Apples and cheeseburgers are excellent snacks for chinchillas. Apples are high-calorie, but are not poisonous. In fact, a cheeseburger won’t kill your chinchilla. The same can be said for cheeseburgers. You’ll have to be sure to choose the best brands to avoid poisoning your chinchilla, however. There are also a few tricks to ensure that your chinchilla gets enough nutrition without causing it harm.
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Vitakraft Star Drops
This natural and healthy snack for your chinchilla contains real berries and yogurt. There are no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, making them an excellent choice for training and special rewards. Feed them one to three drops of Vitakraft Star Drops daily. Fresh water should be available to them at all times. These tasty treats can be purchased from many pet stores and online.
A popular treat for your chinchilla is the Kaytee Critter Pops. These treats contain real rice and corn, and are delicious and crunchy. Because chinchillas live on grass and hay, they require treats rich in these nutrients to keep their digestive system running smoothly. This product can be left in the cage or fed in smaller pieces by hand.
Hay pellets
Chinchillas should be fed hay pellets for several reasons. For one, hay contains all the nutrients your chinchilla needs. Hay is also rich in calcium, which many pellet manufacturers don’t add. It can also keep your chinchilla physically active, and can also help wear down their teeth. Aside from these benefits, hay also contains long strand fiber, which is essential for keeping your chinchilla’s digestive tract regular. Lack of fiber can lead to GI (gastrointestinal) stasis.
Chinchillas have specific dietary needs, so you should provide a balanced diet with about 30 percent fiber, 14-16 percent protein, and 35 percent carbohydrates. The remainder of the diet should be made up of minerals, vitamins, and moisture. In addition, you can add hay pellets to the chinchilla’s diet to provide a variety of vitamins and minerals.
Bee pollen
When you first begin introducing bee pollen to your chinchilla, start small and introduce it slowly. You can introduce 1 or 2 granules at a time. Eventually, you can increase the amount to twenty or more regular-sized granules per week. Because the granules are small and easy to ingest, you can sprinkle them over hay or scatter them around the cage to encourage foraging.
For a more nutritious option, try dipping applewood twigs in blackstrap molasses. This type of molasses is rich in minerals and nutrients and has a lower glycemic index. You can also give your chinchillas other treats such as dried rose hips and goji berries. In addition to bee pollen, you can give your chinchillas different types of hay.
Fresh fruit
Fresh fruit is a natural treat for chinchillas. They can also eat cooked vegetable sticks. They contain fiber and encourage foraging. Calcium sticks are triple-baked for flavor and nutrition. These crunchy treats contain almost everything your chinchilla needs, including fiber and protein. Be sure to feed them moderately. You can also give them dried fruit. It can be as simple as raisins.
Dried fruits and herbs can be harmful to chinchillas. Fruit is a great source of natural sugars. Avoid giving them dried fruits or herbs because they contain a high amount of fructose. Fruits can also be toxic to chinchillas. Fresh fruit is also an excellent snack for chinchillas. Fresh fruit is an excellent source of fiber and contains vitamins and minerals.
Shredded wheat
Your chinchilla loves cereal and will enjoy having a little snack. Try shredded wheat instead of raisins and dried fruit, as they are much lower in sugar and fat. The size of the shredded wheat should be about the size of a spoon, so your chinchilla won’t feel too full. Rose hips are a good alternative to raisins and dried fruit, and they are also very high in vitamin C.
Hay cubes are a great source of nutritional fiber. These are commonly available in timothy or alfalfa, and can be crumbled into a bowl for your chinchilla. Because these treats are high in sugar, you should limit the amount to about a teaspoon a day. They are also great for shipping and transportation. However, be careful about giving them too much!
