The best food for chinchillas: composition, description, rating

Providing a chinchilla with good and proper nutrition is the most important task for its owner. If this is not done, the animal will often get sick, and you will spend a lot of time and money on its treatment. Therefore, it is better to immediately find out which food is best for your chinchilla. Nowadays there is a huge variety of food for chinchillas, so choosing is becoming increasingly difficult.

In this article we will look at what types of food there are for chinchillas and which one is best to choose, as well as a small rating of the most popular foods according to the owners of the animals. The food must contain all the necessary microelements and vitamins for the chinchilla to grow healthy.

The best complete food for chinchillas

• low carbohydrate content;
• balanced composition;
• The optimum ratio of price and quality;
• The food is completely granulated - animals do not choose tasty morsels.

• Not sold in all pet stores.

• enriched composition;
• high fiber content.

• significant carbohydrate content (too many raisins);
• the food consists of different components - animals can choose only the most delicious pieces.

Article on the topic: What branches can be given to a chinchilla (trees)

• balanced composition;
• good value for money.

• food consists of different components;
• difficult to find in pet stores.

The best grain-free food for chinchillas

• fully granulated food;
• balanced composition;
• absence of grains;
• low in carbohydrates and fat.

• difficult to find in pet stores;
• no clasp on the packaging.

• fully granulated food;
• low carbohydrate content;
• balanced composition;
• low cost.

• balanced composition;
• low carbohydrate content.

• the diet consists of different fractions - animals can choose only the most delicious pieces.

What food is best for chinchillas?

It is better to give preference to food consisting of the same granules, since otherwise chinchillas may begin to choose only certain pieces, leaving out grass granules rich in essential fiber, vitamins and minerals. Grain-free food is the closest to the animals’ natural diet, as it contains few carbohydrates.

It is important not to forget about the animal’s feeding regime - you should not allow food residues to be constantly present in the bowl. It is best to give food 1-2 times a day at the same time. It is necessary to ensure that there is always a sufficient amount of fresh water in the sippy cup. It is better to follow the feeding recommendations given by the manufacturer and indicated on the packaging, but at the same time focus on the individual characteristics of the animal (for example, obese chinchillas may need less granules).

A properly formulated diet is the key to the health and long life of a chinchilla.

Total votes - 3, rating - 5

* please note that the reliability of the information and results of ratings is subjective and does not constitute advertising

What to do after the birth of a chinchilla

The number of chinchilla cubs depends on age: young chinchillas have 1-2 puppies in a litter, adults often have 3-6. When the babies' fur dries, they snuggle up to their mother's belly, warm up and eat. It happens that the female hides on the top shelf and leaves her offspring below, so it is recommended to remove all elevations from the cage. If this happens, the abandoned cubs need to be wrapped in cloth, fed with an artificial formula and placed next to the female.

When the kids have rested for a few hours, you can examine them. To prevent the mother from experiencing stress, she is distracted with a treat and carefully taken one puppy at a time. First, they are washed in warm water with laundry soap: another product will leave a foreign odor on the fur, due to which the female will refuse to feed the cubs. They are then examined to detect visible abnormalities and determine gender. A boy is distinguished by a distance from the anus to the urethra of 2-5 mm, which girls do not have.

Puppies are weighed after birth and every day for two weeks. All collected information must be recorded in a convenient form. Newborn chinchillas lose weight at first, but not more than 3 g per day, otherwise there is reason to worry about their nutrition. Starting on the third day, healthy pups should gain weight.

After 5-6 hours from birth, it is recommended to examine the anus of each puppy. If no traces of feces are visible near it, this indicates disturbances in peristalsis, which can lead to inflammation and prolapse of the intestine. In such cases, you should not try to cure the baby yourself; you should immediately contact a veterinarian.

Usually newborns see well, but sometimes their eyes are closed, most often due to debris. Then you need to carefully clean the eyes with a cotton swab moistened with chamomile infusion or plain black tea.

Chinchilla food: review of manufacturers

Before purchasing a specific food mixture for chinchillas, their owners need to familiarize themselves with the composition. You should make sure that it does not contain preservatives or flavoring additives. Food for an animal of a certain age can be selected according to the directions on the package. But there is also food for chinchillas that is suitable for any age category of these rodents. This product is marked “ all ages ”. Ready-made food mixtures for furry animals are conventionally divided into 2 types. This is premium and super premium. Today we will review chinchilla coma manufacturers from well-known brands. And we will try to determine which manufacturers should be preferred.

Article on the topic: The importance of water in the life of a chinchilla

How quickly and to what age do chinchillas grow?

• The average weight of a chinchilla puppy at birth is 55 g, but by the third week of life it grows to 100 g, and by the month it becomes three times its original weight - from 160 to 180 g.
• The speed of development and growth of small chinchillas depends on the quality of care and heredity. By the age of 9 months, they get used to adult food and reach a weight of 550-650 g. At this moment, the animal’s body is completely ready for reproduction.
• If some of the puppies are delayed in development, it is necessary to understand the reasons: sometimes large cubs push smaller ones away from their mother or feeder.
• After 1 year of life, chinchilla children shed their soft teenage hair and become covered with dense, beautiful fur for which these animals are famous. At 18 months, growth ends, young individuals look and behave just like adults.

How much does chinchilla food cost?

Different types of food mixtures for chinchillas have a cost that depends on:

1. product quality,
2. places of manufacture
3. trademark,
4. amount of mixture in the package.

Ready-made mixtures for chinchilla nutrition from foreign manufacturers have a higher cost due to the fact that it also includes the cost of transporting the goods. This also includes higher advertising costs. Therefore, products of domestic brands can be purchased cheaper.

On average, the cost of 1 package of food ranges from 70 to 400 rubles.

What to feed a chinchilla at home?

At home, a person is responsible for the pet’s diet, so you need to take a responsible approach to compiling the animal’s diet. Chinchillas can eat the following foods:

• legumes and cereals;
• various fruits and vegetables;
• twigs and leaves of trees and shrubs;
• greens, such as parsley, clover, dandelion tops, moss;
• dried fruits and nuts as treats;
• fresh hay from different types of grass;
• some grain crops: oats, wheat, corn;
• mineral and salt stones;
• special vitamin complexes in the form of powder, liquid or tablets.

Prohibited products include:

• any meat products;
• spicy, salty, fatty food from the common table;
• sweets, baked goods, other flour products;
• fried seed kernels and nuts;
• dairy products;
• eggs and mushrooms;
• lettuce, potatoes, fresh cabbage.

In addition to these harmful products, there is a list of herbs and grains that are poisonous or difficult for the animal to digest. Chinchillas should not eat: cornflower, fern, nightshade, datura, hellebore, rushwort, rye and various conifers due to the resin content in them.

Jr Farm food

Jair Farm chinchilla food contains:

• dried fruits,
• vegetables,
• various herbs,
• as well as the substance inulin, which is extracted from parsnip root (chinchillas need to consume it for the proper functioning of the digestive system).

Yucca extract, which is present in the food of this brand, acts as a “flavor” for unpleasant odors from chinchilla secretions.

The presence of various herbs in the nutritional mixture (lovage, thyme, fennel, etc.) allows the animal to receive all the substances its body needs without additional complementary foods. In addition, this composition is enriched with the necessary amount of coarse fiber (for proper digestion of the animal). As well as vitamins and minerals.

Article on the topic: Can chinchillas eat raw, roasted, pumpkin and other seeds?

Positive qualities of this nutritional mixture:

• well-balanced nutrients needed by the animal;
• decent quality products for a relatively low price.

Negative aspects of the product:

• the mixture consists of disparate components;
• Quite rarely appears on sale.

The most important components of feed

It is concentrated feed that will be the most important aspect in this matter. Concentrated feed will ensure your animal is active and cheerful. In a box of food you can find different grains and seeds.

The following components of animal feed are useful:

1. Grain feed (corn, wheat and the like) will provide the animal with a supply of vitamins, starch, minerals, fats and lipids.
2. Legumes will enrich the body with carbohydrates, proteins, potassium, calcium and vitamins.
3. Unroasted pumpkin and sunflower seeds will give the animal a huge amount of vitamins.

What grains are rich in for animals:

1. Oats. Contains vitamins, proteins, fats, vitamins B1, B2, B6, K, carotene. If the digestive system is upset, a decoction of oats or oatmeal will have a beneficial effect on the body. Oats are the basis of the grain mixture for chinchillas.
2. Barley. A very valuable grain product that will fill the body with vitamins A, D, E, PP, B vitamins, as well as calcium, zinc, phosphorus, iron, copper, manganese and iodine. Very rich in fiber. It should be given only to adults and preferably in ground form.
3. Buckwheat. A valuable dietary product that is rich in vitamins and macroelements.
4. Corn. Contains a lot of protein, but less than oats. You don't need to give too much so as not to cause bloating.
5. Millet. Contains carotene. Red varieties are especially useful.

Most owners will find it more convenient to buy a box in a store than to assemble such food themselves, choosing high-quality grains and seeds on the market. If store-bought food is more convenient for you, then be careful.

When inspecting the package, definitely not expired, you should not see damage to the vacuum packaging inside the box, the presence of perspiration inside the bag or mold. Eating such food from a box is almost 100% likely not to end well for the shushi.

Food Little Van (Little One)

Very popular food for chinchillas. It consists of more than 60 species of plants, as well as natural probiotics (fructooligosaccharides), which are indispensable as a stimulant for the intestines of a rodent.

Saturated fatty acids Omega 6 and Omega 3 are also present in Little Van food. They have a positive effect on the animal’s skin and coat, making them healthy and shiny.

Green Valley and Little Van granular feeds contain yeast extract. As well as selenium, beta glucans and various groups of vitamins.

These granules are also supplemented with dried fruits, dried berries and flowers.

Cereal grains are not included in these granules. Therefore, they can be safely offered to overweight animals. And used in cases where grain additives are provided separately.

Little Van chinchilla food does not contain dyes or GMOs. It has pretty good quality for an affordable price. That is why it is so popular among chinchilla owners.

What does pelleted food consist of?

The composition of the food is very important because it must cover all the needs of the chinchillas. If it doesn’t have all the components, then what’s the point of overpaying for it, you can just feed it with regular crumbly food.

The composition of granulated feed has a common basis:

• Cereal products. Usually there are 2-3 types, but there may be more than 5.
• Vitamins
• Calcium. Lime is usually added

It is also worth paying attention to the percentage of proteins, fiber and fats. This is very important if you want to have a healthy chinchilla, without excess weight and other problems. The main indicator is fat, it should not exceed 5%.

• Proteins 15-18%
• Fiber 17-25%
• Fat 3-5%

A truly high-quality food should contain a huge amount of grasses, grains, the right vitamin supplements and minerals. It is very important that they contain enough calcium, iodine, fluorine, iron, etc.

To see how complex the composition of granulated food is, let's look at the composition of one of the popular foods, for example, Fiory.

Let's start with herbs; there are almost 70 species of them. It is difficult to imagine how difficult it was to collect such a composition and select only those herbs that do not pose a danger to chinchillas.

The list is simply huge, from it you can also find out which herbs can definitely be given to chinchillas, because they were selected by a whole group of veterinarians from Europe.

After the herbs comes a list of useful supplements that cover all the needs of chinchillas and even more. It contains quartz, which helps grind teeth. In the picture you can read the full composition, although at first glance you can see that the granulated food contains all the necessary substances for proper growth and development.

In the very last tab we see an analysis of the components, which lets us know about the percentage of proteins, fats and fiber. As you can see, there is a huge amount of fiber here and amounts to almost 66%, and the amount of fat is only 3%.

Versele food - Laga

Versele - Laga chinchilla food is extruded granules that contain all the nutrients, vitamins and minerals the animal needs.

The granules contain whole dietary fiber, which contributes to uniform grinding of the rodent's teeth. It contains 10% fresh vegetables, some seeds, and 20% long plant fibers that the animal needs for normal intestinal functioning and the prevention of the accumulation of hairballs in the stomach.

To support the animal’s immunity, the manufacturer includes prebiotics, fatty acids, various natural pigments and plant extracts necessary for the chinchilla in its food.

• low carbohydrate content;
• balanced nutritional mixture;
• good characteristics for a relatively low price;
• The release form (granules) does not give the rodent the opportunity to select individual ingredients.

Article on the topic: Is it possible to give chinchillas fresh grass, dandelions, clover, etc.

Popular brands of pelleted feed and how they differ

Previously, when there were 2-3 types of food on store shelves, people chose only by price. Now there are such a huge number of them that you have to study the composition of each and compare, because the prices have become more than acceptable, even for the most elite brands.

What is the difference between different brands of food?

• Compound. It differs for each product and significantly affects the price. This does not mean that cheap foods do not have all the necessary components, they just can be replaced with simpler ones. For example, some use herbal flour as fiber, while others add vegetables and grains. There is no fundamental difference in this and the chinchilla will still be 99% full.
• Vitamin supplements. The cheaper the food, the fewer there are.
• Flavoring additives. Flavoring additives are added to some foods, i.e. treats. Chinchillas eat this food with great pleasure, but it is important not to overfeed them with such a tasty treat. Flavoring additives affect the price, but not its beneficial qualities.

Vitakraft granule food

A variety of Vitacraft food – Pellets – is a development of the company’s specialists, created as a dietary food and containing granulated malt. This type of food is produced without adding sugar. It contains no dyes, flavors or preservatives.

For chinchillas over 10 years old, food has been developed with the following composition:

• 25% - alfalfa;
• 24% - grains;
• 5% - vegetables;
• 0.5% - vegetable oil;
• 0.02% - yeast cultures.

Young chinchillas were also not ignored. Nutrient mixtures for this category of animals contain large amounts of calcium and phosphorus, which are necessary for bone structure. As well as omega acids and plant fibers, which help enhance metabolism and normalize the digestive processes of the rodent.

Granules that are quite large in size and have a pleasant aroma. Many chinchillas have long appreciated them and prefer to use them as their main food and as a food supplement.

• release form (in granules);
• balanced composition;
• minimal amount of carbohydrates.

• Not available everywhere.

What to consider when choosing?

It is worth paying attention to the following recommendations :

• it’s good if the food consists of granules, because they contain all the necessary elements;
• the packaging should contain recommendations for use, but you also need to take into account the characteristics of the animal itself;
• if the food is cheap and contains corn, sunflower, and peanut grains, then the pet may develop diseases with the digestive system;
• the diet should include carbohydrates - 51%, proteins - 24%, fiber - 21%, fats - 4%;
• the basis of the feed includes cereals and crushed dry herbs, and must also contain vitamins and minerals;
• when making feed, you need to use grass flour or corn and millet grains; You can mix them with dry milk and add berries on top;
• in winter you need to add ground and dried rose hips to the food; This ingredient strengthens the chinchilla's immunity.

For a review of chinchilla food, watch the following video.

The health of chinchillas is the result of proper care. The delicate stomach of these creatures can easily be damaged by inappropriate nutrition, or even disabled.

Before getting a furry pet, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with information about the diet of these fauna representatives, nutrition rules and types of food.

Beaphar food

The manufacturer Beaphar Care has developed food for elite class chinchillas. It has a perfectly balanced composition, but at the same time it has a pleasant taste and aroma. Extrusion of granules occurs under the influence of pressure of a certain force and high temperature. After which the structure of the food components changes, but the taste and beneficial qualities remain the same. During this treatment (it lasts only 30 seconds), the components have time to mix, grind, undergo a sterilization process and form into granules. Fungi and pathogenic bacteria are immediately killed.

The nutritional properties of Beafar are as close as possible to those found in the food of animals in nature.

Advantages of Beafar food:

• enriched feed composition;
• high amount of fiber in the composition

• a large amount of carbohydrates (raisins);
• food includes various components, and the animal can only select individual pieces of it.

DIY food recipe, from one of the chinchilla owners

X: In my city it’s hard to find food; they only bring the cheapest food that is suitable for all rodents. I won’t say anything about its usefulness, because my chinchillas are very reluctant to eat it and have to throw away more than half of the portion.

They liked the granulated food most of all, and its composition was so varied that there was no doubt about its usefulness. There was one problem, it costs a lot of money. Even for 2 chinchillas I had to buy a decent amount; I can’t even imagine how expensive it would be to keep 4-5 chinchillas with such prices for granulated food.

After reading a bunch of literature and decided to make the food myself, but since I love my chinchillas and don’t want to risk them, I decided to show my food to several veterinarians and they advised me to remove some of the components. Along with this, I received some tips on what and when to add to chinchillas at different times of the year, and what not to add.

As a result, I ended up with this feed composition:

• Hay flour
• Medium-ground grains: oats, barley, wheat
• Wheat bran
• Ground corn
• Buckwheat
• Some flax seeds
• Peas
• Special feed shakes
• Hercules porridge
• Additive Premix P90-1
• Regular salt
• Tricalcium phosphate
• As a binding component, like everything else, I used milk powder.

The recipe is the simplest. I pre-grind the ingredients that require it in a regular coffee grinder. I leave the grains in such a form that the chinchilla has something to chew on, otherwise she will have nothing to wear off her teeth and hooks will appear. Then I just mix everything in a saucepan, add a minimum of water and put it through a meat grinder. Next, I dry it in an electric dryer and start checking it 2-3 hours after the start of drying. If you overdo it with water, it will take a very long time to dry.

I didn’t give them new food right away, I gradually got them used to it. In the first week he gave 25% of the new food, the next week 50% of the food. I constantly monitored how the chinchilla eats and saw that it eats store-bought and my granules absolutely equally, therefore, as soon as the store-bought food ran out, I immediately began to give a 100% portion of home-made food.

I wrote this recipe after 7-8 months of feeding my own food. I didn’t notice any changes in the chinchilla’s behavior. Those. no miracle happened and nothing bad either. She runs actively, boluses are of normal length, and has not yet encountered any digestive diseases.

This recipe is at your own discretion, so use caution when transitioning your chinchillas to it. If you notice any bad changes in your chinchilla’s condition, we recommend that you stop eating homemade food.

Reviews of ready-made food for chinchillas

No one can say which food is the best for chinchillas. The fact is that these animals are very picky. And if one of them eats any composition with pleasure, the others may not even touch it. Therefore, each owner will find out for himself which food is best for chinchillas, experimentally.

• Vitacraft chinchilla food has a fairly high rating among breeders and lovers of these animals. Particularly popular are Pellets dietary food, as well as nutritional mixtures for animals of different age categories from the same manufacturer. There are no negative reviews about them.
• Also among the leaders is Beafar chinchilla food. But it also has a drawback: a rather high price (250 grams of feed on average cost 375 rubles).
• Little Van chinchilla granules are considered by some to be too sweet. Because of this, they are often used as an additive in grain feed.
• The food from the manufacturer Green Valley fully meets the requirements put forward by finicky animals, although they resemble compressed hay.
• Versele Laga chinchilla food has good reviews, while Zverushka granules, on the contrary, receive a lot of criticism for being unbalanced and containing a large amount of corn, which is contraindicated for animals.

Article on the topic: Can guinea pigs have cheese, milk and eggs?

Chinchilla pregnancy: signs and timing

Chinchillas are popular indoor animals.

Animals often live in pairs and, as a result, the question of the birth of offspring arises.

Maturation occurs at different ages. Males reach sexual maturity after six months, but it is recommended to allow them to breed no earlier than 10-12 months.

Females are ready to reproduce at 3-4 months. If the animals are not looked after, then pregnancy may occur already at this age. However, such early offspring does not always have a beneficial effect on health.

The age for the first mating of females occurs at 6-8 months.

Individuals that, although they have reached sexual maturity, weigh less than 500 grams should not be allowed to reproduce. The period of estrus and readiness for fertilization can be determined by the behavior of the male. If the animals live in the same cage, then the partner begins to tenderly care for the partner. If the animals live separately, the male makes peculiar sounds and makes characteristic movements with his tail.

Pregnancy in chinchillas, by the standards of representatives of the Rodent order, is quite long, and beginners in breeding need to know that:

The birth date can be calculated if the owner of the rodent noticed the process of mating the animals.

Feeding rules

If babies fight often, then this is a sure sign that they do not have enough mother's milk. You can feed them with “Kitty Milk” dry milk formula for kittens or “Agusha” cream for children. Newborns are fed with a syringe, and after 18 - 20 days the drinking bowl is filled with milk; at this age, puppies also eat adult food. Rolled oats are added to their diet.

Fully bottle-fed chinchillas often have digestive problems; for such cases, you need to keep espumizan or bobotik on hand.

The anticipation and birth of chinchilla babies is a responsible time for the owner of the animal. The process will go without complications if you follow the necessary recommendations. Sometimes it is enough to rely on nature and let the animal produce offspring on its own, but at the same time have the phone number of a veterinarian at hand.

How to choose food for chinchillas?

join the discussion

Share with your friends

The chinchilla is a friendly animal and has a fairly high intelligence. This animal needs to be provided with good living conditions and fed properly. Therefore, when a pet owner comes to a pet store, he must purchase good food for his pet. And yet, before choosing food, you need to take into account the characteristics of your animal.

Peculiarities

Under natural conditions, a chinchilla does not have a huge choice of food, but it wants to try sweet products. If you offer her an assortment of food, she will choose sweet foods. These animals like fruits and berries; they can eat fresh fruits or raisins. If you keep a chinchilla at home, it will be difficult to feed it. But still, animals need to eat food that contains many useful microelements. The main thing is that your pet eats its entire portion at one time and does not leave any leftovers.

A feature of these animals is their weak intestines. According to physiological data, the intestines are long, which increases the time between digesting food and emptying the intestines. The intestines accept plant foods, so any other food can cause constipation . For this reason, pets are prohibited from giving food waste, meat products, mushrooms, potatoes, sweets, dairy products, and fried nuts. All of the listed products are fatty and will be difficult to digest in the intestines of animals.

The pet should not eat too much food at one time; it should be given a small portion. There is no need to overfeed him too much. If your pet is not fed well, his hair will fall out. If you give a chinchilla sweet foods, they will cause the rodent's teeth to deteriorate. Food must be given dry. If the owner of the animal wants to make food himself, then all products must be dried and cut into small pieces.

Article on the topic: What branches can be given to a chinchilla (trees)

Animals love foods such as carrots, rose hips, apples, Jerusalem artichoke and carob. These ingredients must be given to your pet only 2 times in 7 days. If new food is purchased, it must be given slowly, otherwise the animal will develop an allergy. If you give any new, non-prohibited food to a chinchilla, you need to monitor the animal’s reaction. If the rodent feels well, then the portion of this food should be gradually increased.

It is necessary to provide fresh, unspoiled and non-rotting food. Dried fruits are the favorite delicacy of these animals.

Since the chinchilla is a herbivore, you can collect grass for it yourself, just away from the highway. It is worth noting that pets born in winter have a hard time switching to grass in the summer. Grass contains fiber, which can be difficult for winter pets to digest. But if fiber is not present, the chinchilla will not develop fully. Thanks to fiber, nutrients are supplied to the rodent's body. For this reason, grass should be offered to animals carefully so as not to upset your pet's stomach. These animals always like to chew something.

You need to choose food for your pet carefully, since your pet's digestive system is vulnerable.

If you choose commercial food, it will consist of elements necessary for the normal functioning of the animal’s body. Factory feed is represented by the following varieties:

• concentrated - has cereals, beans, nuts, dried fruits, nuts;
• hay – dried stems of cereal crops;
• green food - plant sprouts.

The main food is concentrated, and hay and green feed are used as supplements. The main thing is to know that food that is intended for other rodents should absolutely not be given to a chinchilla. Such food will contain components that are not suitable for a chinchilla.

Grain food is food that includes grain crops that contain nutritional properties necessary for the pet’s body. These substances are perfectly absorbed in the animal’s digestive system. The main ingredients are cereals and beans. Dried herbs can serve as an additive. Such feeds may also contain bran, wheat, cake, oilseed crops, fish and meat and bone meal.

Article on the topic: The importance of water in the life of a chinchilla

The freshness of a product can be determined by its smell.

When food has a strong and stale smell, it is better not to purchase it. Such food will cause serious digestive diseases.

There are two types of grains - whole and granular. The difference between these two types is their shape. To save on feed, you need to use the granulated type. The chinchilla likes to select only certain elements and leaves some of the food uneaten; Because of this, food remains will be scattered throughout the pet’s home. The animal will eat the granulated food whole. But some chinchillas are picky and will not eat pelleted food, so you need to purchase a grain mixture as well.

Before purchasing food for your pet, you need to get acquainted with its release date and expiration date.

If the shelf life exceeds 90 days, then such food contains preservative elements to increase shelf life. Such elements can lead to illness in the animal. The nutritional elements contained in the granule can diversify a chinchilla's diet. The animal also receives various vitamins that its body needs. Complementary food for rodents must be purchased in special stores or made independently at home.

Feed manufacturers can compress the grass into pellets. They need to be given to the pet 3 times in 7 days. If you make the supplements yourself, then you need to carefully collect the grass so that your pet cannot get poisoned. It is necessary to collect herbs in a clean space, away from traffic. After the grass has been collected, it needs to be thoroughly cleaned and dried. A product containing moisture should not be given.

Meal schedule

Typically, rodents eat according to a schedule. Therefore, as the reviews say, such a schedule should be created for animals. It is better to feed chinchillas in the evening, since at this time the pet becomes more active.

You should also always monitor the presence of water in the drinking bowl. There is an opinion that chinchillas do not drink water in captivity, but this is just a myth. If chinchilla food is used, a sufficient amount of fluid must be supplied to the body.

Regardless of the diet and food used, there should always be dry grass and hay in the pet’s house. Therefore, it is recommended to make a separate feeder for him.

Rating of the best manufacturers

There is a huge range of feeds with different compositions. To understand which brand is the best, you need to get acquainted with the rating of the best feed mixtures. This rating is based on reviews from owners of these animals.

Article on the topic: Is it possible to give chinchillas fresh grass, dandelions, clover, etc.

Beaphar XtraVital Chinchilla

Beaphar XtraVital Chinchilla is made in the Netherlands. It is the best food, so it ranks first among the rest. The mixture contains protein, fiber, proteins and carbohydrates. These substances provide the animal with energy, the chinchilla is active. Granules of the correct shape and texture allow rodents to grind their teeth well. This food can be used for all chinchillas.

Padovan GrandMix Cavie

The producer of this food is Italy. The food contains granules, grains, dried fruits, vitamin C, substances that keep the body in good condition. The mixture is the main diet and can also be fed along with hay.

Versele-Laga Complete Chinchilla & Degu

Manufacturer – Belgium. The granules are compressed and dense, they ensure normal grinding of the chinchilla's teeth. The food contains prebiotics, vitamins, and minerals that ensure good functionality of the body. It also contains carbohydrates and fiber, with the help of which food is well absorbed in the pet’s stomach. With the help of fatty acids, the coat becomes smooth and bright.

JR Farm Classic Feast

This food is produced in Germany. If the owner opens the package, then in the future this food should be stored in a dark, cool place, since the rays of the sun can spoil the composition of the ingredients. Products include substances such as dried herbs, fruits, and vegetables. The product also contains inulin, which promotes normal digestion of the animal.

Versele-Laga Nature Chinchilla

The producer of this food is Belgium. The product was developed according to the needs of the chinchilla. The composition of these products includes cereals, various herbs, vegetables, fruits, amino acids, and vitamins. All these substances help the animal maintain its shape. The food can be either the main diet or an additional mixture.

Vitakraft Pellets

The manufacturer of this food is Germany. The granulated mixture is used as a staple food. The granules contain the necessary vitamins and fiber, do not contain sugar, and support the good functionality of the animal’s body. The food is suitable for chinchillas of different ages.

Article on the topic: Can chinchillas eat raw, roasted, pumpkin and other seeds?

Little One Chinchillas

This is food from a domestic manufacturer. It consists of cereals, vegetables, peas, carrots, corn flakes, oats, apples, barley, sunflower seeds, nuts, dried fruits. This food should be given to the chinchilla as a supplement, it is not the main food. The products are organic as they contain no artificial substances. The main thing is that this food should be given little by little.

Baka High Quality

This product is also produced by a domestic manufacturer. The product is of high quality and affordable price. The composition includes granules, pieces of vegetables and fruits. Thanks to such a balanced diet, the animal will feel good. This option is suitable for both small and large chinchillas as their main food. Ingredients can include cereal flakes, dried vegetables, fruits and herbs. But this food has a minus - the chinchilla can eat the ingredients that it likes: fruits and vegetables.

"Animals" from

The manufacturer is Russia. If you buy one box, it will last for 30 days. Packages come in various sizes. The food has a specific smell, but this does not harm the animal, the owner just needs to get used to this smell. This food is suitable for young and older animals. The composition includes cereals, herbs, vegetables, vitamins, minerals. This food can become the main diet. Dense granules have a small amount of fiber, which does not harm digestion.

"Standard"

This food is the most budget-friendly, produced on the domestic market. The box is small, so it won't last long. The food is inexpensive and contains a set of nutritional elements. This feed mixture is the basis of the diet, it contains products such as corn kernels, oatmeal flakes, carrots, rose hips, dried apples, and dried grass pellets. The ingredients are natural. Chinchillas will happily eat this food, and this food mixture can be mixed with another. It is important to calculate fats and carbohydrates well so that the animal’s digestion works well. A chinchilla should be given 42 grams of this mixture per day.

Article on the topic: Can chinchillas eat nuts (walnuts, pine nuts and others)

Typical mistakes when making food yourself:

• You cannot grind grains into fine flour. It is necessary to leave at least 1 ingredient in a hard form. If the chinchilla has nothing to chew on, then its teeth will not wear down and hooks will begin to form on its teeth.
• Do not add treats to the food. They must be given separately so that the chinchilla does not get used to them and does not develop intestinal problems.
• Do not use vegetables, fruits or fresh herbs. They will develop mold and rot, which will at least cause bloating in the chinchillas.
• Lack of beneficial additives and minerals. Some people think that natural food made from grains and cereals is enough for chinchillas, but this is far from the case. In nature, rodents themselves find the components they need, but in a cage this is impossible. Therefore, the availability of all the necessary vitamins and microelements rests on your shoulders.
• Instant transition to new food. The biggest mistake that leads to indigestion. Chinchillas need to be switched to a new food gradually, firstly, they have a hard time getting used to the new one, and secondly, it may not suit them. Start giving food in a ratio of 25% of the new food and 75% of their usual food, then observe the behavior of the chinchilla.

If your food contains all the necessary ingredients, then your pet will eat it with great pleasure. With proper nutrition, your chinchilla will live with you for more than 15 years.