Chinchillas.org






                                  

Chinchilla Community Forums

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

News:

Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Eating bedding?  (Read 5849 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

animalluver

  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Appreciation points: 0
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 62
    • View Profile
Eating bedding?
« on: September 18, 2011, 06:04:43 PM »

My chin is eating her bedding. Is this normal, or does it mean she's not getting the right diet?
Logged

Squirrel_Butt

  • Sr. Member
  • *****
  • Appreciation points: 2
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Posts: 273
  • # of Chins: 4
    • View Profile
Re: Eating bedding?
« Reply #1 on: September 18, 2011, 06:44:53 PM »

It's normal behavior for them to eat whatever is in their cage, but it is not good for them.
Logged
Chip Raisin Bonnie Clyde

animalluver

  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Appreciation points: 0
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 62
    • View Profile
Re: Eating bedding?
« Reply #2 on: September 19, 2011, 04:06:59 PM »

Is there anything I can do to stop it when I'm not around to catch her?
Logged

Squirrel_Butt

  • Sr. Member
  • *****
  • Appreciation points: 2
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Posts: 273
  • # of Chins: 4
    • View Profile
Re: Eating bedding?
« Reply #3 on: September 19, 2011, 05:00:40 PM »

Not that I'm aware of. I have my chins on a wire floor with some sea grass mats, so I don't use any bedding.  Just newspaper that lines the drop pan, but the chins don't have any access to it.  Them eating the bedding was one of the reasons I use the wire cages.  Don't get me wrong though, solid bottom cages and wire bottom cages both have their advantages and disadvantages.  Wire bottoms are better in the way that you don't have to clean them every single day, but they can cause pododermatitis if the chin has no place to rest its feet.  Solid bottom cages are more comfortable, but have to be cleaned every day, also there is them eating the bedding. It is really a matter of preference.

In the case of baby chins, they should really be housed in solid bottom cages.  My kits are in wired bottom cages, but there is plenty of sea grass mats, and smaller openings than that of most cages.  If you wish to go with wire bottom cages, I would reccommend Martin's Cages.

In either case, be sure the cages are free of plastic parts. Plastic is toxic in large quantities, and has been known to cause intestinal obstructions.  I'm not an expert, but I have been raising chins for almost 10 years, and I still have one of my original 2.
Logged
Chip Raisin Bonnie Clyde

jmdebb

  • Hero Member
  • ******
  • Appreciation points: 28
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 996
  • Status: pet owner
    • View Profile
    • Chinchilla Supplies
Re: Eating bedding?
« Reply #4 on: September 19, 2011, 05:59:09 PM »

you change it to something else, and i hope that didn't sound sarcastic, what are u using now?
Logged
Your One Stop Chin Shop
http://www.tjschinchillasupplies.com/chinchillafood.html
Huge variety, safe, affordable & brand names
:)
:)

Zuken

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Appreciation points: 0
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3
    • View Profile
Re: Eating bedding?
« Reply #5 on: September 22, 2011, 08:12:38 PM »

My chin also eats his bedding, but to counter-act this I use the Natural Carefresh bedding. Apparently it is made from cellulose fiber, so I wouldn't think it's necessarily bad for your chinchilla to consume.
Logged

XxMacxX

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Appreciation points: 0
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Posts: 9
  • Gizmo
    • View Profile
Re: Eating bedding?
« Reply #6 on: September 25, 2011, 09:54:35 AM »

If your chin is eating his bedding, more than likely, he just needs something to chew on. Do you have plenty of toys for him to gnaw on? Even if so, he may just be bored with them, and the bedding is something new. No, eating the bedding isn't necessarily healthy for them, but i do believe that they are smart enough to know when to stop eating it.
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up