Basement

[crazy4pets88]

My boyfriend is keeping my chinchillas at his house in his room and he said he was thinking about putting them in the basement due to the noise and smell and so we can add the second level to the ferret nation cage. My concerns is bugs and possibly mice down in the basement since its connected to the garage. Should i not put them down there the pros are bigger cage and cooler down there. Cons are bugs and possibly mice. They are smelling up his room. I can't keep them at my house untill i move. What Should I Do?

 

[tunes]

Clean their cage more often. There is no reason, if a chin's cage is cleaned regularly, that there should be any more unpleasant smell than maybe the smell of pine shavings. I would definitely not move them into the basement at his house, since it sounds like it is less than ideal.

 

[ticklechin]

I agree with the above post, its a cage cleaning problem, not a chinchilla problem. Chins don't stink if their cage is cleaned often. Keep the cage dirty and you are going to end up with health issues and expensive vet visits.

 

[Shooper]

How long is he keeping them until you move?

 

[ArmyWife]

I agree with the above posts. Mind you, I actually keep my chins in the basement but it's a completely finished basement with a controlled temperature. I would never move them to a place that I'd be concerned about bugs or mice. Plus what about moisture and mildew? They could easily get a URI if it's too cold and drafty in there. Does your boyfriend use bedding or fleece liners?

 

[crazy4pets88]

We just cleaned the cage i just got back from being in ohio and i need to wash fleece again i washed it friday. Thats why i am buying more fleece liners and yeah i don't want to keep them in the basement so we decided not too. I had bad car accident where i broke my back so waiting for settlement then buying a mobile home so feb or march i will be moving

 

[Lirana]

If your bf is keeping the chins and isn't diligent about washing fleece liners (2-3 times a week), I would switch them to pine or aspen bedding.

This is my routine for Mochi (maybe it'll help you): Every day at 9pm I sweep out poop from her shelves. A lot of people keep a small dustbuster or dry-vac for this. I use a walrus broom!!! After sweeping out poop, I give her new food, hay, and water. This take about 5 minutes.

Sundays at 9 pm is the full cleaning. This includes the daily cleaning plus separating her cage from the base pan and emptying out her litter. While dumping the litter into the trash, I notice a very slight "petting zoo" smell, but it's pretty minor. I then rinse out the pan with hot water in the shower. I smell the pan. Yes, I really smell it. So far, it has not smelled, so the hot water is enough. If it does smell, I plan on doing a vinegar/water solution to disinfect. I thoroughly dry the pan, and then I give her new litter, about 2-3 inches full. I vacuum the floor around her cage to pick up any stray poops. Sunday cleaning times last about 10-15 minutes.

 

[crazy4pets88]

He works 2 jobs so yeah i may do pine or aspen shavings to keep the smell down they pee in their litterbox but sure they pee on fleece too