Author Jamie Huggins
Lowcountry Chinchillas
Chin-Proof Your Home
Letting your chinchilla play outside of it’s cage can be a lot of fun for both of you, but
first you must be sure he will be safe. In many ways your chin is just like a small child.
He is very curious, puts everything in his mouth, and doesn’t know what may be off
limits. It is up to you to keep your “baby” safe. It is much easier to chin-proof one room
instead of the entire house. Keeping your chinchilla in one room will also help him to
feel more secure and will make it easier for you to play with him.
Begin by covering any open electrical outlets and removing or blocking all electrical
cords. Make sure to get the phone cord as well. A chinchilla could be badly hurt if he bit
down on a live wire or stuck his nose into an outlet. Once you have those secured remove
any household plants from the room. Many plants are poisonous and could make your
chinchilla very sick. Be sure that there are no areas in the room your chinchilla could go
that you can’t reach. Many chinchillas have disappeared for long hours behind
refrigerators, heavy china cabinets, exposed air vents, ect. Always keep your chinchilla
away from lead based paint. If any furniture in your house has lead based paint on it do
not let your chinchilla out in that room. Ingesting this type of paint could be fatal to your
chin.
Many people prefer to let their chinchilla run free in the bath room. This is a great
choice since it is fairly easy to chin-proof. Do keep in mind that your chinchilla can jump
very high. Be sure to close the toilet lid and do not leave standing water in the tub or
sink. Place all soaps, shampoos, and cleaners out of your chinchilla’s reach.
You should get down on the floor just before letting your chinchilla out and look for
small items and plastics which could harm your chinchilla if he chewed on them. This is
a good thing to do every time you let your chinchilla run. Securing your chin’s play room
will help insure that he has a safe and fun outing. Even in a “chin-proofed” environment
it is always best to supervise your chinchilla’s play time. This is a great opportunity to
interact with him and will give you both some wonderful time together.
|
|
