Pellets- The main part of your chinchillas diet will be pellets. Everyday they should be given fresh chinchilla pellets. I prefer to feed my chins Mazuri Chinchilla Pellets or Purina Advanced Nutrition Rabbit food-the show formula, but opinions vary from breeder to breeder and you should research before deciding which to feed your chin. In my experience it is best if you put the pellets in a crock dish because if you put it in anything lighter they will flip over the bowl and waste the food.
Hay- You MUST give your chin access to fresh hay. Fiber is very important in their diet. It is best to feed loose timothy hay and to provide unlimited access but about a big handful per chin is good. Some people don't like the mess from the hay so they give timothy cubes. I find my chinchillas love the loose hay so much, it is worth it to pick up after them. The hay you buy should be the freshest and greenest you can get. If the hay is dusty or moldy, it can make your chinchilla sick, so take care in purchasing hay. Oxbow Timothy is a favored hay but I occasionally buy a nice, big bale of green horse grass hay to feed.
Water- You will need to provide your chinchilla with free access to a water bottle. Change the water at least once daily! Water bottles should be scrubbed or put in a dishwasher once weekly.
Other- There are other things that you can feed your chinchilla that can also be benefical to its health.
Cuttle Bone- Cuttle bones can be given occasionally as a calcium supplement and also make excellant chew toys. Like most other products, they can be purchased at pet stores, in the bird section. .
Alfalfa Cubes- Loose alfalfa hay or alfalfa hay is an excellant treat for babies and pregnant/nursing moms due to the calcium levels. For all others it is a good occasional treat. I hand out alfalfa about once weekly here..
Treats- A good rule of thumb is to give only one or two food treats a day. It is better (and healthier) to give chew type treats such as apple sticks. I give out one piece of bite size shredded wheat a day. An occasional raisin may be given but please do not over do it. Sweet treats and fruits and veggies can cause bloat, a serious medical emergency. Rose hips are also considered a safe treat.
Changes in Diet- Any changes that you decide to make to your chins diet should be VERY gradual. Chinchillas are easily unbalanced by sudden changes in diet and could get diarreah, or could become constipated. The switch, especially for pellets, should be made over a period of about a week, maybe a little longer. During the switch, carefully monitor your chins stools for any changes, keeping in mind that their stool is smaller during the day when they are less active than it is at nigh
