The Cage
Size & Material
When it comes to chinchilla cages, bigger is better. Chinchillas need lots of room to run, jump, roll and play. You can have a single-level, multi-level, or tiered cage. The cage needs to be made out of thick wood or metal because chinchillas are notorious chewers. Some chin owners build a cage out of wood, and then cover the wood in a metal mesh material. If you use wood, make sure it is a safe wood like apple or willow. The bottom of the cage needs to have a solid surface. If the cage has a wire bottom surface, then your chinchilla’s feet will get very sore. Imagine trying to balance on wires for your entire life! If you choose a wire-bottomed cage, provide ledges or a surface your chinchilla can sit to rest.
Ventilation
Chinchilla cages must be well-ventilated. Find a cage that allows air to circulate in and out. Always check the air in your chin’s cage. Chinchillas are prone to respiratory infections, so check to see if the air is stuffy. The cage needs to be well-ventilated, but not drafty. You shouldn’t have wind blowing directly on your chinchilla.
What You Need In The Cage
Water Bottle
This should be made out of glass or plastic. If the bottle is plastic, it needs to be hung outside of the cage. Otherwise, your chinchilla will chew it, leaving a watery mess.
Wheel
This is important for chinchilla exercise. Wheels should be a least 15 inches in diameter. The surface should be solid, so your chinchilla’s feet won’t get caught between the spokes
Click here for a safe wheel
Dust Bath
This is essential to maintain proper health in your chin. They will roll in it to absorb extra oils in their skin and they like it as well.
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Hay rack
This gives you a specific place to put your chinchilla’s hay. Hay racks are usually hung on the side of the cage at a low height for easy access
Bedding
This covers the entire surface of the cage. Bedding should be clean and absorbent to minimize odor. Never Use cedar or pine as this can be poisonous to your pet. The best to use is aspen or paper based like Care-Fresh.
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Safety
Chinchillas are much smaller than they look, making them excellent escape artists. Make sure that no space is big enough for your chinchilla to escape. Examine your cage and look for places where your chinchilla can get trapped. If your chinchilla does escape, put out a dust bath and wait. Chinchilla cages make a fun and safe home for your chinchilla.A chinchilla wants to leave its cage daily to get exercise and explore its environment. Before you let your chinchilla out of its cage, you must chin-proof. You don’t have to chin-proof every room in the house, just the ones that your chinchilla will be in. When considering what rooms to let your chinchilla play in, think about where in your home your chinchilla can cause the least amount of damage. Chinchillas love to chew and gnaw on everything, so be prepared for damages! Once you know what rooms will be OK for your chinchilla, start chin-proofing. Look for things that are potentially dangerous like electrical cords. Either remove all electrical cords from the room, or put the cords in a protective casing, such as PVC piping. Remove everything that you don’t want ruined. Chinchillas eat books, furniture, remote control buttons, keyboards, computers and anything else that can be chewed. Chinchillas are natural escape artists, so look around the room for holes and possible hiding places like sofa beds. Cover up the holes and block passages into hard to reach places like furniture. The idea of chin proofing is to give your chinchilla a safe place to play in. After you’ve chin-proofed your room, give your chinchilla out-of-cage playtime. These play sessions are a good way to bond with your chinchilla, and they provide essential exercise. Play with your chinchilla every day. Give them a treat and put them back in the cage.” Even though you have thoroughly chin-proofed, constant supervision is a must.
Click here for some ideas on cages
Chinchilla Houseing
Below are some ideas on housing and the recommend size requirements for the cage.