Optimal cage size for a chinchilla

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

How to care for chinchillas? In what conditions are they comfortable? What is the optimal cage size for a chinchilla?

Chinchillas

Chinchillas are animals that are listed in the Red Book! On many farms, they are bred in order to get valuable fur later. These animals appeared in South America. They live in dry and rocky areas. Some of them can live up to twenty years.

Chinchillas feed mainly on plant foods and various insects. The activity of the animals is highest at night. They began to grow them for valuable fur at the beginning of the 19th century. These animals can be kept both at home, as a pet, and on farms - to obtain valuable fur.

The body of chinchillas reaches 20 to 38 centimeters in length.

Chinchilla pregnancy lasts 120 days, and then one to six small animals can be born.

All these features should be taken into account when choosing accommodation for pets.

You can have no more than two chinchillas in an apartment, but for thisyou need a cage for them to live in. Knowing the size of the chinchilla cage, you can easily make it with your own hands! If your plans include the idea of having several animals, then you will need a special enclosure. This raises the question of what size cage for a chinchilla is the minimum, optimal and ideal for a farm.

Creating chinchillas for fur

It will no longer be possible to breed chinchillas for fur in a simple city apartment, because a whole family of rodents will not fit in one cage. They will need a specially equipped enclosure. On farms for these animals, enclosures are set up that do not block access for males to females, because if they do not meet, offspring will not appear. The dimensions of farm cages must be no less than 163 cm by 43 cm by 200 cm. To prevent females from leaving their cages with males, a special device is attached to their necks.

These cute creatures will be comfortable living in places with a temperature of about 20 degrees. Animals are very sensitive to heat and less sensitive to cold. Make sure that the air temperature does not fall below zero!

Chinchillas will not live on metal bars, so lay hay or sawdust on the bottom of the cage.

Chinchilla breeding as pets

As mentioned above, you can get chinchillas in an apartment or in a house. But it is worth remembering that it will not work to get more than two individuals. You will definitely need to purchase a cage for your unusual pets, which will be comfortable andsuitable size. 14-20 degrees Celsius for living this type of rodent will be the most suitable temperature. Remember the most important thing: they absolutely cannot stand drafts or sunlight that falls directly on them.

Chinchillas that are bred at home get used to people very quickly and become completely tame. They will not be afraid of people. They will be very sweet, kind and friendly. But forget that they can be released to walk around the apartment. Rodents naturally gnaw on things, so keep them in a cage. The size of the cage for the chinchilla must be chosen correctly to ensure the comfort of the pet.

Chinchilla cage selection

The size of the cage for a chinchilla should be such that the animal can easily fit in there and can live comfortably.

Many experts say that cages are most suitable for this type of animal. But in order for the rodents to feel comfortable there, you need to know what size the chinchilla cage should be. It's not that hard to figure this out. So, what is the optimal cage size for chinchillas?

You choose a home for an animal. And you need to choose the size of the cage for chinchillas according to the animal, and not according to your taste, because the main thing is that he feels cozy and comfortable in it. Animals spend most of their lives there, so don't skimp!

In addition to the question of what is the size of the cage for a chinchilla, you need to ask yourself what should beinside her.

First - come to the store and choose a spacious, hygienic design. The passage to the cage must be simple. Do not leave chinchillas in places where it is constantly noisy, or in deaf rooms. The animals will not be able to relax, which means that they will not be able to relax either. All this will not lead to good.

Since the animals cannot stand the sun's rays, it is impossible to put them near the window. Remember: if you want to sleep at night, do not put a cage with chinchillas in the bedroom, because they are most active at night.

Among the cells, the most popular options are those with a retractable tray, as they are quite easy to care for.

So, the size of the cage for a chinchilla, the smallest, is 50 cm by 70 cm by 50 cm. But this is still not enough. The optimal cage size for chinchillas is 84 cm x 50 cm x 40 cm.

Having bought housing for animals, do not rush to put them there. First, add special shelves to the cage so that the animals can run somewhere. Set up a food bowl and a drinker. Some chinchilla owners make a house in cages. If you have such a desire, then buy it, it will not hurt.

Choose a chinchilla cage for a farm

If you are going to breed animals in order to get a valuable skin from them, then the size of a standard farm cage for chinchillas should be much larger than an ordinary one. Special tunnels should be made there, through which the male can run to the females.

The cage should alsobe made shelves that will be used by the beast for movement. A drinking bowl and a bowl for food must be present. You can also put houses, but in no case should they have a bottom!

The bottom of the cage can be covered with sawdust or straw, so the animal will be much more comfortable.

Do-it-yourself chinchilla cage at home

If you don't want to buy a chinchilla cage, you can make it yourself! It remains only to find out the dimensions of the structure and build it with your own hands. It will not be difficult to make a cage, the main thing is to want and try. As an example, you can use the photos in the article.

Instructions for making a chinchilla cage at home with your own hands

So, before you start making a cell, you need to decide on the material. Plastic, chipboard or DVD will not work. Dirty, fungal-infected wood is also not suitable. Artificial materials are also unsuitable for making cages for animals such as chinchillas. When making a cage, pay attention to various small items, such as bolts, nuts, and so on. They must be securely fastened. They are small in size, which means that the animals can easily swallow them, which is very bad.

So, the cage itself, or rather, its frame, is made of aluminum. The side walls are made of metal meshes, and the pallet is made of steel sheets. Other materials are used for interior decorationcells.

As soon as the structure is ready, you can fill the bottom with sawdust or straw for the convenience of the chinchilla. They will have to be changed daily, but in parts, and every week - completely.

Main rules for keeping chinchillas

You should know that chinchillas practically do not shed, and if they do shed, it is only from fear or some kind of excitement. It is not necessary to wash the coat with water. It was intended by nature that chinchillas clean their hair with volcanic dust. At home, of course, there is no such dust, but it can be replaced with sand. It can easily be placed in a cage.

The advantage of chinchillas is that fleas and ticks do not like their thick and dense fur, which means they will not bother either the animals or you.

Chinchillas do not smell, while many other rodents require constant bedding to keep the smell from getting worse.

Do not take chinchillas from random breeders, as no one will guarantee that the animal is he althy. The best option is to take the animal in the kennel.