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[IkiKolohe]

Aloha!

I keep seeing little salt blocks included with hay mangers and other stuff. No know we kept a huge salt block in the pasture for our horses and cows.  Is this something I should go ahead and put in their cage or just toss?

Mahalo!!
~ Tina

[GrayRodent]

There are many products sold for chinchillas that should never be used. Salt blocks are one of them and they can be deadly.

[IkiKolohe]

There are many products sold for chinchillas that should never be used. Salt blocks are one of them and they can be deadly.

Salt block tossed!!  Mahalo!

[MariaSelena]

It's a very conflicting topic. Some of breeders use it and every chin has its private block in the cage. Some of breeders afraid of it and tell, that salt block is a "white death" for chinchillas.

In the beginning, I bought some of them, but none of my herd ate it. Of course, I put it away. Than, I started to discuss the question with different breeders and owners, and their opinion was 50/50.
I'm afraid of making experiments on my animals. So, I refused to use salt blocks on my farm.

That's why I can't give you an exact answer. 

[IkiKolohe]

It's a very conflicting topic. Some of breeders use it and every chin has its private block in the cage. Some of breeders afraid of it and tell, that salt block is a "white death" for chinchillas.

In the beginning, I bought some of them, but none of my herd ate it. Of course, I put it away. Than, I started to discuss the question with different breeders and owners, and their opinion was 50/50.
I'm afraid of making experiments on my animals. So, I refused to use salt blocks on my farm.

That's why I can't give you an exact answer. 

Mahalo MariaSelena!!!

I kind of agree with you about experimenting, so I tossed the salt blocks/licks - in my experience, if an animal is salt deficient, they will chew on metal to try and get salt.  Course, no idea how well that works for chins since they chew on everything anyway!!

~ Tina

[GrayRodent]

My opinion is that a chinchilla given a proper pelleted diet has all of the nutrients it needs plus some. If you put a salt block in and it decides to overdose on sodium you can say your goodbyes.
Chinchillas can live well over 20 years without salt supplements.

Chinchillas chew everything. Metal included. I know chinchillas that have chewed the edges off of their aluminum exercise wheels. It has nothing to do with salt and everything to do with the fact they like the feel of the vibration and noise it makes. Sometimes they find the powder coating flakes off and they eat that too. It's not good for them but they peel the bark off of sticks just the same.

Experiment at your own risk. In my opinion this is a risk not worth taking.

[IkiKolohe]

Experiment at your own risk. In my opinion this is a risk not worth taking.

Aloha!

In my case, what I meant was, they are too precious to experiment on and I tossed the salt block in the trash! @MariaSelena came to the same conclusion, I believe! 

Anyway, mahalo again for your feedback!!
~ Tina