Housing Chins outdoors?

[horslvr123]

Ive got 2 chins that live in a decent sized cage indoors, but I also have a realy huge outdoor rabbit cage that I was thinking of converting into a chin cage..But the chins would have to be outdoors since it wouldnt fit in the house.
Im thinking they would like it, since in the winter we use a pellet stove and it gets pretty warm in here and I dont want them to roast.. This summer, I had a fan on them to keep them cool.

Does anyone on here house there chins outdoors? How do they do? Mine would get just as much attention in the outdoor house as they do inside..And they would have more space..

Im in Washington, near Olympia so our winters are mainly wet.. we dont get days on end of freezing weather.. If we did, id just move them back inside there old cage until it passed...

Also.. if anyone has converted a rabbit cage into a chin cage, Id love to see pictures..

Thanks.

 

[ChinnyMom]

chins being housed outside is a big no no. inclement weather, wild animals, temperature fluctuations.... those are just a few of the reasons against keeping chins outside that i can think of at the moment. wet weather means high humidity. high humidity increases the chance that a chin can get a fungal infection on its skin. fungus is not a fun nor easy thing to treat/cure.

you don't have an air conditioner for your chins? it is definitely one of the must have items if you keep chins. you want to ensure their environment doesn't go above 70 F, and the humidity needs to be low. a fan is not sufficient because chins don't sweat and don't cool off with a fan the same way us humans do. during the winter, keep your chins in a room that is separate from where the pellet stove is located, and either run an air conditioner or crack a window if you can ensure the cold air coming in won't be blowing directly on them.

 

[horslvr123]

Thanks for the info ChinnyMom.. Unfortunatly, no air conditioner. Thankfully, the fan and keeping the curtains closed kept it fairly cool in here. My house is a mother in law apartment in a basement, so basicaly a studio apartment. Only one bedroom that is hardly big enough for a bed and dresser, let alone there cage..
Im not worried about wild animals getting to them since my idea was to put them on my porch which is also my only entrance into the house. Inclement weather can be worked with since I can build a wind block and the rabbit cage im considering is built realy well with shingled roof and sturdy walls.. no wire sides..And, it would but under the cover of the porch above me..
Your information gave me some things to think about..Thanks again.

 

[ChinnyMom]

not just potential attacks by wild animals, but also the disease they could transmit to your chins just by coming by the cage outdoors. not worth the risk.

do you have a thermometer in your suite to tell you the exact temperature? and do you know the humidity in your suite as well? both very important things to know at all times when you have chins.

please don't consider housing your chins outdoors.

 

[Encantadora]

I rescued an outdoor chin in Washington. He had frost-bitten ears and only lived 7 months longer.

There is absolutely no way to keep the conditions they need outside: moderate temps, low humidity, dry conditions, good air circulation, etc. A wood stove won't cut it.

And beware of fans on chins. 1. They don't cool the air, just move it and 2. Direct fans on chins can cause a URI

You just need a window air conditioner or find them a new/temporary place to live.

 

[Chin_Parent]

I agree, outside is not a good option because there are so many things you have to account for, and chins need consistancy in environment. Likewise, you need to have an air conditioner to keep them cool in the summer (or anytime that the temp goes over 70 degrees). While it might feel fine to you with just a fan, chinchillas are not going to get any relief from having a fan in the room.

 

[Brittany]

Chinchillas are an exotic species that are not suited to outdoor conditions. They have been bred in captivity for so long that they are very different from their wild counterparts.

It's in their best interest to live indoors where the climate can be controled to fit their needs. I wasn't aware of any of this when I got my first chins, but I've learned a lot.

It may be necessary for you to make some investments inorder to provide them with the climate that they need. The best place to start would be with a simple/cheap digital thermometer that tells you temperature as well as humidity levels.

Other equipment that may need to be purchased would include humdifyer/de-humidifyer, and a window AC unit. If you describe your apartment more we may be able to give you some pratical solutions.

 

[ticklechin]

Bugs, spiders, ants, parasites, flies, outside animals, temp fluctuations, dampness, strange smells and sounds, not being a member of the family because you have to live on a porch sounds like a poor quality of life for a supposed loved house pet.

 

[EMSChins]

bugs, spiders, ants, parasites, flies, outside animals, temp fluctuations, dampness, strange smells and sounds, not being a member of the family because you have to live on a porch sounds like a poor quality of life for a supposed loved house pet.

amen sister!!!

 

[AznTiger]

A friend of mine tried that and it wasn't a success. After a few months the chins were moved back. Mind you, I live in MA so climate here is all over the place so I do not know how your area is. Based on research and talking to many people, it isn't a good idea. Just like what most people said, these exotic animals should be kept indoors so that you can see them and be able to react if anything were to happen. Plus having them at home and alert that your home always makes me smile! hehe

 

[2manypets]

And also unless you are home 24/7 you might not be there to move them inside if the weather suddenly changes.

 

[ChinnyMom]

or somebody might come into the yard and steal them. exotic pets are much more likely to be stolen than your average cat or dog.

 

[liewwan]

Chins are never to be kept outside as everyone had said. You mentioned in the winter it gets wet, chinchillas are never to get wet unless absolutely necessary. I had a rabbit many years ago in a outside however during rainy days he still got wet. You can't control the temp outside.
As everyone said ac is very important. Although you would want to think that the fan will help, it really wont. Humidity in your state gets pretty high in the summer, I have friends that complain about it a lot that lives there.
To us humans 78 degrees still feels cool, but put on a winter jacket and you'll burn.
You can crack your window open in the winter to let some cool air in and try to cool down the room to 70 degrees.
I do hope you make the right decision for the chin and not place them outside.

 

[Vyxxin]

Something to consider, back in the day (and even today) larger ranches of any fur bearing mammal want to keep animals the cheapest way possible WITHOUT sacrificing quality of life and environment.

Most "fur farmers" raise their stock outdoors...some examples are mink and fox.

Even chinchilla ranchers ORIGINALLY raised their animals outdoors. Why don't they anymore? It was not cost effective as their animals got sick, were preyed on by animals, and died too frequently. If many ranchers over the course of chinchilla history have all decided it's not worth it to raise chinchillas outdoors...perhaps we should take a lesson from them!

 

[Cuddlebug]

Something to consider, back in the day (and even today) larger ranches of any fur bearing mammal want to keep animals the cheapest way possible WITHOUT sacrificing quality of life and environment.

Most "fur farmers" raise their stock outdoors...some examples are mink and fox.

Even chinchilla ranchers ORIGINALLY raised their animals outdoors. Why don't they anymore? It was not cost effective as their animals got sick, were preyed on by animals, and died too frequently. If many ranchers over the course of chinchilla history have all decided it's not worth it to raise chinchillas outdoors...perhaps we should take a lesson from them!

:clap1: Well said!

 

[Jenn]

I live just north of you, and we have way too much humidity to keep a chin outdoors. And we do have enough hot days that you really do need an a/c unit. I had to use mine a few times this summer, especially recently with all the 80 degree days we had. I have a woodstove in my house that I use in the winter months, but have to burn it at a lower temp because chins don't want above 70 - 75 degree indoor temps at any time of the year. The lower, the better. Fans only move air around, and don't do anything to cool off the chin.