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    Chinchillas and Chewing

    Posted by Jennifer Snyder on Wed, Feb 27, 2008 @ 12:16 PM
      
      
      
      

    Since chinchillas are part of the rodent family they will instinctively chew on wood or anything they can get their paws on. It is part of their natural behavior, so it is up to their human friends to keep them from chewing on wires, walls, plastic, or other materials that could be harmful. Though their chewing can be a bit challenging for human friends, it should not be discouraged as chinchillas need to gnaw to keep their teeth healthy and prevent them from growing too long. Rodent's teeth never stop growing so they have to gnaw on things regularly.

    There are some instances where chewing is a negative behavior for chinchillas--fur chewing. This behavior is similar to the feather plucking that some pet birds display. Some fur chewing tends to be hereditary, but it can also have environmental influences. If your Chinchilla is distressed, has recently undergone a traumatic move, you have changed the food, she has not had much play time out of the cage, or she is pregnant these are some reasons why your chinchilla may be chewing her fur. Fur chewers will chew their own fur either constantly, or at intervals, re-growing it completely in between. They usually chew the fur off of their hips and sides, and base of the tail about half-way down the length of the hair. It looks very unsightly, but it is usually not harmful to the chinchilla’s physical health. Unfortunately, they will also chew the fur off of other chinchillas and their offspring. If you are thinking of breeding be cautious if your chinchilla displays this behavior, as chewers tend to produce chewers.

    Chinchilla chew toys are recommended as a great way to enrich your chinchilla’s environment and keep their teeth healthy. They enjoy wooden small animal chew toys that you can pick up at most pet stores, hanging chew toys, alfalfa blocks, and chinchilla chew toys like lava bites that are made to simulate the chewing materials they would find in their natural habitat in and around the Andes Mountains.

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    Comments

    Indeed - if you find that your chinchilla is chewing his fur or tail, investigate for a cause of stress. Do you have a dog or cat that frequents the area of the cage? Is there an agressive cagemate? Is it too hot, cold, noisy, bright, etc? Does he or she have enough chew toys? 
     
     
     
    Believe it or not, many pet stores carry rodent chewing wood (as well as other items!) that is actually toxic to chinchillas. A few common safe woods for chinchillas include apple, pear, grapevine, mulberry, and willow (among others). An absolultely toxic wood commonly found in pet stores is peach. Never give peach wood to your animals or other woods of the prunus species (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus) because they produce hydrogen cyanide, which is poisonous to you chinchilla. Check back for a more complete list of safe and unsafe chewing woods, and also for my list of favorite safe chinchilla products, coming SOON!!! 
     
     
     
    Amanda
    Posted @ Thursday, July 24, 2008 1:49 PM by Amanda
    Ah yes. 
    The woods. 
     
    Thank you for pointing that out. I forgot about that. 
     
    Also, I'm talking to a chinchilla owner, who happens to be volunteering to answer questions on a chinchilla site. He has said...the raisins are toxic to chinchillas as well. 
     
    I'd like to know much more about this. I don't know weather or not if it's true, but if anyone had something on it....let me know:)
    Posted @ Wednesday, July 30, 2008 1:33 AM by Adriana
    Hi Adriana. I have read this in a couple forums too, that raisins should not be used for chinchillas. 
     
    I tend to buy the small animal/chinchilla treats that resemble train mix with nuts and varieties of dried fruit. Though I have also heard that nuts aren't great for chinchillas either. I just stick with moderation so not to upset their stomach. All of my chinchillas seem very health and happy. 
     
    If your friend knows more about this topic we would be happy to have him publish and article! Also if you would like to contribute to ChinchillaPlace and become one of our guest writers let me know.
    Posted @ Wednesday, July 30, 2008 10:42 AM by Jennifer Snyder
    Yes, I've heard the nuts aren't wel for their dijestive systoms either. 
     
    It's a pain in the but trying to figure out what is what lol. 
     
     
     
    I'd love to become a member. How would I do it?
    Posted @ Wednesday, July 30, 2008 12:07 PM by Adriana
    I suppose a raisin is not more than a dried grape. While grapevine is a safe wood for chinchillas, that's not necessarily true for the fruit of that tree. And unfortunately I don't currently have a reliable resource to find out about grapes themselves. However, the chinchilla "experts" I consult have always said that a half a raisin is OK, but there are healthier treats that are better for them, and of course don't give them a sugar coated one straight out of the Raisin Bran.
    Posted @ Wednesday, July 30, 2008 7:40 PM by Amanda
    Ah, yes, lol. Of course not:P 
     
     
     
    I've got one other question for you, is this picture of the chinchilla, yours? And if so, or if not, would you know what kind it is? 
     
     
     
    Surpprisingly, I have the same kind.  
     
    At the begining, I thought that he was a standered grey. But, I've read the the standared grey is a dark grey. Mine, is quite light grey, with the pink ears, and when light is on his eyes, they glow red. 
     
     
     
    What kind do u think that is?
    Posted @ Wednesday, July 30, 2008 10:05 PM by Adriana
    Haze is mine. He is a Beige. Did you have better luck with logging in? If you want, you can email me your article and I will publish it under your name.
    Posted @ Wednesday, July 30, 2008 10:07 PM by Jennifer Snyder
    Yes, actually. 
     
    I logged on just fine.  
     
     
     
    So, in the pic, it looks like he's a grey at first gance. Like a light grey. 
     
    Could biege chinchillas look like that? 
     
     
     
    For the articals, what do I put in them? Basical, my opinoin on chinchillas and their needs?
    Posted @ Wednesday, July 30, 2008 10:12 PM by Adriana
    Sure just keep it around a certain topic. I was thinking about doing one on the different types of chinchilla bedding and which are safe and affordable. I also have one started on pregnancy but whatever topic you think would be good. Like perhaps your experiences with your first year as a chinchilla owner.
    Posted @ Wednesday, July 30, 2008 10:16 PM by Jennifer Snyder
    Ah, thats great. Well, ok.  
     
     
     
    I'll work on a topic. I'm REALLY interested in breeding, so I might do that. 
     
    Is that a good topic? 
     
     
     
    Yeah, I'll propebly end up emailing it to you lol. This site is a LITTLE confusing, only cause its new to me lol. 
     
     
     
    Where I ACTUALLY publish the artical, is in Hubspot? or chinchilla place? 
     
     
     
    Adriana
    Posted @ Wednesday, July 30, 2008 10:21 PM by Adriana
    we love are chinchilla but we bought him at a large brand pet store when he was are ready full grown and we soon realized that he probably was not held by humans at any point in his life... we've have to work really hard to get him to even let us pet him and still over two years later, he still feels uncomfortable being held. We let him out of his cage for a few hours each day in our small apartment and cant get him to stop chewing on walls, furniture, or wires for the life of us. We keep a close eye on him every time we let him out but its impossible to stop him from taking bites out of just about everything before we can retch him to stop him. Now all of our wires and walls (of our rented apartment!) have bites taken out of them. We have bought massive amounts of wood chews and just about every treat on the market... which he does loves to chew but no amount of wood can keep him from taken shots at the walls. its like he wants the best of both worlds. We really don't know what to do... we are worried both about his safety and our deposit. ha i know the wire and paint on the walls cant be good for him but aside of keeping him in his cage all day every day there's no way to stop his chewing... i think maybe because he was never socialized and has very little interest in playing with us when he's out of his cage, aside from a little petting on him terms, he just chews on the walls as play and entertainment? Is there any way to stop this behavior? We would never want to part with him (partly because we feel anyone else would deal with his contempt for people and constant distruction by leaving him in a small cage all day by himself) but we just dont know how long we can deal with a pet with about as much interaction as a goldfish and a goal to dismantle our home... please help if you can?
    Posted @ Tuesday, March 03, 2009 2:45 AM by Jourdan Perkins
    Jourdan, I feel your pain. Chins chew EVERYTHING! It's kind of their way of experiencing the world, by test tasting it. You have no idea how many hardback books on my book shelf have no edges and tons of chew marks. Amanda one of the chinchilla place writers has been working on trying to "correct" this behavior with her chin and has had a little success. To live peacefully with our pets, we cannot have them destroying our home...my suggestion is letting them play in the bathroom. A dry bath tub makes a good, easy to clean chinchilla play area. I realize there are still wall in the bathroom, but it's a bit easier to keep an eye on them and if you throw a couple of apple wood chews in with your chin they should prefer to chew that than the wall as the wall certainly cant be as delicious as the apple chew.but, they will still likely try the wall, but not focus on it. I will see if Amanda has any additional tips for you. 
     
    As for being held, not all chins like being held, actually most really don't, especially if they were not held when they were young. You can try rewarding with treats, but unfortunately there are no promises.
    Posted @ Tuesday, March 03, 2009 12:12 PM by Jennifer Snyder
    The bathroom suggestion is genius! the walls have a tile floor splash so I don't think there's any chewable wall at chinchilla level! thanks sooo much, thats a great idea, put the toilet seat down and his wheel and some treats and it'll my as good as full run of the house. Its also nice to know that other chinchillas don't like to be held so much... you always see the pictures of chinchillas sitting up on their owners shoulder. ha i think the best we can hope for him is that he enjoys the occasional under ear and belly scratches he allows us to give him every once and a while. thank you very much, i'll try that tonight, hopefully if it works out I can buy the new wood bedroom set I've been eyeing. :)
    Posted @ Tuesday, March 03, 2009 3:13 PM by jourdan Perkins
    I have 2 female chins that are looking for a good home. They live in a 5 story apartment (cage) which would come with them. Anyone in the Durham to Greensboro NC area interested.
    Posted @ Wednesday, April 08, 2009 7:25 PM by Meliz
    Hi Meliz. If no one responds, you may want to try posting to craig's list or this site seems to have rescue/adoption services http://www.chincare.com/Pages/RescueClassifieds.htm good luck!
    Posted @ Thursday, April 09, 2009 9:43 AM by Jennifer Snyder
    Well I got these chew toys , pumice stone, alfalfa block, wood chips, straw... But my chinchilla still chews on its sleeping house, and its exercise wheel.. What can I do?
    Posted @ Sunday, February 07, 2010 9:50 AM by Ron
    Ron, 
     
     
     
    What are the sleeping house and exercise wheel made of?
    Posted @ Monday, February 08, 2010 8:53 AM by Amanda S.
    I have a large pin that takes up most of the living room for my chinchilla to play in with several tunnels, balls, a exercise wheel chew toys and his favorite treat hidden in a hay pile but he seems to just want to bit the wire pin. What can I do to keep him more interested in play time then bitting at the pin?
    Posted @ Tuesday, December 07, 2010 5:34 PM by Christine
    does anyone know why our chinchilla is doing excessive chewing other than their chew treats? Only one chinnie is having this behavior. Could he be lacking some mineral or something? Also he has had moist droppings for about 2 days so we gave him some vitamin c but still hasnt seemed to clear up. Anyother ideas would help.
    Posted @ Thursday, February 10, 2011 10:20 PM by Steve
    we feed our chinchilla raisins and all nuts. we keep it to one of each a day or so, but she's never had diarrhea or any other issues. Maybe because she also eats boat loads of hay, too.  
     
    We give our chinchilla stuff to chew on too but like everyone above, our books and rental apartment and her plastic housing are falling to shambles. It is frustrating, to say the least.
    Posted @ Wednesday, May 04, 2011 9:43 PM by sarah
    I have a 4 month old grey chin. He chews the cage occasionally and himself not very much. He hasn't took out any hair as it looks like he is scratching.  
     
    His favorite snacks are cherrios and sunflower seeds. I have noticed after playing out of the cage he goes right to sleep.  
     
     
     
    Chins sure have quite a bit of personality.
    Posted @ Wednesday, June 29, 2011 12:46 PM by Dave
    I was just wondering If the sour apple spray they use for other animals may work to stop the chewing? I don't mind my chinchilla chewing books and random papers, my biggest concern is the wires and I kinda worry about how toxic most of the stuff is for him :( cheers everyone have an amazing 2012!
    Posted @ Wednesday, January 04, 2012 10:09 AM by Klaudia
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