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[Jo Ann]

    Let's get a list of emergency supplies and plans you have for your chinchilla(s), should there be a power outage, a hurricane, a flood, a tornado, or a fire.   

Everyone's ideas are welcome!

How will you transport them, should you have to leave, due to the weather? 

How fast could you round them up for transporting them?   Something to practice!

Do you have enough carry cages?

Do you know where they would be welcome to stay over night or for a few days, if need be?  Most human shelters do not allow you to bring your pets.

Do you have food and supplies ready to grab and run at a moments notice? 

What all do you think you would need for them?

What are you going to keep your chinchilla emergency supplies in?

Where will you keep it?

Be prepaired ... expect the worst ... be thankful when it does not happen!   But be ready if it does. 

In emergency situations most people panic ... for your chin's sake, you can not afford to do that.

Be prepaired!

  Jo Ann

[cadillactaste]

Good food for thought...I've got the carrier on top of the cage...and their food on the shelf below it...but I have been meaning to get a tuberware container that would house it all in...Maybe I'll look more into one with a handle on it. To go with in a moments notice...

[Jo Ann]

   OK, so far, we have a travel cage and a bag of food on the shelf below the cage ... good start!
1)  travel cage
2)  food

How about :
3)  a water bottle and extra water ...
4)  any med they are taking ...
5)  fresh bedding

We need more suggestions to add to the list!

   Jo Ann

BTW ... I jinxed us ... after posting this yesterday ... our central air went out during the night!      Glad we have the extra window and freestanding air conditioner units!  As usual, if it's going to happen, it happens after regular business hours and/or on the weekend.

[cadillactaste]

Ahhh well yeah a water bottle...I actually have one attached to the carrier. Never know if they might get thristy while I was bringing them home. 

Fresh bedding...Ahhhh yeah...never thought of that one.

Geesh...sorry to hear about your central air...Glad you had a back up plan.

[VenusTheChin]

-A couple of marble slabs in the freezer (incase the power goes out and it is hot)
-Also If you have an basement that is actually under the ground, it will stay cool without a freestanding air conditioner, so have a space for the chins down there?
-Have your first aid kit nearby
-Water Filter

[Jo Ann]

    Marble tends to break easily when frozen, I just keep it in the refrigerator or in the coolest part of the basement. 
Granite can be frozen without easily breaking and is usually less expensive than marble.  (If I am remembering correctly.)
The thicker the better ... the cold last longer if it is thick.

Venus, can you list for us some of the things needed in a first aide kit for chinchillas?

We need more participants!  This is to help everyone get things ready for an emergency evacuation for their chinchillas or for a power failure.

What ways can you think of to keep your chin cool in the summer or warm in the winter, should your power fail or you break down on the road with your chinchilla with you?

   Jo Ann

[VenusTheChin]

LOL I meant granite. Thought of granite, typed marble! 

I have (and mine is just getting put together)
Neosporin
Blu Kote
Paper towels
Gauze
A binder with Vets names, phone numbers, addresses, and a map of the location (my normal vet and an emergency vet)
Also in the binder: How to identify different ailments (like giardia and ringworm)
Thermometer (one to measure the air temp)

And I am going to get:
Eye dropper
Syringe
Lifeline
Critical care

Try to travel on cooler days if you have to travel with your chinchillas
Keep a thermometer in the car with your chin so you can monitor the temp.

My basement pretty much stays at a constant temp year round (up to maybe 75 in the summer and 60 in the winter)

My chins and pigs are also in a pretty safe spot so the would be relatively safe in case of a tornado. If I am there I can put them in hards sided carrier and put them under the wooden desk where they will be the safest.

We have a back up generator so we can run necessities such as the fridge so we can give them the slabs and cool water to drink

Ok, sorry to take over the thread, but could you help keep a chin cool by putting cold water on their ears?

[Jo Ann]

 

could you help keep a chin cool by putting cold water on their ears?

You do not want to get a chinchilla wet if at all possible, so I will have to say that answer would be a "no". 
Chinchillas do not cool down the same way humans do.  When a human perspires, a breeze cools the sweat, which inturn cools the human body. 
Dogs cool themselves by jumping into a lake or pool ... when that is not handy ... they pant to cool themselves. 

Maybe a cold/frozen wash cloth for your chin to stand on would work, but I have found the use of the granite slabs, clay pots and Mason Jars filled with ice cubes (with a tightly screwed on metal lid) are the best/fastest ways to cool down a chin.  (the basement floor does pretty good, too ... if it is bare concrete). 

Chinchillas do not perspire ... this is why fans do not work for them ... and they do not pant like a dog to cool themselves ... they have to depend on us to make sure they do not get overheated.

Another item you might think about adding would be the self sticking tape ... it only sticks to itself ... it comes in a roll that looks like gauze, but is easy to put on and take off ... without pulling all the fur off the chin.   

See what other items you might need for your chin ... this is to help everyone ... all suggestions are welcome!   

    Jo Ann

[VenusTheChin]

I thought chins cooled off by sending their blood through their ears... 

[Debbie.nl.ca]

I keep a stack of old pillow cases on hand. Heard that one a while back.
I don't have enough carriers for them all, so I can put them in the pillow cages should I need to get out in a hurry.
Tie over the tops and lay them in the pathfinder.
That would only be temp. until I get to a family members. Say if we had a fire.
Storms like ye get or temps to high really isn't a problem here. But I have had a house fire, long before chins and still keep that in the back of my mine.