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, roots. That is, where cellulose is contained in large quantities. Therefore, in the diet of your pet must certainly be hay and twigs.

Rodent feeding: hay for chinchillas

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

Properly harvested high-quality hay smells good, 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 legume grasses, meadow, forest, etc.). You can also prepare it yourself.

The best hay is made from legumes (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. Legumes should 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 grass, cocksfoot, bluegrass meadow) is somewhat inferior to legume hay (it has less protein and minerals).

Forb hay is very nutritious if it contains legumes and cereal grasses, as well as bird buckwheat, meadow goat's beard, etc. Before flowering, grasses are especially rich in vitamins and nutrients. Therefore, hay should consist of forbs cut before the first flowering of grasses. Late cut grasses have low nutritional value.

Ready feed

Today in any specialized store you can buy ready-made food for fluffy pets. They come in two types: regular and granular. Granular is more economical, but chinchillas often prefer whole foods, in which all components are contained in natural form. Animals often choose individual “sweets” from them, while the rest has to be thrown away. When feeding with granules, the diet is more balanced, since the animals willy-nilly have to eat everything. Granulate, as a rule, contains all the vitamins and minerals necessary for the animal, including calcium. 1-2 tablespoons of this food per day will be enough for the animal.

From time to time, you can feed rodents and ready-made food for rabbits. 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 pitted, finely chopped. The fruits of barberry, dog rose 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 menu of chinchillas. 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 bloating, the stems of legumes and clover are always used dry or dried. You should not feed the chinchilla only green food, forgetting about hay. This can lead to gastrointestinal disturbances.

Here are the characteristics of some plants that will be useful to include in the diet of chinchillas:

• lettuce is a storehouse of vitamins and mineral salts. Pet can be given 1-2 leaves a day;
• spinach - rich in easily digestible iron, contains sodium and lime. It is believed that spinach increases the fertility of rodents. You can give 3-4 leaves a day;
• chicory - contains a lot of phosphorus, which is especially needed by growing organisms. The cleansing plant acts on the stomach, regulates the functioning of the liver, increases appetite;
• strawberry leaves - have a diuretic effect, help with diarrhea. Can be given for indigestion;
• celery - contains vitamins A, B, C. It is very useful for lactating 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 are happy to eat plantain leaves, yarrow, burdock, young nettle, horse sorrel, dandelion.

From vegetables and fruits, you can give carrots, pumpkins, squash, apples, pears, Bell pepper, bananas, grapes, figs, zucchini, potatoes, tomatoes, peaches, apricots, melons, watermelons, etc. Fresh cabbage leaves Chinchilla is not recommended.

Grain feed in the chinchilla diet

From grain feeds, chinchillas can be given the following:

• oats - contains proteins, fats, vitamins B1, B2, B6, K, carotene. In case of indigestion, the mucous substances contained in the decoction and in oatmeal are useful. Usually oats are used as the basis for a grain mixture;
• barley is a valuable grain product; contains vitamins A, D, E, PP, vitamins of group B, as well as calcium, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, iron, copper, manganese, iodine, etc. At 6% it consists of fiber necessary for animals. It is given to adults and is better ground;
• buckwheat is a valuable dietary product. Rich in amino acids, vitamins (B1, B2, B6, PP, P) and trace elements. How complex carbohydrate, buckwheat gives a feeling of fullness for a long time;
• corn - 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. Also, animals can be offered wheat bran mixed with grain;
• millet - red varieties containing a large amount of carotene are especially useful. However, chinchillas do not like it too much.

You should not constantly give one type of grain feed, it is better to feed grain mixture to chinchillas ( different kinds grains, legumes, seeds).

You can offer pets and cereals (oatmeal, corn, rice, millet). Young individuals grow well on cereals (they absorb them better than whole grains).

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

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

Legumes. Beans, lentils, peas, soybeans contain more protein than all grain products. They need to be included in the diet of chinchillas, but not in pure form, but in the composition of the grain mixture. The share of legumes in this case should be 10-15%. They are given in crushed form.

Nuts are a very nutritious food. Chinchillas love them. But they can be given quite a bit and no more than twice a week, otherwise indigestion cannot be avoided. Of course, the nuts must be raw.

Chinchilla treats

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 they are contraindicated in large quantities of succulent feed. The main thing is not to feed your pet treats. A piece fresh apple or pumpkins, a slice of tangerine, a couple of grapes a week - this is enough to pamper the 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 prophylaxis against worms. Pine nuts contain a lot of fat, so it is not recommended to give them. You can offer your pet dry tea leaves or rose petals.

Sweet-toothed chinchillas are very fond of delicacies and do not know the measure when eating them. With an irregular treat with treats, the animals may refuse the main food. And eating only "delicacies" will lead to metabolic disorders, diabetes and obesity.

You can diversify the delicacy for the animal every 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 sweets, it is necessary to monitor the reaction of the pet's body. If the animal feels well, it 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 has indigestion. So, succulent feed should be abandoned.

Roasted seeds and nuts, citrus fruits, cabbage and potatoes, meat, eggs, mushrooms, chips and confectionery cannot serve as treats! Firstly, all this can cause allergies (up to hair loss). Secondly, lead to problems with the intestines. Thirdly, it contributes to the obesity of the animal, which can be very dangerous for him.

Water

The water in the drinking bowl of a chinchilla should always be fresh with no signs of flowering. It is better to give spring water, but not boiled, because it does not already contain those useful microelements that the body needs. Many breeders and hobbyists use bottled water from companies such as Shishkin Les, Nestle and others. And, of course, the water must be non-carbonated.

Daily diet

The chinchilla diet should consist of:

• 20-25 g of prepared 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 (twigs of trees);
• 2-4 g of treats;
• 10-25 g of water.

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

What should not be fed to chinchillas?

Rodents should not be given:

• food from a person's table with salt, spices, sugar, animal products, fats, etc.;
• pastries, bread;
• nuts, grains, roasted seeds;
• rye grain;
• spoiled products.

And finally, we note that for the well-being of the animal, the stability of the diet is important. It is not necessary to change the food to which the ward is accustomed very often. It is better to transfer the pet to a new food gradually, within 1-2 weeks. Do not forget, the chinchilla is a delicate animal. And above all, it concerns feeding. The stomach of a fluffy pet is very sensitive to dietary disorders. And feeding errors can lead to serious health problems for the chinchilla.

In contact with

All sweets are in a dry form, they are given infrequently and alternating, with constant feeding, a large amount of sweets begins indigestion, diarrhea or constipation, in the worst case, swelling or prolapse of the rectum.

Hay - the most important component of the diet of chinchillas. It should always be available to the animal.
It must be added in small portions so that the pets do not scatter it around the cage and do not pollute.
If the chinchilla begins to scatter, throw hay around the cage, you need to stop putting it on for a while.
Hay helps chinchillas move food through the intestines, thereby preventing it from stagnating and causing fermentation.
Also, herbal food is a source of vitamins, microelements, fiber and protein for chinchillas. Dried or young green foods (which can be given to chinchillas in limited quantities) are rich in chlorophyll, which chemical composition close to blood hemoglobin.
Chewing hay helps chinchillas grind their teeth evenly and in a timely manner, which prevents the development of dental hooks on the back incisors.
Chinchillas eat well hay from seeded grasses (alfalfa, clover, timothy grass) and soft meadow hay (timothy grass, cocksfoot, meadow fescue, couch grass, bluegrass), mowed during the flowering period of legumes.
Empirically, about 100 species of herbaceous plants were identified, which are most preferred by chinchillas. These species belong to 24 families.
Especially well chinchillas eat legumes (alfalfa, clover, vetch), then cereals (sudanese, wheatgrass, bluegrass, umbrella). They also love hay from the Rosaceae family (cuff, burnet, cinquefoil, rose) and Compositae (thistle, cornflower, wormwood, dandelion, chicory tartar, goat beard).
They do not like plants of the sedge and horsetail families.
As part of the herbs, there are plants such as burnet, cuff, cumin, parsnip, boletus, yarrow, cornflower, kulbaba, dandelion, plantain, cow parsnip, which help to improve the taste of hay and stimulate appetite.
Mountain hay.
Mountain hay contains little fiber, but is rich in protein. It has a high nutritional value and a delicate flavor.
The composition of such hay is very diverse. It includes such cereal crops as: hedgehog, bent grass, timothy grass, fescue, ryegrass, mouse peas and other plants.
Legumes: vetch, clover. Forbs: cuff, bindweed, yarrow.
Alpine mountain hay is better and more nutritious in composition and contains a lot of umbrella and plantain.
Meadow hay.
Meadow hay consists mainly of herbs: vetch, clover, red and meadow fescue, bluegrass, bent grass, pike, sainfoin, astragalus, wheatgrass.
Such hay is rich in cereal and moth grasses. The less coarse grasses such as sedge and horsetail in hay, the better it is.
Meadow hay contains significantly less protein than mountain hay, but it is superior in fiber content. Has a pleasant, fragrant smell.
Forest hay.
Forest hay is mowed in forest lands, on the edges and clearings.
It is inferior in quality to meadow hay. It consists of cereals and legumes, as well as herbs. In it, as a rule, there are woody leaves and pieces of moss.
This hay contains: vetch, clover, forest rank, fragrant spikelet, shaker, pearl barley, forest fescue, bluegrass, pine forest.
Remember, any hay should have a pleasant smell, green color and look appetizing. Hay should not contain foreign objects, debris, sticks, dust. Brown, moldy, musty-smelling hay should not be given to chinchillas. Also, hay is never used as cage bedding for animals.

BASIC DIET

The organism of animals is adapted to dry plant foods.
IN wild nature the diet of chinchillas 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 demanding on 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 eat only ephemeral ( herbaceous plants having a short duration life cycle) and other alpine vegetation, which has a very short growing season and therefore retains a large supply of nutrients.
In this regard, the diet of chinchillas should be dry, balanced and nutritious food. Western and domestic chinchilla breeders prefer to feed their pets with granules, which are small oblong sticks of gray-green or brownish color.
The composition of granulated food for chinchillas, as a rule, includes:
grass flour, wheat bran, crude fat, oats, barley, sunflower meal, wheat, molasses, limestone flour;
feed yeast, fishmeal, 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. With an insufficient amount of protein in the diet (especially in the diet of puppies), the growth of animals stops, the fur becomes dull, "cotton", dry and brittle.
An important component of the feed is also crude fiber, which should be at least 10-15%.
The digestive system of chinchillas needs plant fibers to improve peristalsis.
Fiber pushes food through the intestines, making it work.
The percentage of fat in the granulate should be 3-4%.
A balanced mineral and vitamin composition of the feed is of great importance.
The composition of granules for chinchillas contains 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 big picky eaters and will pick the tastiest things out of the bowl first. To get good nutrition, the animal must eat all the food, not just tidbits. The pet must eat everything that is offered to him.
Do not put a fresh portion in his bowl until he has eaten the previous one.
If your chinchilla has begun to shovel and scatter pellets from the feeder, then you are giving her too much food. Reduce the amount of food, remove treats from the diet, break the daily allowance of pellets into several parts and sprinkle in 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 work - food is not always available, so you need to eat "in reserve".
It is better to underfeed a chinchilla a little than to overfeed it with treats.
A healthy chinchilla will eat any food. Of course, if she has a choice, she will prefer something more appropriate to her tastes, but it is possible and extremely necessary to teach a pet to eat properly.

1 Air - root

2 Astragalus

3 Birch - bark, branches, leaves, catkins

5 Hawthorn - fruits, bark, flowers, leaves

6 Lingonberries - 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 Highlander bird

15 Buckwheat - grain, flowers

16 Pear - bark, leaves, fruits, flowers

17 Oak - bark

18 Oregano motherboard

19 hedgehog

20 Blackberries - 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 Kalina - bark, fruits, leaves

32 Hibiscus - Hibiscus

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

34 Oxygen

35 Clover

36 Cranberries - fruits, leaves

37 Goat's Rue

38 Spikelet fragrant

39 Rump

40 Nettle - leaves, root

41 Corn

42 Linen

43 Hazel - hazel - bark, leaves

44 Linden - bark, leaves, flowers

45 Lucerne

46 Raspberries - berries, leaves, twigs (without thorns)

47 Mallow

48 Cuff ordinary

49 Mother and stepmother

50 Melisa

51 Juniper

52 Carrot

53 Mouse peas

54 Mint

55 Meadowgrass

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 Polevica

67 Millet

68 Wheat

69 Wheatgrass

70 ryegrass

71 Milk Thistle

72 Rye

73 Rose - bud, petals

74 Chamomile

75 Rowan red - leaves, bark, berries

76 Chokeberry - leaves, bark, berries

77 Birch earrings

78 Currant - leaves, branches, berries

Episode 79

80 Pine - bark (no resin)

81 Soy and soybean meal

82 Sudanese

83 Jerusalem artichoke

84 Meadow timothy grass

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 Chin

94 Mulberry - bark, leaves

95 Rose hips, berries, flowers

96 Alder cones

97 Hop cones

98 Pike

99 Eleutherococcus

100 Esparcet

101 Echinacea

102 Apple tree - bark, leaves, fruits

103 Barley

Chinchillas should not be fed the following foods:

Any dairy products

Meat;

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

Potato, cabbage, lettuce;

Eggs;

confectionery, ice cream, sweets, chocolate, sugar;

Mushrooms;

Popcorn, chips and other fast food;

Any roasted grains (seeds, nuts, cereals).

In the daily diet of chinchillas, it is necessary to include branches, twigs, snags, pieces of wood. various breeds trees and shrubs. This is done not only in order to diversify the diet of animals and supplement it with natural vitamins and trace elements, but also in connection with the peculiarity of the structure of the dental system of chinchillas.
The pieces of wood also serve as toys that have a positive effect on the behavior of animals and prevent bad habits (such as chewing fur) from developing.
Dried branches in their properties (nutritional value) are close to meadow hay of medium quality.
From tree feeds, chinchillas prefer to eat shoots, leaves and bark:

hazel, apple, acacia, willow.

raspberries, lindens, wild roses, hibiscus, willows.

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

mountain ash, 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 extractive substances, microelements. IN industrial scale vitamin flour is obtained from tree greens.
Branches of trees and shrubs cannot be cut in the city, parks, along roads and highways. They should be harvested during the growing season, in ecologically favorable areas.
On the branches there should be no mold, lichens, traces of infection with a fungus, pests. Branches should be washed hot water and dry well. Do not free the trunk from the bark. It is the bark that is the main source of the nutritional value of tree fodder.

Wood species that are harmful or poisonous to chinchillas:

coniferous, citrus;

plum, cherry, apricot and others with resinous wood;

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

Mixture - this is an additional complementary food that can be used in the chinchilla's diet as a natural source of vitamins and trace elements, as well as to diversify the pet's diet. It is mixed with the main kibble or given separately.
The composition of such a 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 rates for chinchillas are approximate.
The list of feed additives is optional. Do not include in the diet of chinchillas all foods at the same time.
Be aware that the stomach and liver of chinchillas can suffer due to the high content of fat, carbohydrates and other elements that make up some types of food.
________________________________________
From the main components nutrient mixture for chinchillas
the following products can be distinguished:

Dried carrots - a wonderful delicacy, safe for the chinchilla's digestive system. Carrots belong to the umbrella family. Contains a large amount of carotene (65%), vitamins A, B, C, E, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium. Useful for chinchilla fur, strengthens the heart muscle, stimulates appetite, Phytoncides contained in carrots are a natural antimicrobial agent and help the chinchilla cleanse oral cavity and teeth from the pathogenic environment.
Carrots also help with anemia and dysbacteriosis in animals.
The daily norm of carrots is no more than half a teaspoon.
Per 100 g of product: 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. Improve the texture of the fur, strengthen the hair follicle. Apples normalize the metabolic processes of the body and strengthen the cardiovascular system.
Daily allowance: a chinchilla can be given half a slice of a dried apple per day.
Per 100 g of the 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 rate: 1-2 berries.

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

Flax seeds
- rich in alpha-linolenic acid, omega-3 fatty acid(is a vital biological supplement for animals), protein, fiber. Contain a large amount of vitamin E, A and F. Improve appearance chinchilla fur, making it shiny, lively and resilient. Strengthen the immunity of animals, 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, have a slight laxative effect.

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

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

For 100 g of the 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, emaciated body, during or after an animal's illness), normalizes blood flow, is an astringent , anti-inflammatory and antihelminthic agent.
Weekly rate: 1 teaspoon.
Per 100 g of the product there are: proteins - 4.0, fats - 0.2, carbohydrates - 81.7 grams.

Karkade (hibiscus, Chinese rose) - in its composition: fruit acids, trace elements, many vitamins, bioflavonoids. Hibiscus is an excellent vitamin supplement to the diet of chinchillas. It improves metabolism, tones and strengthens the protective properties of the body, 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, prevents the threat of miscarriage. It has a pronounced antiviral and antimicrobial property, supports the liver.
Weekly rate: 1 teaspoon.

Nettle
- contains chlorophyll (a 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 convulsions, removes water from the body and has a pronounced tonic effect.
Weekly rate: 2 tablespoons.
Per 100 g of the 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 peristalsis of the stomach and intestines in chinchillas. Removes "garbage" from the body and is used for constipation.
Weekly rate: 1 teaspoon.

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

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

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

chokeberry - contain a huge amount of vitamin P, a lot of various micro and macro elements, acids.
Stimulates the appetite of chinchillas, speeds up digestive processes, normalizes the balance of microelements and vitamins in the body of animals.
Weekly rate: 1 teaspoon.
Per 100 g of the 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 body of chinchillas and provokes dental problems. Used for anemia, general weakness in chinchillas. Raisins calm the nervous system, optimize the functioning of the heart and lungs.
Weekly or even monthly rate: 1-2 berries.
Per 100 g of product: proteins - 2.9, fats - 0.6, carbohydrates - 6.6 grams.

Bell 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 the gums, tooth roots, prevents the appearance of hooks, is a powerful immune stimulant.
Daily allowance: half a teaspoon.
Per 100 g of the 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. Magnesium in seeds is five times more than in grains. Affect fat metabolism, support the heart muscle.

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

oats
- rich in vitamins A, C, E, PP, contains magnesium, phosphorus, chromium, zinc, nickel, calcium, potassium. Oats are rich in vitamins B6 and B12. It is considered a dietary product. Biotin relieves drowsiness and lethargy. Good for the chinchilla's digestive system.
Weekly rate: one teaspoon.
Per 100 g of the 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, has an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial effect.
Weekly rate: 1 tablespoon.

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

- Is it possible to give a chinchilla pine nuts?

Do not give pine nuts to babies! They are just fat for chinchillas! Instead, offer the chinchilla peanuts, hazelnuts (hazelnut), dried apples and pears - all in "homeopathic" doses.

- Do chinchillas need a special diet, vitamins for the heart during the hot period?

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

- If yes, in what quantities?

You can treat with a couple of dried petals, chinchillas will love it (the petals must be clean!). If chinchillas are offered fresh roses, then they must be their own, i.e. home grown, not store bought. 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 tea to chinchillas?

Chinchillas are very fond of dry tea leaves. Can be given and green tea, and black, and mate, but always natural. It is undesirable to give tea with artificial flavors. Remember also that tea contains tannins, which have astringent properties. Therefore, give tea a portion of 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 mild laxative effect.

- What plants can be given to chinchillas?

4-5 buds of wild rose and wrinkled rose (from which jam is made).
When the gardens are in bloom, you can give 2-3 brushes cherry blossoms, i.e. a small branch with small leaves and flowers.
2-3 small branches of birch with young, but not sticky, leaves.
Blooming linden buds: 5-6 pcs.
4-5 leaves of dandelion and plantain. These leaves must be thoroughly washed under running water and blot almost dry with a paper towel.
1 lettuce leaf.
You can give leaves of strawberries and strawberries.
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 what they can definitely get poisoned with. However, before offering something to a chinchilla, check the list of allowed plants, and if in doubt - don't give it, don't risk it!

- How to disinfect purchased hay?

Put the hay in the microwave for 1 minute on 2/3 power (mine is 90 watts). Hay becomes almost sterile, although it practically does not heat up. Review hay before microwaving (when cutting hay and weighing portions, this will happen by itself). Hay can contain metal or other foreign objects, such as nails...
Inspect the hay carefully and carefully set the mode, otherwise you can start a fire.

- How long can a chinchilla starve, without harm to health?

A chinchilla can starve for a week without any harm to its own health (provided 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 feed is almost halved.
Even if a chinchilla loves carrots, you don’t need to indulge her, otherwise she won’t live long with such feeding!

- How to give frozen currants or cranberries? It must be thawed, but then the juice will go?

I can only advise you to defrost in the usual compartment of the refrigerator, putting it on a strainer. This is how I defrost fruits and berries for pies. Excess water, of course, will drip, but the berries will still remain wet ... Will chinchillas eat this? As a rule, chinchillas prefer fresh non-watery or completely dry fruits and berries.

- In what quantities can dried rose hips be given to chinchillas?

1-2 berries every 1-3 days.

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

You cannot replace hay with dried clover! It is better to add it to hay, but very carefully, at first very little and not every day.
I give mine about 1 tablespoon on the face 1 time in 2-3 days.
It is generally not recommended to give clover to babies under 2 months old. From 2 to 5 months, you can give dry 1 teaspoon every 3-4 days.

- Do I need to clean the wild rose before feeding to chinchillas?

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

- What kind of fruit and berry bones can be given to chinchillas?

I didn’t try to give “peach nuts” (pits), but I gave apricot pits, though I tried it myself beforehand, whether they were bitter. If the peach pits are not bitter, then you can probably give it a try. For the first time, give half a bone, if the animal eats at all and if the next day everything is in order with the litter, then you can give a couple. Chinchillas shouldn't eat cherry pits!

- I read that chinchillas can be given germinated wheat. Is it so?

As for fresh germinated wheat (consisting mainly of water), then the 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, unless, 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 according to the correspondence of the forum
The authors of this FAQ are the participants of the conference.
Compiled by: , edited by Alena Maklakova
No part of the FAQ may be reproduced (on paper or on the Internet) without the written permission of the author and compiler.

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 rules of feeding, the pet may have serious problems with health.

So, ? All answers are in our article.

Dealing with 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 are plant foods.

In their natural habitat, chinchillas consume food in limited quantities. This is not surprising, because in the highlands it is not easy to find food.

Plants that grow in highlands are very high in calories and contain all the necessary nutrients. It is difficult to extract them from such roughage, but a long intestine helps chinchillas.

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

Ready-made food for chinchillas

Granular concentrated feeds are easily digestible and therefore form the basis of the chinchilla diet. A pet will need about 25-30 grams per day (approximately 2 tablespoons without a slide).

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

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

In the rodent drinker must be pure 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. Daily monitor the cleanliness and serviceability of the drinker.

What and how often to feed chinchillas at home?

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

The best time is in the evening: from 18.00 to 20.00.

Seasonality does not affect the diet of 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 pea and much more.

Before offering a green treat to a chinchilla, it is necessary to wash and dry these products well.

We follow the figure of a chinchilla

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

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

Chinchilla Teeth Grinding Products

Rodent teeth grow throughout life, so chinchillas need to grind them down constantly. The rear teeth wear down when chewing hay, while the front teeth require a grindstone, twig or toy.

calcium or salt whetstones must remain in the cage at all times. Branches of various sizes are very suitable for chewing gums.

Use sprigs of alder, hazel, mountain ash, raspberries, currants, hawthorn.

Do not offer your pet branches of stone fruit trees, citrus and conifers, shoots of oak, elderberry, maple, buckthorn, lilac.

If you pay close attention to your furry friend's nutrition, 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 pet care 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, the chinchilla mainly feeds on plant foods: cereals, legumes, shoots of shrubs, trees and bark. Even cacti, moss and fruits are used. Very rarely, an animal can catch and eat an insect.

At the same time, it is not difficult to feed a chinchilla at home: good nutrition can be made up of products that are easy to find in our latitudes. It usually includes grains, grass, dried vegetables and fruits, seeds and nuts. To meet the needs of the body, the pet is also given special supplements and healthy treats.

Chinchilla is an energetic animal, besides, a lot of nutrients are spent on thick wool. Despite this, rodents eat little and are picky. Therefore, food should be given in small portions, but only high-quality feed should be chosen.

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

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

What can you feed a rodent at home

Exotic animals have long intestines and a rather sensitive digestive system. Therefore, food for a chinchilla needs high-quality food, 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, they also change the water in the drinker to fresh: filtered or bottled is suitable for this.

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

Chinchilla nutrition at home includes several types of feed.

Food is rough and juicy

Such feeds are greens, twigs of shrubs and trees, vegetables and fruits. Of these, the chinchilla receives fiber, trace elements 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 the pet. After feeding with new food, monitor the condition of the chinchilla: some animals have intestinal upset from juicy food, in which case they will have to be abandoned.

The list of suitable vegetables includes:

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

Fruits and berries that are suitable for chinchillas:

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

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

Vegetables and fruits are best given in dried form, it is most useful to cook them yourself. If you still buy dried fruits, they must be washed thoroughly and allowed to dry well.

Chinchilla can be fed 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 fruits and berries a week as a "snack", 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, sour, mint, chamomile, nettle, carrot tops, pea greens.

Twigs are taken only from safe species plants: apple trees, pears, willows, raspberries, mulberries, lindens, birches, willows, currants, sea buckthorn, wild roses.

Coniferous, citrus and stone fruit trees (cherry, plum) are contraindicated. Make sure that there is no resin on the branches. Chinchillas need only one twig 1-2 times a week. Some plants can also be given with leaves if 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 trace elements. Coarse vegetable food moves well in the intestines, prevents stagnation and fermentation, and teeth are evenly ground on it.

Chinchillas need up to 30 grams of hay per day. If it turns out to be a lot, 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 bought at a pet store. High-quality hay looks green and fresh, without moisture and mold, it smells pleasant, not musty. It should not come across sticks and debris.

The most useful hay is made from a combination of several types of herbs. 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 grass, wheatgrass, bluegrass. They are mowed before the first flowering.

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

• fern;
• horsetail;
• dope;
• hellebore white;
• raven eye;
• rush;
• cornflower.

Should I give formulas?

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

Such feeds come in two types: 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 grind down teeth evenly, which is also useful for rodents.

When choosing food in the store, check its composition and shelf life: flavors and preservatives that can harm the chinchilla should be avoided. If the food is stored for more than 3 months, it is likely that a preservative has been added to it. After purchase, it is recommended to pour the food into a container with a lid.

A simple grain mixture can be prepared by hand. If there is no quality granulate on sale or the chinchilla does not eat it, this will be a good substitute, although it will require a little more effort. Feed is made taking into account the proportion of substances:

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

For the preparation of mixtures are usually used:

• 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 limits are needed.

Picky pets sometimes eat from the mixture only what they love. In this case, the granules can be prepared independently: for this, the food is diluted with boiled water, passed through a meat grinder and dried. Such food is stored for a month.

What foods should chinchillas not eat?

In order to avoid mistakes in compiling a pet’s diet, be sure to study the list of foods that a chinchilla cannot be fed.

• meat;
• salted, smoked, spicy foods;
• cooked food for a person;
• eggs;
• dairy products;
• mushrooms;
• bread and pastries;
• pasta;
• sweets;
• potato;
• White cabbage;
• rye;
• roasted nuts and seeds;
• feed for hamsters, mice, rats.

Despite the fact that chinchillas love some of the food on the list, it is dangerous to feed it: the animal risks getting obesity, liver damage, or poisoning.

Vitamin supplements in addition to nutrition

Additional vitamins are given to animals with a lack of nutrition, young animals, females during pregnancy and feeding, as well as in case of illness. They are released in various forms, but the easiest way is to add liquid vitamin supplements to 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. Mineral salt stones are also placed or hung in the cage different types: animals grind their teeth about them and replenish the balance of minerals in the body.

Attention! If during an 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 health of the female will suffer greatly from obesity. Nutrition during this period changes slightly. Veterinarians advise including in the diet of chinchillas:

• germinated grain;
• animal feed (eggs, milk, cottage cheese);
• more protein by increasing the proportion of cereals;
• apple;
• bee bread 1-2 balls a day;
• alfalfa, strawberry leaves, calendula flowers;
• wild rose, hawthorn;
• flax seeds;
• cereals;
• vitamins and mineral supplements;
• calcium: a quarter of a tablet of calcium gluconate or 1 tablet of Excel Calcium per day.

Calcium deficiency is dangerous for pregnant females: it causes eclampsia, which, if left untreated, leads to the death of the animal. You need to exclude mint, thyme and lemon balm from the 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 meals for 4 days:

1. 15 g of granulate, 5 g of 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 that the cage always has fresh hay and clean water.

What chinchillas eat during their life seriously affects their health. But, despite the exotic, 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.