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[ChinchillAZ]

Me and my boyfriend were wondering if it is okay to feed our Chewy oats? Because his mom gives his hamster oats sometimes.So we were just wondering if it is okay to feed those to him?

Slow cooking, non-instant rolled oats can be given in moderation.  I recommend no more than 1/4 teaspoon daily, if that.

[chewy]

Oh okay well I will have to let him know that!! Thanks!

[ChinchillAZ]

Oh okay well I will have to let him know that!! Thanks!

NP!   
For other treat ideas, you may be interested in checking out http://www.chinformation.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=31&sid=2122efd72ecf810350771270d53f4a12.

[Jenova]

I'm still trying to solve the problem of the lack of hay/alfalfa in Cheech's food.
I came accross this product called Alfalfabix:
http://www.bunnybasics.net/alfalfabix-forage-feasts-p-574.html?osCsid=3e1f062cef1d835045e1b5417c3eb187

I was wondering if you could give me your opinion on it.

Thanks. 

[Jo Ann]

Steamed rolled oats are good for a chinchilla (this is not the oatmeal many of us grew up on),
this is whole grain oats often fed to horses.

This is a recipe I often use:
1 cup raw wheat germ (because of this ingredient the mixture has to be refrigerated)
3 1/2 cups wheat germ
3 cups steamed rolled oats
1 1/2 cup whole oats (race horse oats)
1/4 cup Sodium Ascorbate Powder (vitamin C)(Vitamin C tablets can be substituted-one 2 x week)
1/4 cup Green Papaya Powder (Dried papaya can be substituted - one 3 or 4 x week)

Store in air-tight containers in the refrigerator. 
If you have one of those vacuum-seal gadgets, that is even better.
I give mine about 1/2 teaspoon per day.

Petramalt is good to keep the digestive track from getting bogged down with fur.
Nutri-Cal is a good vitamin and supplement, but very sparingly, due to the sugar content.
About 1/2 the size of a pea of each, once a week.


Hay available at all times!

 
Jo Ann

[Jenova]

I've been thinking some more.
To get him to eat more hay and make sure he's getting enough would it be wise or not to leave off feeding him one day a week so he eats the hay?

[ChinchillAZ]

To get him to eat more hay and make sure he's getting enough would it be wise or not to leave off feeding him one day a week so he eats the hay?

You cannot do this.  Chinchillas are hind-gut fermentors and need access to food constantly to keep their GI tracts moving.

[Jo Ann]

Never remove the food except by orders from the vet.  
On a daily basis, make sure there if plenty of hay available at all times.
 
   Hopefully someone over there will come up with a chinchilla pellet that is hay based.  Get in touch with the different organizations over there (similar to our MCBA & Empress here) and see if they can help push for a better pellet diet for chinchillas.

    Good luck!   Keep us posted on any progress!

 
Jo Ann

[Jenova]

Will do and thanks for the advice.

[helen]

hi jenova i have the same problem as you i too live in uk and i have just bought that same pet food from pets at home my chin is on charlie chinchilla and i heard its not good for them so i bought that pets at home brand i was reading through this site to see if its ok to give and then i came across your question and looked at the answers so i dont think i will bother using it i dont want to make my chin ill if i give it him the breeder i got my chin from uses charlie chinchilla on all her chins with no problems but i noticed the indredients contained 3% raisons and i noticed his stools are a bit loose and squashing on the floor when hes out so i too dont no what to do for the best and feeding him chinchillas have been pets here for years so i thought a better food would have been made for them by now what are you giving your chin now