Choosing the right housing in the right location is important for your chinchillas’ wellbeing.
Housing your chinchilla
Your chinchillas’ housing must be kept inside and be as big as possible, but an absolute minimum of 1m high x 2m wide x 2m deep. Your chinchillas need as much space as possible so that they can relax and feel at home. However, make sure their housing is securely closed – chinchillas are very good at opening things! In addition to their housing chinchillas need daily access to ample space outside their housing to exercise. However, it is important to make sure the area is safe and secure. It’s also important all electric cables are covered to stop your chinchillas chewing on them and any house plants should either be safe for chinchillas or kept out of the way.
Your chinchillas’ housing should contain lots of levels and platforms. However, don’t have any drops higher than 60cm as chinchillas can often fall off platforms due to their poor eyesight and clumsiness at times. Nesting boxes or fleece cubes should be provided for each chinchilla, and a larger enclosed space to allow them to rest together. Cover their housing floor in dust extracted material or shredded paper.
Chinchillas are easily bored so put lots of stimulating toys and safe items for them to chew in their housing. Any ledges, shelves and toys should be made from untreated, safe woods and plastic should be avoided completely.
Dust baths
Chinchillas need access to a dust bath to wash at least 2-3 times a week for a short amount of time. If your chinchillas are washing daily, limit their access to 10-15 minutes. Watch out for dry skin around their ears as this is a sign they are bathing too much. Make sure the sand is suitable for chinchillas and don’t put a lid on the dust bath as this will stop the air flow.
Quick tip
Just like rabbits and guinea pigs, chinchillas' digestive systems undertake a process called caecotrophy to extract as much goodness as possible from their food.
Excel Chinchilla Nuggets with Mint
from £8.50
Did you know?
Chinchillas can be become bored easily so its important to provide different toys to keep them entertained! Wooden boxes are great for chinchillas to play in. However, as they will get chewed, cardboard boxes and finished toilet rolls are great budget options.
Housing Checklist
Chinchillas are very active and need lots of space to exercise so the bigger their housing the better. Ideally, the enclosure should have several levels or shelves to allow your pets to bounce around. As chinchillas are enthusiastic chewers, a non-toxic wire mesh is essential to ensure that they can’t chew their way out. The mesh should be no larger than 15mm x 15mm with a solid floor so their feet don’t become sore. Put a couple of locks or clips on the housing or your chinchillas may break out! Additionally, provide a bedroom or a space where they can snuggle up – a nesting box will help them feel secure.
Chinchillas should only be housed indoors, but it’s really important temperature in their housing is regulated to between 10-18 degrees. At 21 degrees your chinchillas will become distressed and overheated, and a temperature of 30 degrees could be fatal to them. Keep their housing away from draughts and direct sunlight and in a quiet area away from loud noises.
The essentials you will need to make the perfect set up for you rabbits:
- Lots of tasty Excel hay!
- Excel nuggets
- Excel treats
- Wire mesh housing
- Platforms
- Food bowl
- Water bowl
- Nesting boxes
- Fleece tubes
- Shredded paper
- Chinchilla-safe cleaning products
Cleaning chinchilla housing
DAILY:
You should give your chinchillas’ housing a quick spot clean daily, removing any wet/dirty bedding, uneaten food and cleaning and refilling food and drink containers.
WEEKLY:
A more thorough clean should be completed weekly using soapy water and washing any fleece bedding or flooring.
MONTHLY:
Every month you should give your chinchillas’ housing a ‘deep clean’ where you take everything out, scrub and disinfect the housing with a animal-safe cleaner.
Our Burgess Excel Range
Our range of Burgess Excel Nuggets, feeding hay and tasty treats are perfect for your chinchillas. All are made using only the finest quality ingredients to help keep your chinchillas happy and healthy.
Chinchillas are herbivores that need a high-fibre, low-energy diet. Feeding good-quality hay or fresh grass, measured to the equivalent of their body size. Fresh hay should be available at all times for your Chinchilla to graze.
Our Excel treats are a tasty, healthy treat range perfect for your Small Animals. Our tasty baked treats are baked with love and perfect for hand feeding, or try our forage mixes, great for sprinkling through your small animals' hay to encourage their natural foraging behaviour.
When it comes to choosing bedding for Small Animals, you want to ensure that your bunnies will be safe, clean, cosy and comfortable. Our cosy bedding is perfect for keeping your small animals warm and cosy while they sleep, it's easy to spot clean and is suitable for use as bedding or litter.
Do you need more advice?
To help you find the right food for your pet have a look at our product range.
You can get in touch with our customer care team who will respond in 3-5 working days. Our dedicated team of pet experts will help you make the right choice.
If you should have any concerns about the health of your pet, always consult a vet.
