The 8 Best Chinchilla Foods of 2023

Best Overall Pellets

Oxbow Essentials Deluxe Chinchilla Food

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Chinchillas should be given 1-2 tablespoons of pellets per day, and Bunk-Hatch recommends Oxbow Essentials. The deluxe chinchilla food is made from high-fiber alfalfa meal to promote gastrointestinal health, with added fiber, protein, and fat derived from soybeans. Its 18 percent crude protein provides a higher percentage than many other chinchilla options.

Oxbow Essentials is also fortified with vitamins C, A, and B12, providing 100 percent of a chinchilla's daily recommended vitamins intake. The nutritionally-complete pellets also have antioxidants and prebiotics to support your pet’s immune and digestive health, while the uniform shape of the pellets helps to prevent selective eating.

Oxbow recommends that its pellets make up approximately 20 percent of your chinchilla's diet, with the bulk of their daily food intake coming from hay (we have hay recommendations ahead). Oxbow Essentials Deluxe Chinchilla Food is available in 3-, 10-, and 25-pound bags.

_{Ingredients: Alfalfa meal, soybean hulls, wheat middlings | Package Size(s): 3, 10, or 25 pounds}

Best Overall Hay

Kaytee Natural Timothy Hay Small Animal Food

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Chinchillas should be given an unlimited amount of hay to eat every day, and our favorite option is Kaytee Natural Timothy Hay. The hay comes in several package sizes, and the sole ingredient is sun-cured Timothy hay, which offers lots of fiber and is easy for chinchillas to digest. It's also preferred over alfalfa hay, which can be given as an occasional snack, but has too much calcium to be your chinchilla's staple diet since excess calcium can lead to bladder stones.

The hay in each package is sourced and harvested from the Columbian River basin in the western United States, and it’s low in calcium and protein to support a healthy urinary tract. The product is packaged to preserve the nutrient value and color of the hay, and it’s free from artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

_{Ingredients: Sun-cured timothy hay | Package Size(s): 24, 48, 96 ounces}

Best Budget Pellets

Kaytee Timothy Complete Chinchilla Food

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The Kaytee Timothy Complete Chinchilla Food is a popular option that’s a bit more affordable per package. It comes in 3-pound bags, and the main ingredient in the pellets is sun-cured Timothy hay. The food is developed by an animal nutrition expert to ensure it meets a chinchilla’s nutritional requirements, and the pellets are uniform to prevent selective eating. 

These high-fiber pellets contain probiotics and prebiotics to improve your pet’s digestive health, and the formula contains added vitamins and minerals, as well. There are no artificial colors or flavors, and the formula is 16 percent crude protein. 

_{Ingredients: Sun-cured timothy grass hay, wheat middlings, ground wheat | Package Size(s): 3 pounds}

Best Premium Pellets

Supreme Science Selective Chinchilla Food

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If you’re willing to spend a little more on chinchilla food, Bunk-Hatch also recommends Supreme Science. The brand’s Selective Chinchilla Food has an alfalfa base, but it also contains ingredients like parsley, plantains, and linseed to promote a soft coat and healthy skin. Plus, the pellets are highly palatable, making them appealing to your pet. 

This chinchilla food has a low-fat formula with no added sugar, which is beneficial for managing your chinchilla’s weight. There are no artificial colors, and the pellets contain 16 percent crude protein.

_{Ingredients: Lucerne meal (alfalfa), soya hulls, wheat | Package Size(s): 4.4 pounds}

Best Orchard Hay

Oxbow Orchard Grass Hay Small Animal Food

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Orchard hay, such as this product from Oxbow, has a higher protein level than Timothy hay, and it’s often softer and sweeter, as well. The Oxbow Orchard Grass Hay comes in a wide range of package sizes, including 50-pound boxes, and it has a sweet smell your chinchillas will love.

This hay is grown in the United States, and it’s free of preservatives and additives. The leaves of the hay may be green to bluish-green, providing a variety that promotes natural foraging and mental stimulation.

_{Ingredients: 100 percent orchard grass | Package Size(s): 15 or 40 ounce; 9, 25, or 50 pounds}

Best Organic Hay

Oxbow Organic Meadow Hay Small Animal Food

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The Oxbow Organic Meadow Hay has earned the USDA Organic Seal, meaning over 95 percent of the ingredients are produced by certified organic farmers. Each package contains sweet-smelling organic meadow hay that’s been grown in the United States, and it often includes a blend of hay varieties that have been grown and harvested together. 

This hay is a great source of fiber for your chinchilla, and its enticing smell is ideal for picky eaters. The hay that goes into each bag is hand-selected and hand-sorted for quality, but it is slightly pricey and comes in smaller packages than other hay brands.

_{Ingredients: 100 percent organic meadow hay | Package Size(s): 15 or 40 ounce}

Best Treats

Exotic Nutrition Dried Rose Hips

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Hay and pellets should make up the bulk of your chinchilla’s diet, but for an occasional treat, try the Exotic Nutrition Dried Rose Hips. These little pieces of dried fruit are a good source of dietary fiber, as well as vitamins C and E, and they make a delicious treat for small animals. These chinchilla treats don’t contain any added sugars, flavors, or preservatives, and you can put the chunks into foraging toys to keep your chinchilla entertained. 

_{Ingredients: Dried whole rose hips | Package Size(s): 3 ounces}