HOUSING

Your chinchilla must be kept in a wire cage or else it will eat its way through and 
"escape".  When you are choosing your cage be sure to get one that allows your pet 
a great deal of freedom and is not too restrictive or your pet will not be very happy.
Be very certain that the wire that the cage is constructed of is not painted and does
not have a plastic coating over it.  If you are thinking about purchasing a cage with a 
drop tray,  especially if you are going to breed your chin, get one with openings that 
are no larger than a couple of inches. They can squeeze through even very small 
openings. Cages that have trays that pull out are a good idea.  Although these cages 
are a bit harder to clean than the ones with the drop trays but these are the kind 
recommended by most breeders because hey are safer.  If you have  a shelf in the cage,
be sure the grating is 1/2" x 1/2" or even smaller than that. 
Reports of leg injuries with larger shelves are common. 
     If you only keep one chinchilla, you normally would only have to clean the tray once a 
week. Trays must be kept clean in order to help prevent illness and 
infections.  Store bought papers for this purpose of even a common newspaper 
works great as a litter absorbent. A chins litter does not give off an odor if 
you keep the cage nice and clean.  You can also sprinkle some baking soda on it to 
help prevent any odor. A Chinchilla's cage should emit almost no odor if it is always 
kept nice and clean.  If you do not have a drop tray, you can use wood shavings 
you can purchase at any pet store to substitute as a litter absorber. 
Remove your pet chin from the cage every few months to disinfect it. 
When you have picked a cage,  find the best place in your house where your 
pet will be most comfy. Keep your chin out of drafts in the winter and
 keep it in a cool place in the warmer months. Never have then in direct sunlight. 
Heat prostration is common when chins get too hot.  Make sure that there are no
 electrical wires around the cage or your chin will chew right through them.

Equipment for the chins cage

There is some simple, basic equipment that your chin needs. First, a feeder that can  
attach to the side of the cage. This helps to prevent spillage.  It also lessens the 
chance that your chin will urinate in it. If you use a dish, be sure it is sturdy so
 that it can't be tipped over.  If you catch your chin urinating in his water dish, 
immediately remove and clean it.  His water bottle should have a metal drinking 
spout. Your chin will most likely chew a hole through a plastic one. Any pet store 
should have metal coverings for water bottles.   If you can find a glass bottle at the 
pet store that is the best kind. Always wash the water bottles with with soap and
 water each time you fill them to prevent disease. Pumice blocks will help keep teeth 
short and straight and so will a variety of wood types.  Chins really enjoy mulberry 
tree branches but all other fruit tree branches are not good for him.
They make wheels big enough for chinchillas, and if the cage has enough room 
to allow one your pet will really love it!  Wheels should be taken out of the cage 
when there are newborn chins inside.  For a hiding place (which chins always have fun with)
take a large coffee can and remove the lid then use a hammer to eliminate any 
sharp edges. Flatten it a bit to prevent rolling and they seem to "get a kick" out of it!

Bathing & grooming your chinchilla

In order for your pet to be happy he should always be clean and groomed. Chins love to 
take baths in "special" chinchilla dust. He will jump right in and roll around in the "dust". 
 Do not put your chin in real sand. Dusting 1-2 times a week is fine. The dust may be
 reused but remove any droppings that may have gotten into it. When the dust gets 
lumpy, then you need to replace it. When a mother chin gives birth, she should not be 
given a dust bath for 10 days in  order to prevent infection.
Never wash a chinchilla with water. The dust will help keep them nice and clean.
Each chin cage you have occupied should have their it's own dust. 
Using the same dust for more than one cage can easily pass on a disease.

What to feed your chinchilla

A chinchilla's normal diet consists of one pellet that is similar to rabbit food but it 
contains the specific nutrients that Chinchilla needs - Chin Chow. 
  Your pet will eat as much of its chow as he/she needs so 
refill the feeder whenever you see that it is empty, but if your chin starts getting 
fat and lethargic, he should be put on a diet. 1 kilogram of pellets is enough to feed
 a chin for a month. Your chin should always have hay or alfalfa available Blocks of 
alfalfa can be used, but most aren't too fresh. 
Chins relish quite a variety of treats which should  be given prudently.  Only one type 
of treat a day. An adult chin may have 1-2 raisins or two nuts. Don't give your pet 
too many treats because if he gets fat, this will shorten his life.
Make sure that your chin eats his pellets. If it seems like he's only eating
the extras, take both away for a day or.  That way he will be forced to eat the pellets

Exercise

A healthy, happy chin is one that gets plenty of exercise. A good 
way to provide him with the exercise he needs is to get a chinchilla wheel.  Put
it in the cage and your chin will surely use it. Your pet can also get 
exercise if he is allowed to run around in a room that is safe for him.
Be sure that there are no wires he can get at. 
Block any holes that can be used for escape. Pick up anything that that could hurt 
him if he ate it (i.e. don't leave household cleaners or similar products around).
Don't bring your pet outdoors, if he escapes from you 
he will be almost impossible to catch.  There is also the danger of cats wanting
to make a meal out of your chin.

Fun

  One way to keep your chinchilla happy and healthy is to provide him with plenty of 
fun things that he can do in his cage. Some folks give their chins toilet role tubes as a 
chew toy.  Chins love to destroy things!  Remember though, cardboard shouldn't 
become part of his diet. Any cardboard which gets eaten substitutes as far as the 
chin is concerned for some nutritious food that doesn't get eaten. It has also been 
noted that pets who eat lots of cardboard for extended periods can lose the color 
of their teeth, which is a symptom of inadequate nutrition. Beware of this and prevent 
your pet from eating too much of it. 

 BEHAVIOR

How your chinchilla relates with other animals

Never leave your pet unattended with another animal.  Chins can live quite happily 
with dogs and cats, however, caution must be used.  Never house them with other
animals, because the food is different and there is no way to make sure that they 
are eating the proper food.

Sociability

If you are the chins social support then you only need one.  However, then you 
become the other chinchilla.  You don't always need to have two.  That depends on 
the particular chin that you have.

Bringing in a new chinchilla to an existing group

Nearly always, when you try to add a new animal to an existing group, it will not get 
accepted easily. Chinchillas use scent to recognize each other by, so
you need to slowly introduce the new scent into the cage.

You can do this two ways : 

You can add the new chin in a small cage placed inside the larger one. In this way, the 
animals in the existing group can view and smell the new scent and the new occupant 
yet not be in the same cage with it yet. Let it stay where it is for several days. Then 
unlatch the small cage and stay and watch. If any of the animals show signs of 
aggression, punish them by putting them in the smaller cage for 24 hours. 
Then attempt this all over again.  If you have another cage, you could also place the
 new acquisition in there and situate the two cages up right up against one another. 
You can cover the natural scent of the animals with either perfume or a drop of
 Eucalyptus oil. The smell you put on the animals slowly fades away, this will slowly 
allow the 'nose fingerprint' of the new chin to be noticed and gotten used to. 

How do I make friends with my brand-new chin?

Lots of new chinchilla owners are quite disillusioned when their new chin doesn't 
approach them. This is  normal behavior.  However, chins are a very 
curious animal. They will spend a good deal of time learning about the new place they 
have just been moved to. To get the animal accustomed to you, leave it in the cage. 
Put your arm through the opening and you will be encouraging the him to discover this
 new 'tree branch'. If you need to, you could place a raisin in the palm of your hand, 
in a way that the chinchilla can only obtain it by climbing up. After a few days, he 
should be quite comfy climbing on your arm. Then you can try opening the cage and 
encouraging it to climb up on your shoulder. You can then reward it with a raisin or 
two. If you have perfected this, then you can take a raisin between your lips, and 
feed it to him.  This will help him to overcome his fear of the "giant" that approaches
 him sometimes. You must remember that the chinchilla is not a lap animal. 
He's just is too energetic to sit for more than a few seconds. However, once he is 
more used to people, he will come up to you, climb and walk all over you. Ideally, you 
should sit on the floor when you release him.  That is best as he will 
interact with you more.

Will I be able to catch my chinchilla ?

Do you really need to catch it? Most chinchillas in time, go back into their cage if 
they can. They really think of it is their home. If you never before let your chin run 
free, this make take a hour or two, before he/she has had enough of this sudden 
freedom and decides it is time to go back.  If you need your chin to go back into his 
cage,  avoid chasing him. This is very stressful for your pet. If at all possible, have 
the animal to walk onto you then you walk it to the cage. If that doesn't work then 
maybe a raisin or two could help.  If you really find it necessary to grab the animal, 
try to scooping it up with your hands or lifting it by holding it by the tail very close 
to the body. This won't hurt the chinchilla, but it feels very unnatural to pick it up 
this way.  If you just can't get the chinchilla to pick it up, try the 'dust bath' 
method : don't give them a dust bath before you release them. Then, when it's time 
to go back in, put the dust bath on the floor. Most chinchillas will hop in as soon as 
they spy it. Pick the bowl up then, chinchilla and all, and put it back in the cage.  If 
all of these methods fail, then your only choice is 'the chase' method.

Can you litter train a chinchilla ?

No. They will most likely not urinate outside of the cage (unless released for hours 
and hours), but will leave a trail of dropping everywhere. I have the feeling the 
animals don't even know they are doing it. However, since the droppings are hard 
and dry, they can easily be removed using your vacuum cleaner.

 HEALTH

Chins have very few health issues, but here are some to look for: 

Change in the consistency of droppings could be a sign of illness. 
Watery eyes could signal illness as well.
Teeth should be checked periodically to make sure they are straight and not overgrown.
 If problems with teeth appear, this also could also be a sign of other illnesses.
Missing fur can be a sign of fur biting, which is often akin to stress. 
If the underside of a a chin's chin is wet or discolored, 
this could be a sign of infection.  You may also find they can develop a fungus in 
their ears, but that can be easily cured.  Avoid putting them in a draft. they are
 susceptible to pneumonia. If you live in a warm area, they will need to be kept cool. 

Painted wood
 It is common for paint to contain lead. If your chin chews wood containing lead 
paint,  he or she may acquire lead poisoning. Testing the paint in your home is very 
easy, lead testing kits are readily available in most hardware stores for about $6.00.

 MISCELLANEOUS CHIN FACTS

 Affection

When chins trust you they like to be held and petted.   If they are afraid of you 
they'll  hide from you, and even nip or rear up and aim a stream of urine at you.
This is dependant on their personality.  It depends on the chin. Some will love to be 
held and to play with you, and some would just as soon not be bothered. 

Where do they originate from?

 Chinchillas originally came from South America, so they are used to cold, dry 
weather, and have very thick fur because of that. Now, though, you can buy 
chinchillas in almost any pet store. They were brought to America in the 60s for 
ranching purposes, but soon caught on as a loving, adorable pet.  Chinchillas are 
rodents and because they are rodents, they love to gnaw on things to keep their 
ever-growing teeth trimmed.