Some tips concerning feed change

The already used feed should still be offered to your chinchillas from step 1 to step 4.

 

In addition, you start integrating new components into their bill of fare. Don't get unsettled by all the warnings on the internet: Most chinchillas will bear a food change without any problems, even if carried out quickly.

 

The tips are primarily aimed at pet owners whose chinchillas have been fed a one-sided diet, e.g. only with hay and commercial dry food or pellets. Furthermore, but also to pet owners who want to expand the familiar chinchilla menu.

Hay is very important in any diet and is part of the main feed.


The following sequence has been proven as gentle and reasonable:

STEP 1

Introducing a mix of dried herbs, leaves and blossoms/ flowers
A species-rich mixture of dried herbs, flowers and leaves can be introduced immediately, i.e. for free intake, so that the feed bowl is never empty. You do not have to laboriously feed herbs variety by variety, but can immediately offer a species-rich herbs mixture.
You can buy and offer ready-made mixtures for this purpose, which you can later expand with more plants: In the end, however, you should feed at least 30 different feed plants every day.

 

STEP 2

Introducing fresh herbage / fodder
For starters, golliwoog, chicory, dandelion, plantain, lattice, basil, apple, willow, birch and hazelnut twigs are suitable. For all suitable plants for fresh feed introduction, see also: https://www.chinchilla-scientia.com/english-corner/nutrition/list-of-unproblematic-plants-for-starting-with-fresh-feed/
You introduce variety by variety. First 1-2 leaves e.g. from the dandelion or 1 small branch with 2-3 leaves on it. The amount is gradually increased, at best there is still something left of the green fodder the next day.
If e.g. chicory was tolerated on the first day, it may (but does not have to) be offered again the next day and an additional or new type of green feed is added.
Potentially flatulent plants such as clover are only fed at the end and only if no commercial mixed feed or cereal-containing pellets are given.

 

STEP 3

Introducing fresh fruits and vegetable
For starters, for example, apple and rosehip, further grape or carrot with carrot greens are very good. More about this at: https://www.chinchilla-scientia.com/english-corner/nutrition/list-of-unproblematic-plants-for-starting-with-fresh-feed/
You introduces variety by variety. First you offers a small column of apple or a berry. The amount is gradually increased, but chinchillas should not get much of fresh fruits and vegetables.
If carrot, for example, was tolerated on the first day, it may (but does not have to) be offered again the next day, and an additional or new type of fresh food is added.
Potentially flatulent items such as cabbage are only fed at the very end and only if no commercial compound feed or cereal-containing pellets are given.

 

STEP 4

Introduce seeds or another concentrated feed

You gradually replace the old concentrated feed with the new one, e.g. with the seed mixture. So you offer both at the same time, increase the amount of the new concentrate feed gradually and reduce the old in parallel (period for the change: about 2-3 weeks).
Well tolerated seeds are all oil seeds, paddy rice, Dari / Milo and pseudo cereals, for more details see: Seed list (in German)
Please make sure that not too much concentrated feed is fed; all important information about concentrated feed such as requirements can be found under: Concentrated feed (in German)
Commercial mixed feed is unhealthy and should not be fed and must be replaced as fast as possible.