Going to be a new chinny mommy

[Stitch-n-Roo]

Hello everyone!! I first want to say that this site is sooo awesome. I'm getting two standard gray males named Stitch and Roo. A member named one of their chinny's Roo and I liked the name, hope you don't mind. I've learned so much information in such a short period of time. I want to ask a few questions about what I should expect and what supplies I should start accumulating.

Okay here is the list I've compiled so far to get, can you please tell me which supplies I MUST have and which one can wait a while. Meaning which one's can I wait to rush out and buy as I won't have my boys until close to the end of this month:
Ferret Nation 142: I've found it so far the cheapest on ferret.com for 179.99 anywhere cheaper someone pleassseee let me know. Craigslist had nada.

Chinchilla Pellets: Mazuri, oxbow, tradition, or purina rabbit chow show- my question to this is which is most preferred? I know oxbow is expensive for so little so which brand is the cheapest to find and best? I know that chinnies only eat about 2 tsp. per day in pellets so times 2 would be 4, how much should I buy in bulk 5,10,15 lbs and how do you mostly store them? I've heard the fridge is a good way to preserve freshness.

Hay: Kleenmamas, oxbow, sweet meadow, or kaytee. any others? what do you put yours in? I like the teracotta pot idea.

Hanging crock for pellets: I read metal is bad for them so what kind and where?

Bass pans: to replace the plastic ones in the FN.

Exercise Wheel: Is one fine or is two needed?

ledges: I have access to home depot and lowe's but I'm not a handy woman and thus don't have anyone to make them for me if I bought the supplies. So can you point me in the direction of a website where I can get them already made and at least 10 of them for a good price?

Marble/granite tiles: from lowe's or home depot. What size do I need? Where do you put them? How many?

Fleece liners, hammocks, pvc tube (fleece covered): Where at good cheap prices online? Top websites anybody?

Last but not least- hanging toys and treats: Again good websites and great prices?

I have found an exotic vet near me. they specialize only in exotic and is the only one specializing in the state. And I found a pet sitter for when I go out of town, which isn't that frequent.

Please feel free to add to anything here. :wink2:

 

[xnatebearx]

I am also a relatively new chin parent, and I am curious about the storing part. I have never heard anything about putting them in the fridge. I store everything in a rubbermate container, right beside the cage. Sammy usually knows what it means when Open it I will check back on this thread as I am curious about it.

Good luck with your new chins!

 

[eroomlorac]

I'll do my best to answer you here. But please know that many pet owners have differing opinions and there are many different ways to take good care of your chins.

Pellets: I feed Oxbow pellets. I order the food directly from the Oxbow website. You have to call them to place an order. I know Oxbow is more expensive but since I only have 7 chins, I can still afford it. If I had many chins to feed I would find another brand that was good but less expensive. I just store my pellets in a "Vittle Vault". http://www.google.com/products/cata...og_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CE0Q8wIwAA#
I think I have the tallest one pictured in the middle. Mine measure 19"X10"X10" and perfectly holds exactly 50# of pellets. The led screws on. But I think a Rubbermaid or Sterlite tub is just fine, too.

http://www.oxbowanimalhealth.com/

Hay: I have ordered from Kleenmama but I find her prices very high. But I must say she does have good hay. I usually feed Oxbow which can be bought at Petsmart or ordered directly from Oxbow when you order your pellets. I have also bought pet store hay in a pinch.

Crocks: I just use ceramic crocks that can be bought at any pet store. Buy whichever crock is a good size for the number of chins you have in a cage. I have a crock that holds about 1.5 cups in with my 4 chins, a smaller crock in with my 2 chins. I have a single chin and his crock holds about .5 cup. I just set the crock on the bottom of the cage or on a low shelf.

Wheel: I have one wheel per cage. They are pretty good about taking turns. If you try to put two wheels in their cage, your taking up a lot of cage space. I have a Chin Spin which I bought from QC cages when I bought my QC mansion. But it can be put in a FN, too. If you buy a Chin Spin, get the 15" wheel. http://qualitycage.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=129_142_143_144
Another good exerciser is a Flying Saucer. I almost think they might be better because when my chins run in their Chin Spin, I notice they have to keep their heads up in a position that just doesn't look natural. But they really don't seem to mind. I'm sorry, I don't have a link for the Flying Saucer, I can't remember who manufactures them.

Shelves and Ledges, Fleece items, toys: There are several people on this forum who make and sell all these things. Alli713 has some wonderful fleece items such as tubes and hammocks. She has good prices and excellent service. I'm not handy, either, and I can't remember who makes shelves and ledges here but I know there are some and I'm sure they'll come here and let you know they have those items for sale.

Marble or Granite tiles: I am lazy so I just bought a couple ChinChillers from a pet shop. I'm sure you could buy a piece of marble or granite from a home supplie store. The piece is typically 6" X 12" X 1/4". I keep mine in the freezer and put them in the cages usually after play time.

Let's talk about a water bottle, too. I like to use Edstrom water bottles. They work on a valve system rather than a ball system. But I also have a glass SuperPet bottle in with one of my chins. It seems to work just fine. It is made of glass so it can't be chewed and it has a metal collar on the threaded attachment. They are pretty good water bottles. You can also get a brush from PetSmart that perfectly fits inside the SuperPet bottles for cleaning and it has a very small detachable brush to clean inside the nozzle.

There, those are my opinions. I would call that vet and make sure they are experienced in chinchillas and try to talk at least to the office personnel to find out about emergencies after hours, etc.

Good luck and have lots of fun with your new chinnies.

 

[chinnychinchinchilla]

heres a thread with many online stores that are chin safe:

http://chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=546

you will want to go to the very last page

 

[Stackie]

Ferret Nation 142: I've found it so far the cheapest on ferret.com for 179.99 anywhere cheaper someone pleassseee let me know. Craigslist had nada.

Cheapest I have found is on ferret.com. They have 5.99 shipping a lot. I believe there is one other place that has them for cheaper, but once you add in shipping, it comes out to be a bit more. I bought all of my FN's from ferret.com and they got to me very quickly.

Chinchilla Pellets: Mazuri, oxbow, tradition, or purina rabbit chow show- my question to this is which is most preferred? I know oxbow is expensive for so little so which brand is the cheapest to find and best? I know that chinnies only eat about 2 tsp. per day in pellets so times 2 would be 4, how much should I buy in bulk 5,10,15 lbs and how do you mostly store them? I've heard the fridge is a good way to preserve freshness.

With only two chins, you aren't going to need a huge amount of food. The general rule of thumb is feed is good for 6 months. I used Oxbow for a long time and my chins did well on it. However, with 7 chins, it was getting to be a bit too pricey. I found a Tradition dealer near me and can now get 50 lbs bags for $15. Usually the bulk poundage of feeds is either 25 or 50 lbs. If you contact Sandi on here, she can give you a good deal on Oxbow, including shipping. She always gets freshly milled bags, so unlike with a pet store, you don't have to worry about it being fresh.

I don't think storing in the fridge is a good idea. You risk the chance of the feed building up ice crystals, and when it thaws, it could get moist. I keep my feed stored in a rubbermaid container. It keeps it fresh and smelling nice.

Hay: Kleenmamas, oxbow, sweet meadow, or kaytee. any others? what do you put yours in? I like the teracotta pot idea.

I have used all of them, right now I am using Kleenmama's and my chins are doing well on it. Oxbow is another highly recommended brand. I have used Sweet Meadow and it was full of weeds and looked like lawn clippings; others have had good luck with it. I may have just gotten a bad box. I do not recommend Kaytee; it sits in stores for who knows how long, is extremely dusty, and some believe they actually dye their hay to get it so green.


Hanging crock for pellets: I read metal is bad for them so what kind and where?
Metal is fine. I use metal coop bowls that attach to the side of the cage as well as ceramic bowls. Either are fine.

Bass pans: to replace the plastic ones in the FN.

Exercise Wheel: Is one fine or is two needed?

Yep, the bass pans are a good investment. I have actually had a chin chew the plastic pan that came with his FN while I was waiting for the bass pan to arrive and he got an impaction. The higher edges also keep *some* of the mess in.

Wheel: I think one would be fine. Some people have 2 in their cages; I only have 1 in all of mine. None of my chins have ever fought over them.

ledges: I have access to home depot and lowe's but I'm not a handy woman and thus don't have anyone to make them for me if I bought the supplies. So can you point me in the direction of a website where I can get them already made and at least 10 of them for a good price?

If you check the chin supplies for sale section, people will occasionally post what they have available. I know several suppliers offer ledges..the only one coming to mind right now is threewingedfury on this forum.

Marble/granite tiles: from lowe's or home depot. What size do I need? Where do you put them? How many?
I got some from Lowe's. Size is up to you, number is up to you, location is up to you. I honestly don't even use them because my chins never paid any attention to them. As long as you keep your house cool enough, they'll be fine. I do have some in storage just in case I need to travel I can pack a few in a cooler.

Fleece liners, hammocks, pvc tube (fleece covered): Where at good cheap prices online? Top websites anybody?

I have bought all my fleece stuff from alli713 (camphorchins.com) as well as member rcr on this forum. Once again you can find many people who offer these things in the chin supplies for sale section.

Last but not least- hanging toys and treats: Again good websites and great prices?

See above answer

I have found an exotic vet near me. they specialize only in exotic and is the only one specializing in the state. And I found a pet sitter for when I go out of town, which isn't that frequent.

Just make sure they are well versed in chinchillas and can handle the things that can go wrong with them. Are they open 24/7? You're going to need a back up e-vet in case something should happen after hours or on a holiday/weekend. Just because they specialize in exotics doesn't mean they're great with chins- exotics can mean lots of animals- birds, reptiles, etc. ) You can always ask to speak to the veterinary and ask them some questions about chins to get a feel of their knowledge.

 

[Dusty Foot Prints]

New chin owner (1 month today!) as well, however I agree with the suggestion of the Edstrom valve water bottle. I had issues with the other kind dripping. I know some chins take a while to understand how to drink from the Edstrom's. Luckily mine figured it out quickly.
I also just use the Chin Chillers instead of a piece of tile- to me it was easier to pick it up @ PetCo since I was already there, rather than make a special trip to Home Depot or Lowes. :hallow2:

 

[fuzznuggets]

I bought the ferret nation 142 today at Amazon.com for 145.99 with free shipping.

 

[harleygirl]

I bought a 12 x 12 marble tile from lowes for $1.50 because the corner was chipped they cut it in half for free. Petsmart wanted $8. 96 for one that was maybe 1/2 that size. I know that just starting out I have to watch the prices. If you cannot find one chipped they cost anywhere from $3.99 and up hope that helps.

 

[momenteller]

Hi Stitch-n-Roo. Like the names! As Carol said, you could have as many different answers to your questions as there are members of the forum. I've only had chins for a little over a year now, so others are far more experienced, but I can tell you what I like to use.

We do Oxbow pellets here. I buy the 10 pound bags from a feed store, but I have 3 chinnies so we go through it a little faster. Be sure to check the "best by" date. The date on the 5 and 10 pound bags is 2 years from the milled date. The members here recommend food being used within 6 months from the mill date. You can also buy Oxbow from Sandi on here.

I buy a slice of timmy hay from my feed store for $4. It comes in a large bag that lasts us a month or more. I also buy Oxbow brand orchard grass and oat hay for variety, and give the chins an occasional alfalfa hay cube.

I use metal coop cups for the food, like Stackie mentioned. I like the ones made by Midwest (Ferret Nation people) called Snap'y Fit. Two of my girls have coop cups because they like to tip their food bowls over, and one girl just has a ceramic crock on a shelf in her cage. You just have to see what works for you.

I use Superpet glass water bottles and haven't had a problem with them. Others like the Edstrom or the glass Lixit bottles, but my girl has chewed on the plastic of the Lixit. (Superpets have metal around the base).

I asked friends who remodeled their houses for granite tiles. I've also bought the chin chiller ones from PetCo. I looked into buying the tile at a hardware store, but they wouldn't cut it for me so it actually was less expensive to just buy it already cut at the petstore.

After you have that stuff, I think the most important thing to get are the wooden ledges, hidey houses and Bass pans. I would order those now! You can wait a little while for a wheel and fleece items. They aren't entirely necessary to have, but a much loved addition to your cage. Just make sure the chinnies get out of cage exercise time in a chin proof room.

When you are ready to order your wheel and fleece, you can get the chin spin from Quality Cage Co. or a flying saucer. Quality Mutation Chinchillas sells flying saucers, along with a great selection of wood, toys, etc. My other favorite website is Camphor Chins. Alli from Camphor Chins makes beautiful fleece stuff, and also sells toys, pellets, etc. Buying from members on here is usually cheaper and a better quality product!

I would buy some wood sticks to give as treats, maybe some rosehips, and you can supplement with unfrosted mini shredded wheats, old-fashioned oats, or cheerios on occasion. I think Ronda is selling a box of applewood twiglets and rosehips for $15. That would be a great start for you! There are just a few things you can buy at petstores; my chins love Lava Bites and the loofah circles made by Superpet.

Don't forget to get dust and a dusting container! Blue Cloud and Blue Sparkle are the most highly recommended dusts here, and I think they've started selling small quantities of Blue Cloud at PetSmart. I buy 50 pound bags of it from my feed store for $35.

Good luck and post pictures when you bring your new furbabies home!

 

[ticklechin]

Nothing to add but CONGRATS!

 

[midgemidge2000]

Hello everyone!! I first want to say that this site is sooo awesome. I'm getting two standard gray males named Stitch and Roo. A member named one of their chinny's Roo and I liked the name, hope you don't mind. I've learned so much information in such a short period of time. I want to ask a few questions about what I should expect and what supplies I should start accumulating.

Okay here is the list I've compiled so far to get, can you please tell me which supplies I MUST have and which one can wait a while. Meaning which one's can I wait to rush out and buy as I won't have my boys until close to the end of this month:
Ferret Nation 142: I've found it so far the cheapest on ferret.com for 179.99 anywhere cheaper someone pleassseee let me know. Craigslist had nada.

Chinchilla Pellets: Mazuri, oxbow, tradition, or purina rabbit chow show- my question to this is which is most preferred? I know oxbow is expensive for so little so which brand is the cheapest to find and best? I know that chinnies only eat about 2 tsp. per day in pellets so times 2 would be 4, how much should I buy in bulk 5,10,15 lbs and how do you mostly store them? I've heard the fridge is a good way to preserve freshness.

Hay: Kleenmamas, oxbow, sweet meadow, or kaytee. any others? what do you put yours in? I like the teracotta pot idea.

Hanging crock for pellets: I read metal is bad for them so what kind and where?

Bass pans: to replace the plastic ones in the FN.

Exercise Wheel: Is one fine or is two needed?

ledges: I have access to home depot and lowe's but I'm not a handy woman and thus don't have anyone to make them for me if I bought the supplies. So can you point me in the direction of a website where I can get them already made and at least 10 of them for a good price?

Marble/granite tiles: from lowe's or home depot. What size do I need? Where do you put them? How many?

Fleece liners, hammocks, pvc tube (fleece covered): Where at good cheap prices online? Top websites anybody?

Last but not least- hanging toys and treats: Again good websites and great prices?

I have found an exotic vet near me. they specialize only in exotic and is the only one specializing in the state. And I found a pet sitter for when I go out of town, which isn't that frequent.

Please feel free to add to anything here. :wink2:

this is a cheap website posted by one of our members.

http://www.rondaschins.com/WoodPerBox.shtml if u need cheap dust, pellets, chew sticks, ext. this is great!