Chinchilla Community Forums
Chinchillas => Q & A => Topic started by: Hoppinchins on December 02, 2008, 12:28:16 PM
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I'm a new chin owner. I'v been reading different things about how much chins can have to eat. Should I always keep their food bowl full? Or should I messure it out, like the back of my food bag says 2TBS and to only leave enough food in there for 4 to 6 hrs at a time? I'v also read that baby chins should only eat 1 tbs a day of food.
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I would limit their pellet food to 2 tbsp per day for each adult chin, half that for babies. Pellet food is good for them nutritionally, but it can cause dental problems. When they chew hay they move their jaws back and forth like a cow. This helps keeps their ever-growing teeth ground down to the right length. When they chew pellets they move their jaws up and down like a dog, so their teeth aren't getting ground down. That can lead to points on their teeth, which can be painful and interfere with their ability to chew comfortably.
As far as hay goes, I always say they can have as much as they want. Hay is great for their teeth and their digestive system.
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I always free feed, they get all the pellets and all they hay they want. I would never limit them chinchillas are not the type of animal to over eat
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Ok, Thanks both for the advice. I have ordered hay and it should be here soon. I hope they like it. My white chin, snowie is picky.