 grains per day;
• legumes: beans, peas, lentils, soybeans;
• herbs: dried alfalfa, nettle;
• dried vegetables and fruits;
• nuts: hazelnuts, peanuts, walnuts;
• seeds: sunflower, pumpkin.

Nuts and seeds are a favorite treat for rodents, but they are high in fat, so restrictions are necessary.

Picky pets sometimes eat only what they like from the mixture. In this case, you can prepare the granules yourself: to do this, the food is diluted with boiled water, passed through a meat grinder and dried. This food can be stored for a month.

What foods should chinchillas not eat?

To avoid mistakes in planning your pet’s diet, be sure to study the list of foods that should not be fed to your chinchilla.

• meat;
• salted, smoked, spicy foods;
• prepared food for humans;
• eggs;
• dairy products;
• mushrooms;
• bread and pastries;
• pasta;
• sweets;
• potato;
• white cabbage;
• rye;
• roasted nuts and seeds;
• food for hamsters, mice, rats.

Despite the fact that chinchillas love some of the food on the list, feeding it is dangerous: the animal runs the risk of obesity, liver damage, or poisoning.

Vitamin supplements to supplement your diet

Additional vitamins are given to animals with a lack of nutrition, young animals, females during pregnancy and lactation, as well as in case of illness. They are released in various forms, but the easiest way is to add liquid vitamin supplements to the water. Some manufacturers produce food enriched with vitamins.

Owners sometimes add 2-5 g of dry yeast to the animals as a source of protein and vitamin B. They also place or hang mineral salt stones in the cage different types: animals grind their teeth on them and replenish the balance of minerals in the body.

Attention! If during illness the animal refuses to eat, it should be fed from a syringe. To do this, use high-calorie pastes (Nutrical, Enervite) and crushed food mixed with baby food.

Menu of a pregnant female

A pregnant chinchilla may eat a little more than usual. This is normal, but you should not overfeed her, otherwise the female’s health will be greatly affected by obesity. Nutrition during this period changes slightly. Veterinarians advise including in the diet of chinchillas:

• sprouted grain;
• food of animal origin (eggs, milk, cottage cheese);
• more protein due to an increase in the proportion of grains;
• apple;
• bee bread 1-2 balls per day;
• alfalfa, strawberry leaves, calendula flowers;
• rosehip, hawthorn;
• flax seeds;
• oatmeal;
• vitamins and mineral supplements;
• calcium: a quarter tablet of calcium gluconate or 1 tablet of Excel Calcium per day.

Calcium deficiency is dangerous for pregnant females: it causes eclampsia, which without treatment leads to the death of the animal. You need to exclude mint, thyme and lemon balm from your diet.

Diet example

Try to make small changes to your pet's menu every day. This will both benefit and please the animal. Here is an example of how you can diversify your diet for 4 days:

1. 15 g granulate, 5 g sprouts, a couple of rose hips;
2. 20 g granulate, 10 g dried fruits and carrots;
3. 10 g granulate, 10 g oats and flax seeds, half a walnut.
4. 30 g granulate and 2 raisins.

Make sure there is always fresh hay and clean water in the cage.

What chinchillas eat throughout their lives seriously affects their health. But, despite their exotic nature, feeding them at home is relatively easy. Be careful when choosing food for your pet, and he will answer you with an active long life.