Contents of Chinchillas and Guinea Pigs

Lecture Notes

Chinchillas and guinea pigs are both herbivorous species. As with rabbits, they have a higher fiber requirements. It is best to feed these animals a commercial pellet diet that is supplemented with a high quality hay, such as Timothy hay. Fresh forages should be avoided because of their high moisture content and can lead to softer feces and even to diarrhea if the forage is very young in maturity. If you want to feed fresh forages, it is recommended to let them sit and dry for 24 h after cutting them.