One of my favorite things about owning chinchillas is watching them munch away on their treats. I love how they look so happy when they're eating and beg for more when they're done :).
However, I learned the hard way that feeding chinchillas the wrong treats is very dangerous.
And after this unpleasant experience, I wanted to make sure I never fed my chinchillas any treats that would make them sick ever again.
So, I researched everything I could find on the topic of chinchilla treats and came up with a list of 10 healthy treats I could give my chinchillas every day.
In this post I'm going to share these healthy treats with you, so that you can safely feed your chinchilla treats whenever you want, without worrying about them getting sick.
So, here are the 10 healthiest chinchilla treats…
Dried rosehips are one of the best healthy treats you can give to your chinchilla and are something they'll love to eat. They contain:
- High levels of fiber
- High levels of vitamin C
You can give your chinchilla up to three whole dried rosehips or one teaspoon of dried rosehip shells every day.
Buy Some Organic Dried Rosehips From Amazon
Mountain ash berries (also known as rowan berries) are another favorite with chinchillas and are packed with health boosting ingredients. They contain:
- Lots of health boosting antioxidants
- Lots of fiber
Your chinchilla can eat up to three mountain ash berries per day.
Get Some Organic Mountain Ash Berries From Amazon
Apple wood is a great chinchilla safe treat that also acts as a chew toy for your little fluffball.
Chinchillas can have one apple wood stick each day.
Order Some Organic Apple Wood Sticks From Amazon
Dandelion leaves are loaded with health boosting ingredients which:
- Keep your chinchilla’s liver healthy
- Promote proper circulation
Your chinchilla can eat ½ teaspoon of dandelion leaves per day.
Buy Some Organic Dandelion Leaves From Amazon
Hawthorn leaves are one of the best treats for your chinchilla’s heart.
Chinchillas can have ½ teaspoon of hawthorn leaves each day.
Get Some Organic Hawthorn Leaves From Amazon
Nettle leaves have many health boosting properties in chinchillas and can:
- Cleanse your chinchilla’s kidneys
- Naturally increase your chinchilla's energy levels
Your chinchilla can eat ½ teaspoon of nettle leaves every day.
Order Some Organic Nettle Leaves From Amazon
Red clover leaves keep your chinchilla's nervous system healthy and functional.
Your chinchilla can have ½ teaspoon of red clover leaves per day.
Buy Some Organic Red Clover Leaves From Amazon
Chamomile flowers have a soothing effect on chinchillas, and make them more relaxed and peaceful.
You can give your chinchilla ½ teaspoon of chamomile flowers daily.
Get Some Organic Chamomile Flowers From Amazon
Marigold flowers (also known as calendula flowers) contain numerous health boosting nutrients which:
- Support healthy circulation in chinchillas
- Promote proper digestion in chinchillas
Chinchillas can have ½ teaspoon of marigold flowers each day.
Order Some Organic Marigold Flowers From Amazon
Sunflower petals are packed with healthy minerals.
Your chinchilla can eat ½ teaspoon of sunflower petals per day.
Buy Some Organic Sunflower Petals For Your Chinchilla Today
What's your chinchilla's favorite healthy treat? How many of these healthy treats have you tried? Leave a comment below and let me know.
Cathy Becker says
August 8, 2016 at 1:13 amThank you so much for your information 🙂 my chinchi will be so much more happy and healthy. I am rescuing him and he has been eating all the wrong things 🙁
Tom says
August 8, 2016 at 8:37 pmAwesome. Glad to hear he’s getting rescued and getting some healthy treats. 🙂
Rooster says
November 3, 2017 at 4:07 amThere is a max amount of each treat that the article says is safe to give, is it okay to give a chin a combanation of the above treats every day? (In other words do you just have to choose one for that day?)
Tom says
November 4, 2017 at 12:11 pmYou can give your chinchilla a combination of the treats but you will need to adjust the amounts you give them. So, if you want to give them two treats on the same day, you should give them half the amount of each treat listed in the article.
For example, if you want to give them some mountain ash berries and dandelion leaves on the same day, you should give them one and a half mountain ash berries and a 1/4 teaspoon of dandelion leaves.
Michelle Herczegh says
November 6, 2017 at 10:00 pmSorry tom, my words were chopped up for some reason. I hope you can understand what i was trying to share with you!
Michelle
Michelle Herczegh says
November 6, 2017 at 9:57 pmThank you for the great post! My ch who lived almost 20 years didnt like rose hips which i was able to find at the heal food store here in Canada, and apple wood which they ALL love! I am going to try all of them for my new chinchillas a pair of which were rehomed twice…they would have made thevtri half way across the country with the family that was moving there….. i signed upbto Instagram just so i could have my four furry pals pals featured. I am having trouble because i am new to and still learning my way around it. Any feedba will help! Thank you! Mi
Tom says
November 7, 2017 at 5:15 pmHi Michelle. Sure I understand. Yes I’ve heard some chinchillas don’t like rosehips. All four of my chinchillas love them. I hope your new chinchillas like some of the treats on the list.
I’m happy to help you learn your way around Instagram. Which specific things do you need help with? Is it related to getting your chinchillas featured or something else?
Michelle Herczegh says
November 7, 2017 at 8:15 pmHi ToM,
Thank you for your help!
How do i “tag” the pictures that i would like to add for Your feature page? I have four Chinchillas too!
Cheers,
Michelle
Tom says
November 28, 2017 at 12:00 pmHi Michelle. If you have an Instagram account that’s public, you can post the photo you want featured there and include #chinchillajournalfeatures in the caption.
If you don’t have a public Instagram account, you can either DM me the pics on Instagram or email them to me. I’ll send you an email to follow up on this, so that you know where to send the pics if you want to use email.
TJ says
January 26, 2018 at 12:39 amThanks my chin is a hideous beggar(rescue from bad conditions) and I want to “spoil” her but not badly so this helps as I’ve only found one healthy treat she likes dried cactus flowers , so will try some of these as she’s a banana chip and raisin girl at mo and has taken to hunting through my cabinets for food(not gonna happen my lounge is set for naughty pets) well I say 1 she eats the guinea pigs forage(which is chin safe but it;s the piggies food as I know she needs to be kept at a certain level on “treat” food”, can they have fresh dandelion, and anyone know about normal/wheat grass being ok? Just only got her in november and so much conflicting info around thanks
Tom says
January 31, 2018 at 3:05 amI’d avoid wheat grass because it can cause bloat in chinchillas.
I’d also avoid anything fresh including dandelion because chinchilla’s digestive systems aren’t really designed to process fresh foods. If you want to feed your chinchilla dandelion, go with an organic dried variety.
TJ says
February 24, 2018 at 8:58 pmThanks she has some dried dandelion as I also have rabbits and guinea pigs so I have forage she’s just a fussy cow beyond belief, she’s not fussed on fresh foods anyway which I know is good, I’ll just plod along with chin safe stuff that’s healthy and will be a take or leave it, as I always follow proper care, I just found too much conflicting info on chinchilla diets i got overwhelmed, she is not even a hay eater and I have tried 5 different varieties I think she never had she was rescued after the owners abandoned all the pets in the house :(, is finding things she likes that are healthy but I am getting there, I don’t give in to her constant begging she gets what she is given, she likes mallow flowers, not rose or marigolds so seeing what else I can try now, but at least she is safe and fed properly and in a house bigger than a hamster cage and gets 5 hours free
Tom says
March 2, 2018 at 2:13 amHave you tried orchard grass hay? My chinchillas seem to really like that, so perhaps your chinchilla will enjoy it too.
TJ says
March 8, 2018 at 12:03 amtrying to find some have gone through alfalfa hay cheap hay, timothy hay meadow hay onto a herbal hay with nettle in, considering she was kept in a 6ft square cage, no dust, and then ABANDONED with other animals she is a fussy lil begger lol, BUT she likes hibiscus and certain mallow, and some bits in forage and I occasionally give her a pea flake as I know those are safe mountain ash berries are due to try, she don’t like rosehips or flowers lol , we’ll get there I don’t give in with bad treats she gets shoed a flower take or leave, and ones she doesn’t like are safe for my other furries the G pig polished off her sunflower petals.
Tom says
March 18, 2018 at 7:33 pmOk. Hope you find some things she likes. You can get Oxbow Orchard Grass hay on Amazon and it’s pretty good.
Krystal says
April 13, 2018 at 9:57 pmWhat do you think of Rosewood naturals natures salad? it’s got orchard grass mixed with a, bunch of these things i think.
Tom says
April 19, 2018 at 11:10 amI’m not familiar with all the ingredients, so I can’t say if it’s 100% chinchilla safe. They list four of the 21 ingredients on their site and these are all safe for chinchillas but I’m not sure about the other 17 that aren’t listed.
MiChael says
April 23, 2018 at 8:32 pmThere is a website That seLls lots of healthy treats for all herbivores i use Which is called hop to forage (based in uk) they focus mainly on bunnies but do lots of products 🙂
Tom says
May 4, 2018 at 10:48 amNice. Thanks for sharing.
Tj says
May 5, 2018 at 8:43 pmI’ve seen them I find zoo plus better just my chin is a fussy cow I have Guinea Pigs and buns so I get lots of forage not much the chin will pick she wants diabetes ….smfh
Tom says
May 18, 2018 at 2:15 pmAww. Hope you can find something healthy that matches her taste buds.
Isabella says
July 27, 2018 at 5:37 amHi I gIve my chinchilla 2 tReats a day and one viTamin c TabLet a day should i stop giving him 2 treats and insTead give him roSehips???
Tom says
September 17, 2018 at 4:35 pmHi. It depends what treats you’re currently feeding him but rosehips are a great healthy treat option.
I’d stop giving him the vitamin C tablet also. Most chinchillas don’t need any additional supplements. Their diet should provide all the nutrition they need.
Brandi says
August 25, 2018 at 4:47 pmWhat do you give one that seems to be siCk? Mine has been very lethargic for a couple of days now
Tom says
September 17, 2018 at 4:59 pmHi. I’d stop giving them treats if they’re sick and take them to the vet for a checkup. You can add treats back into their diet slowly when they’re feeling better.
Lisa says
December 30, 2018 at 3:22 pmThank you for the wonderful information.
Can my chin have dried rose petals? They are organic.
Tom says
January 9, 2019 at 11:39 amYes. Organic dried rose petals are fine.