Humble Acres Chinchillas

CHINCHILLA ORIGINS:

Chinchillas originated in the Andes mountains of South America. Named after the Chincha people of the same mountains, chinchillas' fur is considered to be the most dense in the animal world, with 50-120 hairs per single follicle. This dense, soft fur (which does not allow for any sort of parasite infestation) is extremely desirable in the commercial fur industry. In 1923, Mathias Chapman (an American engineer) received permission to trap 11 wild chinchillas for import into the United States. It is from this initial effort that the chinchilla industry in the United States began, first for fur, and then, towards the middle part of the 20th century, as a pet. Chinchillas are extremely popular as pets due to their extreme cleanliness and lack of any natural odor. They are inquisitive, curious animals who enjoy watching their owners as they work in the room in which the chinchilla is housed, and thoroughly enjoy time to run and explore in a chin-proofed area. Chinchillas are naturally inclined to bathe in a special bath dust or sand, as they bathed in volcanic ash in their natural habitat, and this particular behavior is extremely entertaining to observe. Chinchillas can live between 10 and 20 years in captivity, sometimes longer with proper care and feeding, and are therefore a long-term pet whose company can be enjoyed for many years.

CHINCHILLA COLORS:

Although in the wild, chinchillas are generally gray (standard) in color, modern breeding has brought about many different color variations. For a complete list of colors, please visit www.gcchinchillas.com/colourchart.php.

CHINCHILLA CARE:

Chinchilla care is relatively easy and inexpensive. Pet chinchillas subsist very well on a diet of high-quality hay and pellets and clean water. Some of the most recommended brands of pellets are Traditional, Oxbow, Surecrop, Mazuri (sometimes used here at Humble Acres), and APD. High-quality rabbit pellets, such as Manna Pro Sho and Purina Advanced Nutrition Rabbit (used here at Humble Acres) are also acceptable. Pellets containing excessive amounts of treats or other "goodies" are generally not considered to be a good choice. Pellets are generally best within 6 months of the "milled on" date, which can be found on the bag. High quality timothy hay such as APD (American Pet Diner) or Oxbow can be given in conjunction with a good pellet. Alfalfa (fed in conjunction with a timothy-based pellet) can also be given in loose or cubed form. Always be sure to have clean, fresh water available for chinchillas at all times. Bottled, purified or filtered water are best if the available water supply contains contaminants or high amounts of sulfur. Treats are best given in moderation, or as a nutritional supplement. Rose hips, which are a good source of Vitamin C, are a good treat. Sugary treats such as raisins are best avoided - old fashioned oats or a half a shredded wheat are a better choice. Baths should be given at least one to three times a week, with show-animals receiving more just prior to a show. Bath sand/dust such as Blue Cloud or Blue Sparkle can be placed into the chinchilla's cage in a container for small amounts of time or provided during playtime.

CHINCHILLA HOUSING:

Chinchillas thrive in habitats which encourage them to climb and jump such as they would in their natural habitat. That being said, Humble Acres does not condone the use of extremely tall cages, which promote injury due to missed jumps or falls. Large ferret cages, such as the MidWest Ferret Nation (used here at Humble Acres) can be safely used to provide a large, well-ventilated habitat for chinchillas. Chinchillas need to have plenty of wood chews and leaping platforms within their cages on which to play and chew. Chinchillas, like other rodents, have constantly growing teeth and it is imperative that they chew at all times to prevent tooth problems. Sleeping houses (wood, not plastic) are also very good additions to chinchilla cages, which provide safety and security while the chinchilla is sleeping during the day. Hammocks, if provided, should be made specifically for chinchillas our of polar fleece and with no visible straps on which the chinchilla can chew. Humble Acres purchases all of its hammocks and other fleece products from www.fuzzbuttchins.com. Bedding for chinchillas should be clean and dry, made of pine or organic materials such as CareFresh bedding. Cedar and other types of wood bedding can be toxic to chinchillas and should be avoided. Cleanliness within the chinchilla's cage should be imperative, and a thhorough cleaning at least once a week, if not more frequently, is advised. Chinchillas are very clean animals and prefer their surroundings to be as well. Below is an example of a large-cage setup used at Humble Acres for non-breeders, breeders on break, growing-out chins or single pair chinchillas:

BONDING WITH CHINCHILLAS:

Chinchillas are animals of great personality, and each individual is distinct. Therefore, bonding with some chinchillas takes longer than with others, and some chinchillas never become tolerant or accustomed to being handled frequently or even at all. Generally speaking, chinchillas who were born and raised at a small breeder's location will have been handled on a regular basis from birth and be more tolerant of such activities. However, most chinchillas prefer to be scratched under their chin or behind their ears than picked up and handled. Pet store chinchillas are often poorly socialized and require much more work to tame than breeder-raised animals. It is important to let a new chinchilla become accustomed to you before attempting to touch or handle them. Sitting quietly outside their cage with your hand or arm inside the cage is a perfect starting point. Allow the chinchilla to come to you, to sniff you, to "taste" you (gently) and to become used to your voice by speaking softly to it the whole time. Over time, your chinchilla will become used to you and will slowly allow you to touch him or her and to pick him or her up. Handle chinchillas with a firm grip on the base (NOT the tip) of their tail and a supportive hand underneath their belly/chest. Do not chase or roughly grab a chinchilla who will not passively allow you to pick them up, as this can break trust completely.

BREEDING:

There is so much one needs to know about chinchillas before entering into breeding, and it should not be a venture entered into lightly. That being said, Humble Acres encourages anyone thinking about breeding chinchillas to find a mentor (an individual already involved in said activity) who can guide them, and to take the time to learn all they can about chinchillas before starting out. This portion of our info page will eventually be fleshed out as we find the time to write about our own experiences, as well as those of others. However, at this moment in time, we encourage readers to visit the breeders' sites listed on the LINKS page of this site for further information about breeding. Most of those listed have much more experience than we, and have been invaluable as we have been starting out.

In no way is this page a complete summary of chinchilla information. It will be added to and expanded as time allows. We encourage everyone to purchase a book related to chinchillas (such as After 40 Years: Alice Kline Talks About Chinchillas which can be purchased from the MCBA or on www.chinworld.com) or to visit the sites listed on our links page, which can provide further information.