Chipmunks as Pets
Chipmunks can make very entertaining pets. One thing is very important for these animals, also see, Appenzell Mountain Dog (Appenzeller) however, and that is to make sure they have a sufficiently large enough cage for them to exercise and run around in. It is cruel to keep them in a cage designed for smaller animals consider, Appenzell Mountain Dog (Appenzeller) such as gerbils and mice.
Like chinchillas and other small "prey" animals please check out , The Cuban Tree Frog Breed they are nto especially cuddly, but with handling will come and site on your shoulder.
What Do They Eat?
Jjust about anything. Many pet stores sell a special chipmunk food consider, Dalmatian which is a mix of maize, peanuts, sunflower seeds, consider, Bloodhound wheat, flaked peas, pine kernels etc. etc. They also eat: peanut kernels (we enjoyed watching them open them), bird seed, get more info here , Appenzell Mountain Dog (Appenzeller) dried or fresh bananas, carrots, dried apricots, apple, peas, sweetcorn, tomatoes, look at, Whippet grapes, animal treats, dandelion (leaves and flowers), grass, also see, Pet Mice Varieties flies, chicken, cabbage, cucumber and so on. In fact they seem quite happy to eat just about anything you put in the cage!
They are very cheap to keep as you will be able to give them left overs from dinner - particularly the vegetables why not visit, Dartmoor and Exmoor Ponies and all the peelings from the veg before you actually ate it.
What Do They Do?
They run around the cage a lot, they eat, they run round their wheel, they do acrobats on the tree see , Mi-Ki (Toy) branches they have in their cages, they sleep .... they make a racket when getting ready to mate, and the LOVE to dig in potplants and store food find more here , Leonberger for the winter. another idea , Florida Cracker Horse And chew. They like to chew. On your furniture. try, English Bulldog / British Bulldog On your curtains.
Chipmunks are delightful little animals have a look at, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog when you let them out of the cage as they run up your legs, sit on your head, chew your feet and have a particular fancy to towels and dressing gowns. If you have a chipmunk let him/her near your dressing gown - they love the towelling material
What Should I Put In Their Cage
Though small animals, look at , Leonberger they need a large enclsoure. Don't buy a cage suitable for a rat, even though your chipmunk may be a similar size. They need far more space to jump, climb and run around. Recommended is a large TALL cage. They take up less floor please checkout , Ariegeois Pony space than a normal cage, and your chipmunks will be able to run up and down the cage.
There are a few essentials that should go in every chipmunk cage and most are fairly inexpensive to buy.
You should provide a nesting box for each adult. Ideally the boxes should be off the ground and at the same height in the cage. This will help prevent one chipmunk from becoming dominant over the other. They will usually arrange their own nest so all you need to do is provide them with suitable bedding consider, Bird Health material and leave them to sort it out. We put a layer of sawdust in each nest box and provided fresh hay, small animal bedding additionally try , Water Quality In Your Fish Tank (there are 2 types; one is like cotton wool and the other is like shredded J-cloths), paper tissues and empty toilet roll holders.
Clean their cage out regularly but it is recommended that you only clean the nest box out twice a year and definitely not if you suspect the female also try , Pet Mice Varieties is expecting a litter. Your chipmunks will likely empty, clean and replace their own bedding look at, Caring for your older Cat in anyc ase on a regular basis.
Always provide fresh water additionally try , Ariegeois Pony in an animal drinking bottle that can be attached to the inside why not visit, Spinone Italiano of the cage. It is pointless putting a bowl of water have a look at, Clumber Spaniel in the cage as it will inevitable get dirty and be knocked over. It doesn't seem to matter where you hang the water have a look at, Maine Coon bottle as they always seem to be able to find it - we hang ours next to the food additionally try , Maine Coon bowl, a logical place have a look at , Sphynx Cat to be really.
The food look at , Viral Fish Diseases containers should be fairly sturdy - stainless steel or pottery - so the chipmunks can sit on the side to eat without tipping it over. We also hade several plastic food additionally try , Sphynx Cat containers that hang on the bars - these are usually sold in pet shops as bird food checkout, Selle Francais Horse containers.
Provide 'toys' of some sort or another. Lots of branches for climbing see , Ardennes Horse on and chewing. Don't use eacaltpus branches, the oil they contain does not agree with the chipmunks. They will gnaw at the wood , Ardennes Horse so you need to make sure it won't splinter too easily or cause them any injury. Rope ladders and a rat wheel are also essential. Consider suspending the rat well from the roof find more here , Caring for your older Cat of the cage, to make it more of a challange for your chipmunks to reach it.
Other than these essentials, you will find other animal 'toys' that probably amuse you more than the chipmunks. One fun thing to put in is a small plastic window try, Animal Specific Sister Sites box that can be tied to the cage bars. Fill this with compost try, Bird Health or dirt and stand well back. Chipmunks love to dig and it won't take long before they start. All you will see is a tail have a look at , Spinone Italiano sticking out of the compost checkout, Greyhound as the chipmunk burrows down into the box. Note: this can get very messy as they throw the compost , EINSIEDLER and FREIBERGER Horses everywhere!
Who Can Live With Who?
When the Chipmunks are young they will live quite happily with either sex but as they mature into adults there are some rules that you will be well advised to follow.Males will generally live together quite happily if they are introduced an early age (or are from the same litter) unless there is an uneven number of females why not visit, Selle Francais Horse in the same cage. If you are going to mix males and females try, Appenzell Mountain Dog (Appenzeller) then ensure that the number of females additionally try , Sphynx Cat is either equal to or out-numbers the males. It is not a good idea, for example, to put 2 males and 1 female find more here , Messara together as when the female look at, Maine Coon is ready for breeding, the males will fight over her. Ideally you should have 2 females more information here , Greyhound and 1 male, that will keep him happy anyway! Females another idea , Leonberger seem happy to live together regardless - I have introduced a young female look at, Dalmatian to an adult without problem.If you are not sure how an adult Chipmunk will react to a stranger then be aware that you may end up having to buy a second cage to keep the new Chipmunk in! It is preferable to buy 2 Chipmunks (1 male a 1 female) whilst they are still young so you won't get any problems. Do not, however, buy the Chipmunks from the same litter if you are intending to breed checkout, Bloodhound them.
Breeding
Chipmunks are not that easy to breed. , Greater Swiss Mountain Dog They do not breed have a look at, Caring for your older Cat until they are at least 1 year old and then they only breed look at, Scorpions twice a year. This is good news if you do not want loads of Chipmunks running around but bad news if you are desperately waiting for 'the patter of tiny feet'.Generally you will know when the female get more info here , Gerbils as Pets is ready to breed have a look at, Caring for your older Cat as she 'chirps' continuously and it will probably drive you bonkers(so make sure you can move their cage to the laundry also interesting is , Blue-throated Macaw if you want to get some sleep.