There are many bedding options out there, but not all are appropriate for chinchillas. For example, pine shavings are generally considered safe for animals, but not so for chinchillas. Some pine shavings can contain a resin that when ingested will harm a chinchilla.
The best option we've found are aspen shavings. These shavings provide the same benefit as pine, come in bulk so the price is low, and are not harmful to chinchillas in any form. We've also tried a recycled paper bedding. This product appealed to us because it was recycled material and very absorbent. However, on too many occasions we saw our chins eating the paper which raised concerns that there may be digestive issues down the road.
Our chinchillas are pretty good about using their bedding rather than urinating outside their cage.
Your nose will tell you when it is time to change the bedding. The frequency will also depend on how much bedding you provide and in how large an area. In the interest of easy cleaning, we use a relatively small bedding box that is about 1' x 2'.
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July 13th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Sarah,
If your chinchillas can't get to the newspaper, then it should be fine as a backup. Expect it to be quite messy though. The ink will likely come off when wet. Make sure none of the shredded pieces are poking through the wire bottom or your chinchillas will grab them.
July 10th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
I was wondering if it was safe to use shredded newspaper in a pinch for chinchilla bedding. My cage has a wire bottem so there is no way for them to eat the bedding.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Mary Cate,
Sadly, we don't know of bedding that matches your criteria. CareFresh is the closest, but as you said it can be pricey. One thing we did to keep costs low is create a wooden bedding container. So rather than fill the entire bottom of the cage with bedding, we could just fill this container. This was particularly useful given that our cage was very large.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:22 pm
I have been using the recycled paper - carefresh pet bedding for my two chinchillas, however I find it very expensive. I was wondering if you can recommend alternative (environmentally safe please) options that would be less costly but not harm my "Chinchildren" as I call them.
I have considered shredding old paper and using that but I am not sure if this will harm them. I am open to any suggestions and appreciate the time taken to answer!
October 18th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Thanks! I hope your chinnies won't have problems. I never thought aspen might be a bit rough on some sensitive feet until I had two vets confirm it could be. I just bought some Care Fresh Ultra today. I worry about them eating it, but so far my two boys have left it alone. My two girls each tried nibbling it though. I'll have to watch them carefully. I hope the CareFresh is soft enough to eliminate any more bleeding on my boy Powder's foot.