Turning a Room into a Chinchilla Cage
Even with a large chinchilla cage, it is important to let your chin out of its cage. They are not fish that you keep in an aquarium just to look at. Letting them out of their chinchilla cage will give you a chance to bond with them. It’s good to give them at least an hour to run around and get some exercise. Do not be surprised if your chinchilla does not sit on your lap and let you pet him/her. It takes a while to build trust. Chinchillas like routine, so it helps to let them out about the same time each day.
You can keep your chins safe when you let them out of their chinchilla cage by taking precautions, and look for anything that may cause your chin harm. As with their cages, the same rules apply to chin-proofing a room. Remove all unsafe woods, chemicals, and other things that a chinchilla could ingest. Lead based paint can be poisonous to the chinchilla. Household plants can cause your chinchilla to get sick. You should cover all electrical outlets. Electrical wires are also dangerous. I’ve heard of people using PVC pipe when they can’t remove the wires. If you are letting the chin run around in the bathroom, make sure that the toilet bowl is down. It’s also a good idea to block anywhere that your chinchilla can hide behind. They are quick to run behind a fridge or behind the dresser that is a pain in the butt to move.
Chins love to gnaw and chew. Do not put them in a room where there is anything that you don’t want ruined (this includes baseboards. You would think my baseboards were raisins the way my chins would go at them.) Unfortunately, the do not wait until their back in their chinchilla cage to pee. I found that the best area to let my chins out was the basement. I threw down some industrial carpeting and blocked off a section that they couldn’t escape from. It’s best to have some sort of carpet down. This will give them some traction as they bounce and run. Hallways are another good option.
Chinchillas are extremely good at getting under doors. I thought Spicoli, my first chin, was a magic animal because of his ability to squeeze under a door that even light had trouble getting under. Once they escape, they can be very tough to catch. It took me forever to find Spicoli the first time. I would often use the chinchilla dust bath to get them back in their cage. Treat or chinchilla food will work as well. The chinchilla is very curious and will get into everything it can. They are also very good jumpers, so it is important to keep that in mind. The most important thing is to keep an eye on your pet when they are out of their chinchilla cage.
Related posts:
