Hello!

[KodigorII]

My name is Keaton and I'm from Utah, USA. On the day before Valentine's I got my first chin, a female, 3 years old. I renamed her Jerry. She is mostly the standard dark grey with a gradient from the leg area being lighter and the top being almost black. Her tummy is white with little bits of light grey. I assume she had fur biting in the past because the previous owner said the original owner (the 1st owner, me being the 3rd owner) didn't take the best care of her. We got a great deal, $75 for a pretty decent cage, super friendly chin, some food and dust, a ledge, food bowl water bottle etc. We got her a really nice metal 14" wheel called the chinchilla treadmill.

Few questions:

•Her bedding was hay. The bottom is solid plastic and it was covered in hay. We replaced with aspen shavings. We thought this was gross, walking and peeing and pooping in your food. However, I fear she may get bumble foot or sore feet or something because it's not as soft. She has many things to sit on besides it, but I was wondering if there was something soft and safe I could use instead, like a fleece pad or something?

•Hay. The hay the previous owners used was scratch grains for chickens. I have never seen this used for chins and I am worried if this could have caused health issues. However there is a lot left but I think I should get 2nd cut Timothy hay because that seems to be the best. Where could I get this? Online? Pet store? (Nearest pet store is a PetSmart, pretty close)

•Plastic. I have read to never get plastic things for chins because of chewing. However, her house, ledge and bottom of cage are plastic. She has had these for a long time I assume, and they have never been chewed. Hopefully by the end of the year I will get a new cage (hopefully the Critter Nation double!) and I will replace the ledges and hopefully by then the house.

•Pellets. Old pellets were Kaytee Fortidiet Prohealth, new oxbow essentials chinchilla deluxe (she really likes these!). Just starting to integrate new from old gradually.

Her current cage things are: 46" x 23" x 24" cage plastic bottom wire every thing else, wheel I mentioned, some cut open cardboard toilet paper rolls, pumice chew rock, weird big tunnel thing, plastic big house, 6 chew sticks that she hasn't used in almost a month, big ledge, pellet bowl in ledge hole, hanging bird toy, bending chew stick thing, hay hamper/feeder thing, positive flow plastic bottle (hanging outside of cage), aspen shaving bedding.

Thanks! Any help appreciated!

-Keaton and Jerry

P.S. We give her small pieces of raisins for snacks and plain Cheerios. Chin-proofed the downstairs living room and let her out for at least 30 mins a day in there or my bedroom. She seems to have bonded pretty quick with me, and I'm glad!

P.P.S. The other morning she woke me up at 6:30 with what I found to be known as "The Short Alarm Call". Sounded kinda like a monkey or dog bark. I think it was because of a car door or someone's alarm clock, but only after a week or two. She also likes to grind her teeth. I have no idea why.

We giver her dust baths about every other day. Sometimes she will rub her nose, I think just from dust or something. We still haven't taken her to the vet, hope I can take her soon.


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[Minccino]

Welcome! Congrats on your new chinny ) that's awesome that she is friendly and bonding well.

Aspen shavings are a good choice. If you want to make it more comfortable, you can limit the shavings to an area (ideally where your chin likes to pee) and then use fleece covering for the rest. Fleece is a popular choice, it makes for easy clean up.

Only use hay specifically made for small pets, it is hand selected and free of mold. You can get it online, or from any local pet store (I prefer getting it from the pet store because I can see how fresh it is, plus my store has a frequent buyer program). Timothy hay is a popular choice, however, my chin prefers orchard grass. Many chins like botanical hay as well because it has more of a mixture of textures herbs. You can experiment with any of the grass hays, all are safe for your chin (just don't buy alfalfa hay because it's too high in fat and proteins, it is specifically for pregnant chins or baby chins under 6 months).

Plastic in the cage will be okay as long as it can be completely covered with fleece. You can buy cheap no-pil fleece throws from walmart for $5, there are also many websites to order from. Even FNs and CNs have plastic pans. Most people (including myself) do leave them in there, but tightly fit fleece around it so that the chin cannot pull it out of place to chew the plastic. Depending what kind of cage you have, it might be easier to completely remove the plastic shelves and replace them with different sized wooden shelves. Avoid all plastic accessories, huts should be made of chew safe wood.

Oxbow pellets are really awesome ) That's what my chin gets, too. It's good that you're taking it slow with switching over. Chins have sensitive digestive systems.

Every other day is a bit frequent for a dust bath this time of year (the air tends to feel dry during winter). I only give him a dust bath 1 or 2 times weekly. 3 times a week in the warmer months. It isn't unusual for you chin to wipe it's nose or even sneeze after rolling in dust, it's just to clear out the debris.

It sounds like your doing a great job so far!

 

[tunes]

Welcome!

I didn't read all of the above, but shavings are fine. She won't be more or less comfortable on them than she will be on fleece. Some people like fleece because it is less messy, but there is no proof it is more comfortable. I have used shavings for 13 years and have never had a case of bumblefoot or any other issue with it. It's really just personal preference.

 

[Amethyst]

Welcome.
I would just like to add on to what is already said about fleece, it's only safe to use if the chin doesn't chew on it. Most chins don't chew it which is why it's popular, but can still cause an issue if swallowed, so you do have to watch for chewing when using it. Also fleece smells faster then using shavings if the chin isn't pee trained, so it does have to be changed out a couple times a week. Also chins have tough skin on the bottom of their feet, like built in shoe soles, so there feet don't hurt from sitting on solid ground. Shavings and fleece probably provide about the same amount of cushion. I do advise getting some wood perches though, flat surfaces aren't natural (chins are rock hoppers) and can cause flattened/ spread out foot pads, which can then crack around the heel and bleed.

Bumble foot is an infection, commonly caused by sitting on wire mesh, but can happen in any unclean cage. The chin's feet get little cuts and become sore and swollen from standing on mesh, the mesh is hard to clean and bacteria gets in. Basically keep the cage clean and you shouldn't have a problem beyond the occasional dry feet.

I'm unsure what scratch grain is, what comes to mind is things like corn, wheat, oats and barley. You want grass hay, grain can be an ok treat now and then, but should not replace hay, and corn is dangerous for chins, it can contain mold fatally toxic to chins. Alfalfa seems to be one of those debated things, but in general if you are feeling an alfalfa based pellet (like oxbow) you should feed a timothy or other grass hay. Alfalfa is fine to mix in with the hay if you want, but shouldn't replace the grass hay completely (alfalfa is a legume not a grass).

Be careful with the plastic water bottle, most chins like the chew holes in them, so either cover it or replace it with a glass one. Also I don't advise using toilet paper rolls, they spend too much time next to the toilet for my liking so can be very germy. Also make sure any cardboard is just shredded not actually swallowed or that can cause a gut blockage if enough is swallowed. Most chins prefer chew sticks with the bark, once the bark is gone it's not as interesting anymore. My guys get about half a dozen new sticks every day. Check the classifieds on here for vendors, you can get sticks and toys much cheaper then the pet store, and you don't have to worry if they are chin safe or not.

The dust bath, it really depends on where you live, if you live in a very humid place then they do need more baths, but in drier locations less baths. I'm thinking Utah is pretty dry so once or twice a week might be better to avoid dry skin problems.

 

[KodigorII]

Thanks for the help guys! I'm going to use this advice. I really appreciate it!


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