Needs-oriented furnishing of the chinchilla cage
The furnishing of the chinchilla cage should be based on the needs of the animals. Specifically, the need for:
Running, sprinting, wall jumping.
Anyone who has seen their chinchilla run knows how fast they can run and how happy they look doing it. Moreover, sprinting exercises their muscles and increases their well-being (cf.
digestion).
In order to be able to let off steam, keeping to the minimum cage dimensions has first priority!
Furthermore, in addition to (not instead of!) a sufficiently large enclosure, offering a running plate or running wheel is a
nice idea especially for underchallenged or very active, but also stressed chins.
Gnawing and nibbling
Chinchillas are rodents. They must always have access to gnawing material. Gnawing is a very important employment opportunity that prevents boredom. Animals that are bored are prone to behavioral
disorders and stereotypies such as fur biting.
Suitable for gnawing are:
- Branches and twigs of non-toxic trees and shrubs including leaves and flowers from the garden, forest, but also pet shop / internet.
- Objects made of cork (plates, tubes, tunnels)
- Objects from bark of non-toxic trees and shrubs
- Trunks of non-toxic trees
- Willow bridges
- Wooden furnishings such as wooden houses, perches and floors
- Tunnels, tubes, nests and balls made of hay, grass, willow etc. (without wires!)
Jumping and "climbing
As incredibly good jumpers, chinchillas of course need opportunities to live out these natural movements. If these are missing, the animals get bored, which can lead to behavioral disorders and
stereotypes such as fur biting or movement stereotypes. In addition, the animals can become fat due to lack of exercise and develop digestive disorders, the muscles can regress - the animals
become both physically and mentally ill.
Climbing in the classical sense - like e.g. rats, monkeys, mice or chipmunks - Chins cannot do. They do not have claws and front paws that can hold on to something, pull themselves up and
balance. Therefore, they cannot do anything with, for example, ropes or climbing branches that are too vertical.
In order to be able to move freely, a sufficiently large enclosure is first and foremost the prerequisite. Beautiful, species-appropriate jumping and "climbing" opportunities are created in this
by the following furnishings:
- Play, rodent and climbing trees
- Plates, tunnels and tubes made of cork
- Shelves made of untreated wood, e.g. from fruit trees, oak, beech, fir or spruce, placed at different heights - for details on the arrangement of shelves and perches see minimum dimensions and cage size
- Thick and medium branches of non-toxic trees
Hide and seek
Chinchillas are flight animals. If there are no hiding places, the animals are permanently stressed and fall ill. The following items can be used for hiding:
- Various wooden and bark houses of suitable size.
- Labyrinth constructions
- Baskets made of natural material
- Various tunnels, tubes, houses and plates made of cork, wood, bark, cardboard, hay, ceramics and clay
- Willow bridges in various sizes
- Play, rodent and climbing trees
- Castles, squeeze houses etc.
- Cuddle caves especially from fleece material
Most of the above mentioned furnishings can be bought online or in pet shops. And: Nature offers us a lot for free: stones, branches, tree trunks, bark, foliage