If you live in a warm climate, it's important that you have a backup plan to keep your chinchillas cool in case your A/C unit fails. We keep a couple of frozen jugs of water in the freezer during the summer months. So far, doing so has come in very handy.
Remember the blackout that hit the Northeast? On that day we had nighttime temperatures in the 90's. It was also very humid. This is the kind of weather that can kill a chinchilla, and with no power, we had no A/C.
Too keep our chinchillas cool, I moved them into a small cage we have. I did this so that they couldn't run around. I then placed one of the frozen jugs of water on top of a cookie sheet, both of which I placed on top of the cage. I used a cookie sheet to catch the condensation from the bottle so that the chinchillas wouldn't get wet.
Using a thermometer I was able to determine that the temperature in the cage below that frozen jug of water was around 80 degrees. That was a whole 10 degrees lower than the rest of the house.
Although I haven't used these techniques myself, I have read that others have had success with them:
- Keep stone tiles in the freezer and put them in the cage or attach to the sides of the cage when needed
- Put ice cubes in your chinchilla's water bottle.
- Put ice cubes in a dish for your chinchilla to chew and lick.
- Drape damp (cold water), not dripping wet, towels on the cage.
- Freeze empty food tins and place in the cage. Make sure there are no sharp edges.
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April 22nd, 2007 at 2:31 pm
I've had my chinchilla for three years and he had never gotten sick until the spring of 2007 if its this hot in spring, summer will be worse. How can I keep him cool through the summer?
April 21st, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Debra,
A fan to circulate air is OK. Just don't point it directly on your chinchillas. Please note that a fan doesn't actually cool the air. If it's 80 degrees without a fan it will still be 80 degrees with a fan. Since chinchillas don't sweat, there's a lot less benefit to using one than there is for people. You need to get an air conditioner for your home or at least for the room where your chinchillas are housed.
April 21st, 2007 at 9:09 pm
Now that the weather is getting warm in my area in New Jersey, I was wondering if putting a small fan around the cage to circulate the air is ok. I understand that drafts are harmful but I don't think it's the same situation. I am already prepared with the stone tablet in the cage.
February 25th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
Thanks for the tips. It will help.
February 24th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
Maryann,
A healthy chinchilla should be alert and energetic. One that is over heating is lethargic and may be lying on its side. Needless to say, you should resist the temptation to buy a chinchilla that doesn't appear healthy unless you have the resources necessary for such rescue efforts.