We've never had a Chinchilla before, never mind two!
Someone donated two chinchillas to the school my mother in law works at. They are going to be home with us weekends, and holidays. But the cage was rank. Seriously. We'd hosed the cage down, and it still stinks. So we're going to scrub it tomorrow.

One of the chinchillas has bits of hair falling out in little chunks. I'm used to rabbits, and when they have fur fall out, you can just pull on it. But it doesn't work with Chinchillas.. so wondering how to get rid of the fur? do they need special brushes?

Anything we need to know about them at all? =/ We really have no idea.

The cage is pure metal, a broken piece of wood that I think used to be a bed area but its a state. A wheel, and a tile.

We bought sand today as there meant to bath in it? How often are they meant to bath?

Are they allowed in the garden? or are they stuck in a cage 24/7?

oh they are both boys
and we're told there about 3 years old.

They could be fur chewing due to stress. Also, one of a chins defense mechanisms is to 'release' it's own fur when it feels threatened.

It sounds like the poor things have had such an ordeal

As a rule, chins don't need to be brushed. And most people give them their dust baths for 15-20mins each day.

Chins under no circumstances are allowed in the garden. Their strictly indoor pets. But you musn't keep them locked up in a cage 24/7. What i do, is make sure that whatever room i use is chin proofed (so they can't escape/get hurt) and then let them run around for 15-20mins

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Quite often chins if not regularly bathed their fur can look a bit worse for wear and you will get tufts of hair sticking out.Bath for 10 to 15 minutes a day and hopefully they will start to look better.
A wire cage is what is needed for chins although make sure they have plenty of shelves and maybe a tile on the floor so there are plenty of places for them to get off the wire.
Under no circumstances should you put a chin in the garden and please be very careful at this time of year as heat can kill chins very quickly.

It sounds like they have been severly neglected and could do with some tlc.
Chins do not smell so if their cage is that bad they must have been let get in a terrible state.
Give them a pellet diet and plenty of hay and mini shredded wheats are a nice healthy treat for them.
I would provide them with a nest box and some wooden chew toys and some shelves if you can.Also cuttlefish is very good for them.

I do have some nest boxes for sale on my website if you are interested.Just click on my banner to link to it.

Well done for taking these chins in and don't hesitate to ask advice should you need it.

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Well done for taking them i ditto Marcia and Clair like Clair say's if you need any advice feel free to ask X

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Chins chinchillas are an indoor pet and should never be kept outside ;
They need a;
A cool draft free environment
Avoid high temperatures as chins can and do die of heat exhaustion
Avoid damp - it makes the fur clump and can even cause fur fungus/ ringworm ( a dehumidifier can sometimes be needed)
Large wooden or 16 gauge wire cage (not plastic as it gets eaten) with untreated pine shelves
Plenty of toys to keep them occupied - wooden, untreated.
A quality pellet food daily
chins NEED Fresh hay daily for roughage
Fresh clean water daily
Regular Sandbaths - at least 10/15 mins daily


Sand and sand bath
Next box ( although some chins wont use them , I do feel it is preferable to give them a place to sleep in peace )
Pellets and good quality hay daily
A gnaw block
Several toys, hanging and floor based
there are lots of good quality

You would be very welcome to join chinsrus I am sure you would find lots of useful information to help you

Good luck and well done for taking them in

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Chinchilla rescue and rehoming http://www.chinsrus.co.uk

Thank you so much for all your replies.

My father in law put in wooden shelves to replace some of the metal shelves. And built them a cute little house.

I never knew Chinchillas had sand baths, apart from the mess they make when twisting. There so adorable.

The cage was rank, so they power washed it.

They've now returned to my mother in laws school. But will be home weekends and holidays =D

there is some pet chinchilla advice and information here if it helps. it has a few articles which might help to answer your questions! J