A Chinchilla's diet is SIMPLE.

A Chinchilla's diet should be simple. A quality pellet, ample amounts of fresh hay, and unlimited access to water.  If you can get these 3 things together, you'll have a healthy well-nourished chinchilla. A quality pellet can be made specifically for Chinchillas or you can choose to feed a High Quality Rabbit Pellet. We feed an organic rabbit pellet from a local milling company. Our chins are thriving on it. 

A lot of the pellet selections sold at the pet store are not "quality pellets". In fact, they're junk food riddled with fruit, nuts, fillers, and treats. How can you have a healthy pet if you serve treats with every meal? 

Things you'll want to avoid in your pellet choice are:

- Fillers such as Corn or Soy
- Vegetables or Vegetable products, dried or fresh.
- Fruit, dried or fresh.
 - Seeds
- Nuts

A good rule of thumb, if it's bright and shaped funny.. it's a treat. 

The reason we tell you to avoid fruits, nuts, seeds, and vegetables, is because they're very unhealthy for your pet.
Fruits + Vegetables  contain a lot of natural sugar in their natural and dried forms. Pet chinchillas do not need this excess sugar. This excess sugar can resort in your Chinchilla becoming ill. Diabetes, hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia are all risks when feeding a sugary diet. 

Many do not realize that a dehydrated small piece of dried fruit is just a shrunken big peice. When you dry fruit it shrinks down, but the sugar is still there. It's just concentrated into a smaller piece. 

In their natural form, fruit and vegetables  contain ample amounts of moisture. Chinchillas originate from a dry climate, and have developed needing a very dry diet. Excess moisture in their food will lead to bloat. Bloat is a hazard because chinchillas can not relive themselves of any gasses, meaning without intervention they can pass from buildup. 

Nuts + Seeds are high in fat. When a chinchilla is fed a diet high in fat they become prone to ailments like fatty liver disease. Fatty liver disease is known as a "silent killer" in chinchillas because they'll be gone before you realize that was the cause of any problems. 

So please, your pet relies on you to make educated choices about their diet. Take what you've learned here and apply it to your next purchase so your pet can live a long healthy life. 

** Note: When switching your pet's pellet, it should be done gradually so you don't upset or shock the digestive track with a new formula. Try switching over a month's time. During the 1st week mix 25% new pellet with 75% of the old pellet. During the second week serve a 50% new and 50% old mix. The 3rd week do 75% new and 25% old and by the 4th week you should be serving 100% of the new healthy pellet. - In some cases, very malnourished animals on a poor diet will have a cold switch but please consult a reputable breeder or your vet before doing so. **

Below are some known healthy options pictured for your pet. We've chosen to only list pellets you can order online or pick up at the store because what may be available to to some locally may not be available to others. 

~Click photo to be redirected to websites offering these products ~

Oxbow Essentials is a wonderful Chinchilla pellet offered at PetSmart locations and Online. ( NOT "Garden Select. " )

Mazuri Chinchilla Pellets are a great quality for pet owners. You can normally purchase online or at Petco.

Purina Rabbit Chow can be found at Feed stores

Manna Pro Sho can be found at feed stores.

Pellets like Nutrena, Manna Pro, Manna  Sho are common in the West/Mid West. Pen Pal in lower Mid West / Prairie states. Tradition ( Hubbard Life ) is more common in the Eastern half of the U.S. Breeders in different regions use quality pellets that are easily found locally. When in doubt, ask your breeder or a valued rescue worker's opinion. 

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HEY! Don't forget the Hay.

Hay is very important in your chinchilla's diet. What nutrients they don't get from their pellets they get from their hay, and what they lack in hay they get from their pellets. Hay not only is a good staple in keeping a Chinchilla's digestive track on track, but it's also one of the main sources for keeping teeth healthy.

As a Chinchilla chews on their hay they grind their back molars together keeping them short and trimmed. Without hay ( and ample chew sources ) a Chinchilla's teeth can become over grown! Ouch! So be sure to offer plenty of fresh hay daily. 

You can use our referral link here: http://rwrd.io/ve5wy59
That link will give you 20% off your order! 
By using our referral link, you allow us to collect points, which lets us buy products we can use or share with local owners. 

We use Small Pet Select's hay, we've never been disappointed.

The storage box SPS comes in helps make hay the perfect bed!

What type of hay does a Chinchilla eat?

Chinchillas can be offered a variety of hay.

The  most common hay is Timothy hay. Timothy hay comes in 3 cuts. It should be green. 

- First cut, which is very coarse stemmed and has a lot of heads. This cut is full of fiber! 

- Second cut, Which is a mix of softer and firm, leafy hay ( most popular & common ) 

- Third cut, is very soft and leafy and best for picky eaters. 

There is also Alfalfa Hay which is sweeter and rich in nutrients. It's best for young / growing animals, or for malnourished animals. It can be offered occasionally to adults as a treat, but should not be their staple hay.  It is bright green and fresh smelling. 

Orchard Grass   is a high fiber, leafy hay. Sometimes a mix of Timothy, Garrison, and Alfalfa. It's a good alternative to Timothy. Green and bright in color.

Oat Hay   is a hard, stem filled hay that is tough and yellow/pale in color. It comes with Oat heads, so should be fed sparingly. 

Blue Grass Hay is another leafy hay option.

Botanical Hay is generally Timothy hay with herbs mixed in. 

** Please avoid purchasing and serving any hays that are sold mixed with fruits or vegetables. **

If you would like to get the same brand of hay we use
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Some owners are allergic to hay...

So a great alternative is to offer hay cubes. Hay cubes come in many forms. You can get them as cubes that are either Timothy hay or Alfalfa hay , Or a 50/50 blend. You can purchase hay stacks from Oxbow, which are round compressed bales. Or you can purchase compressed hay cookies for your chinchilla. Choosing any of these will greatly reduce the amount of hay-dust in your home that may be affecting your allergies. 

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Treats! 

We always love spoiling our pets, and while it can be nice to treat our pets, something important to understand is that it's mostly for us. Of course our pets enjoy the bits of delicious goodness, but we derive joy from what we perceive as making our pets happy.  It's our jobs as caretakers to know when enough is enough. Moderation is a VERY important thing here!

Common healthy treats that you can purchase at the grocery store Rosehips, Old fashion rolled oats, dried hibiscus flowers and an array of chinchilla safe herbs ( you can also find all of this  at www.tjschinchillasupplies.com or www.rondaschins.com. )

Treats you can give every other day are non-frosted Shredded Wheaties. It's a favorite around here. 

An occasional treat for chins is 1 goji berry every now and then in place of a usual treat. Goji berries are a fruit, BUT they are low in sugar and provide nutritional benefits. Goji berries have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years. They are low in calories, low in sugar, fat-free, a good source of fiber and a high in antioxidants. They also promote skin, hair, and eye health. Always be sure to buy organic dried berries. If they are soft and sticky - They are not dried enough! They need to be rock hard. Sticky treats will stick to the teeth! 

With permission, we're able to share this great visual on proper treat proportions.