Hides and houses
Shelves and ledges
Foraging and toys
Cage accessories
Kits and bundles
Fairy forest
Spooky mischief
Sweetie stash
Game mode
Forest floor
Castles and cathedrals
Yes, hay is the most important food a chinchilla eats. The PDSA and RSPCA both say hay should be the main part of the diet and available at all times, and Woodgreen puts it at about 75% of what a chinchilla eats. Give unlimited timothy, meadow or orchard grass hay, refreshed daily, plus 1 to 2 tablespoons of chinchilla pellets.
| Safe? | Yes, essential |
| How much | Unlimited: always more than they can eat |
| How often | Fresh hay every day |
| Best served | Dust-extracted grass hay in a rack |
| Watch out for | Dusty, damp or spoiled hay; too much alfalfa for adults |
Why chinchillas need so much hay
Hay does two jobs no other food can. First, it keeps the gut moving: chinchillas have very sensitive digestive systems, Burgess says, and the RSPCA explains that they need hay and grass for their digestion to work properly. Second, it wears down their teeth, which grow all their life. The MSD Veterinary Manual warns that chinchillas eating mostly pellets are more likely to get dental problems, because pellets don't wear teeth the way hay does.
Which hay is best for chinchillas?
A low-calcium grass hay. Our sources agree on the main types.
| Hay | For adults? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Timothy | Yes | Recommended by PDSA, VCA, PetMD and Chewy |
| Meadow | Yes | Recommended by PDSA, Woodgreen and Burgess |
| Orchard grass | Yes | Recommended by VCA, PetMD and Chewy |
| Oat hay | Yes | Listed by VCA and PetMD |
| Alfalfa (lucerne) | Only small amounts | Too high in calcium for adults, VCA says; suits young, pregnant or nursing chinchillas |
Burgess makes the point that chinchillas need feeding hay, not bedding hay. The PDSA asks for good-quality, dust-extracted hay.
How much hay does a chinchilla need?
As much as it wants, all day and night. There should always be hay left over when you refresh it. Alongside that, give 1 to 2 tablespoons of plain chinchilla pellets a day, which the PDSA, RSPCA, VCA and PetMD all advise. Woodgreen suggests a little more, about 4 tablespoons (30 g, 1 oz), and Burgess an eggcup-full. We'd start at the PDSA amount and adjust with your vet if your chinchilla's weight changes. Don't overfeed pellets: the PDSA says chinchillas may fill up on them instead of hay.
How to feed hay
- Use a rack. VCA and the RSPCA suggest a hay rack or holder fixed to the cage, as hay on the floor gets weed on.
- Clear the old hay each morning. The PDSA says to remove leftovers and give a fresh pile every day; VCA says daily changes stop bacteria and damp growth.
- Fill it to overflowing. Hay should never run out between top-ups.
- Make them forage. Burgess suggests scattering the daily pellets around the cage instead of using a bowl, so your chinchilla searches through the hay for them.
- Change types slowly. The RSPCA says never change a chinchilla's diet suddenly, so mix a new hay in over several days.
Signs of good and bad hay
- Dry, with no damp patches or spoiled smell
- Dust-extracted, with little dust when you shake it
- Long strands rather than short chopped bits
- A grass hay, not mostly alfalfa, for an adult
- Stored somewhere dry, off the floor
If your chinchilla stops eating hay, or its droppings get fewer, smaller or stop, the RSPCA says to contact a vet straight away. Drooling or wet fur under the chin can mean tooth trouble, the MSD Veterinary Manual says. See our chinchilla health guide.
Hay with herbs and flowers
Hay blends with dandelion and marigold, such as one Burgess makes, are fine as part of the hay. For more variety, scatter dried dandelion or the odd rose hip. Hay also works in nest boxes, as our chinchilla bedding guide explains. For the rest of the menu, see what can chinchillas eat, our chinchilla diet guide and our chinchilla care guide.
Hay questions
How much hay should a chinchilla eat a day?
As much as it likes. The PDSA and RSPCA say hay should always be available, and Woodgreen puts it at about 75% of the diet. Give more than your chinchilla can finish, and clear the leftovers and refill every morning.
Can chinchillas eat alfalfa hay?
Only a little, unless they are young, pregnant or nursing. VCA says alfalfa is too high in calcium for adults, and PetMD says that calcium can cause bladder stones. The PDSA says to avoid it for other adults. Use timothy, meadow or orchard grass hay instead.
Can chinchillas eat bedding hay?
Burgess says chinchillas need feeding hay, not bedding hay. Feeding hay is cleaner and better quality. Since chinchillas nibble whatever hay is in their cage, use feeding-grade hay everywhere, including nest boxes.
What if my chinchilla won't eat hay?
Check the hay is fresh, dry and not dusty, and cut back on pellets and treats so hay is the main food. If your chinchilla still eats little, or droppings shrink or stop, the RSPCA says to see a vet straight away, as tooth or gut trouble may be the cause.
