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Hay & Pellets Supplies
 Hay
and pellets are the foundation of a healthy chinchilla diet.
Below are the types we use and trust at Setareh Chinchillas. (As an Amazon Associate, I may earn
a small commission from qualifying purchases.)
✅ Hay: The Most Important Part of Their Diet Chinchillas need unlimited, fresh hay every day. Hay keeps their digestive system moving and helps naturally wear down their constantly-growing teeth. What Our Chins Eat • Pippin eats Orchard Grass Hay — it’s soft, sweet, and great for sensitive tummies. • Mochi eats a mix of Timothy + Orchard Grass — a little variety keeps things fun and encourages great hay consumption. ✅ Safe Hay Options ✔ Orchard Grass ✔ Timothy Hay ✔ Meadow Hay ✔ Oat Hay (as a treat, not daily) 🚫 Avoid alfalfa for adult chins (too rich and high in calcium). 
 
  ⸻ ✅ Pellets: Simple, Plain, and Healthy  Pellets should be: ✔ Plain (no colorful bits, seeds, berries, or nuts) ✔ Made for chinchillas ✔ Given in limited daily portions ✅ Recommended Daily Amount • About 1–2 tablespoons per chin, per day ⸻ ✅ What Our Chinchillas Eat Pippin Pippin is currently offered Oxbow Essentials – Chinchilla. He’s going through one of those classic chinchilla “picky phases,” but we continue to provide pellets daily along with unlimited hay and tiny enrichment sprinkles. Why we use Oxbow Essentials: ✔ Plain brown pellets ✔ Chinchilla-specific formula ✔ High fiber & low sugar ✔ No seeds, fruits, or colored bits 
 ⸻ Mochi Mochi came to us eating a blend of: • Oxbow Essentials – Chinchilla • Mazuri Chinchilla • Science Selective He’s doing well on this mix so we are keeping his diet consistent while he adjusts to his new home. Our long-term goal is to slowly transition him to only Oxbow Essentials, so both boys are on the same pellet and to match what our board-certified Exotics Specialist vet prefers for chinchillas.
  Why we prefer Oxbow Essentials overall: ✔ Simple, plain pellets ✔ High quality control ✔ Chinchilla-specific nutrient profile ✔ Consistency matters for digestion ⸻ ✅ A Note About Pellet Switching Chinchillas have sensitive digestive systems, so pellet changes should be slow and gentle. We mix the new pellet into the old one over time — increasing the ratio gradually. ⸻ ✅ If Your Chin Is Picky Some chins inhale pellets, others act like they’re too fancy for them. A few gentle tricks: • Offer pellets at the same time each day • Mix a few into hay for natural foraging • Limit sugary treats (they make pellets look boring by comparison) • Keep pellet brand consistent ⸻ ✅ Safe Feeding Tips • Replace hay daily — fresh hay encourages better eating • Use a heavy ceramic bowl or glass hanging feeder so it can’t be tipped • Introduce new hay slowly (chins can be picky) • Store hay and pellets in a cool, dry place to keep them fresh ⸻ ✅ Fun Hay Ideas • Hay in a wicker ball for foraging • Hay cubes for enrichment • Mix Orchard + Timothy for variety (Mochi-approved) ⸻ ✅ Common Mistakes to Avoid 🚫 Colored pellet mixes with seeds or dried fruit 🚫 Alfalfa daily for adult chinchillas 🚫 Pellets marketed for “small animals” without chinchilla-specific labeling  ⸻ ✅ Coming Soon • Hay feeders we use with Pippin & Mochi |
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One chin changed everything now we are changing care for all of them. Because Pippin deserved the best and so does every chin. |
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