Mary Allen
Chinchillas are just cute – so it’s no wonder that the small rodents from South America are also becoming increasingly popular in our latitudes. Since they live in packs in their natural environment, the cuddly sleet is also extremely sociable. That’s why they should have at least one playmate. Find out the most important tips about the chinchilla cage in our brief overview.
Size – The Chinchilla Cage Should By No Means Be Too Small
The moving chins need a lot of space to let off steam, so the cage must also be of the appropriate size. A cage volume of at least 3m³ is required for just two animals. The minimum height of chinchilla cages is 150cm. For each additional animal in the group, you have to plan 0.5m³ more cage volume. A tall rather than wide cage can also be easily implemented. Because chinchillas are real climbing masters and love to do gymnastics over several floors. Built-in elevations are also entirely to their liking: They like to sit there and curiously observe their surroundings.
Chinchilla Cage Establishment
Before you can start setting up the cage, you can use a checklist to find out which types of accessories are necessary to make your little four-legged friend happy. Because a chinchilla not only likes to sleep and feed but also loves to climb and jump – and he practices his own personal hygiene particularly extensively. So make sure that you provide both light and dark places for your chins in the cage. And since chinchillas love to nibble on anything, almost all objects in the cage should be natural. Treated wood, varnish, or other treated materials can make curious rodents sick.
Find out now with our checklist which utensils you need to set up a chinchilla cage:
- Litter: Wood litter is recommended for keeping chinchillas. Because chinchillas often mistakenly mistake other litter for food, which is why particular care is required when choosing them. Cat litter and straw are taboo!
- Sand for hygiene and fur care: Since the small rodents are incredibly clean, they need a special sand bath with fine chinchilla sand. This is where they can best care for their soft fur.
- Seating boards: In the hardware store, you can get small, untreated boards that are well suited as seats for the chinchilla cage. But pay attention to the right sizes.
- Branches and twigs: The twigs and branches of unsprayed fruit trees as well as beech or hazelnut branches are suitable for the design of the cage.
- Food bowl: The chins like to nibble on a plastic bowl, so a ceramic or porcelain bowl is much more suitable. Make sure that the bowl is not too small so that all animals can eat from it at the same time and that there are no arguments.
- Water dispenser: Water should always be available to the animals and ideally is offered in a nipple drinker. In this way, it is optimally protected from contamination.
- Hay: Since loose hay is quickly used as a toilet by chinchillas, it depends on the right presentation – after all, the furry friend should eat the hay. A covered rack is ideal here.
- Chinchilla houses: Chins love nesting and sleeping places that are nice and dark and well protected. Make sure, however, that the house has an entrance that is big enough. The size should be around 30 x 20 x 20cm.
What to Do With the Chinchilla Cage?
So that the little rodents feel really good, you should set up the cage in the right place. Because chinchillas do not tolerate direct sunlight and they also do not like rooms that are too cold. As nocturnal rodents, chinchillas need plenty of rest to sleep during the day. Therefore, at least two adjoining sides of the cage should be opaque. You can also do this by placing the cage in a corner or alcove. And of course, rooms that are frequently used by humans, such as the living room or a walk-through room, are not a good choice. And because the small sleet is also very sensitive to temperature, they should not be exposed to drafts or excessive humidity. A light and airy room are best, away from noisy devices such as television, radio or Playstation. Chinchillas like to have a good overview. Therefore, it is ideal to set up the chinchilla cage a little higher, if it does not already reach under the ceiling.
Build a Chinchilla Cage Yourself: What Should Be Considered?
If you want to build a chinchilla cage yourself, you should plan the necessary time for it. Because even if you are very skilled at hand, the construction of the cage often takes longer than you think. It is helpful if you have at least one helping person on hand. In any case, it makes sense to make a sketch for the cage to be built in advance.
When building, you should make sure that there are no possible loopholes – because the lively Chins are real breakout artists. Also, keep in mind that they gnaw a lot. The self-made cage has to withstand that! As soon as the cage height is more than 1.80 meters, it is advisable to build in a complete mezzanine level with one or two holes. The boards should be arranged in such a way that the animals cannot fall deeper than 60 cm, otherwise, there is a risk of injury.
Wooden Chinchilla Cage: Which Types Of Wood Are Best?
If you would like to build a cage for your chins yourself, you can use the following (natural!) Hardwoods:
- Birch
- Beech
- Elm
- Cherry tree
- Oak
- Walnut tree
Coarse chipboard is conditionally suitable for building a cage. Always make sure that your chinchillas have no opportunity to gnaw, as the wood can splinter and thus increase the risk of injury.
Chipboard is rather uncommon for the construction of a chinchilla cage, as it is not really appealing in terms of appearance. However, if the chipboard has a certain thickness, it can be used in cage construction. Here, too, you should make sure that the gnawing chins have no way of damaging the wood.
If you take these tips into account, you will be able to enjoy keeping chinchillas a lot!