Kale is something that chinchillas can not eat. They won’t choke on it. Some guides say to cut it up very small, but chinchillas already know how to chew and break up food. And your pet won’t get sick from it, either. Instead, the problem with kale is how healthy it is.
It’s common knowledge that chinchillas make excellent pets due to their endearing size and personality. The people of this region are recognized for their love of food, humor, and one another. However, I was wondering if chinchillas could digest greens.
To many people’s surprise, chinchillas are not able to digest kale. During chinchillas like lettuce and other leafy greens, kale can cause severe intestinal distress. Therefore, it is recommended to refrain from feeding it to them.
We’ll examine this in greater depth below. We’ll also look into some safe alternatives to kale that will provide your chinchilla with the same nutritional value.
Why Can’t Chinchillas Eat Kale?
One of the healthiest foods you can eat is kale. It is an excellent source of vitamin C, calcium, iron, fiber, and antioxidants. Evidence suggests it may also aid in the reduction of cholesterol and blood pressure.
Chinchillas should never be fed anything beneficial to people or other animals. Nonetheless, why is it the case? There are two primary reasons you shouldn’t give kale to a chinchilla.
Oxalic acid, found in the leaves, can induce kidney stones in chinchillas. Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, mustard greens, radishes, rutabaga, turnips, watercress, and other members of the cabbage family are included.
When consumed by chinchillas, kale might induce gastrointestinal distress. It can trigger life-threatening symptoms such as stomach ulcers, inflammation, diarrhea, and death.
Many owners of chinchillas swear that feeding them kale helps maintain healthy teeth since the thick stems can withstand their constant gnawing. However, this is not the case. The potential for harm outweighs any potential benefits. You might feed them a particular diet instead of worrying about your chinchilla’s teeth.
How Much Kale Can Chinchillas Eat?
Because of the abovementioned problems, you shouldn’t give your chinchilla any kale. Because of this, the best amount to feed your pet is none.
Even so, if you feed your chinchilla kale, please limit your amount. A tiny piece of kale, about the size of your pinky fingernail, won’t make your chinchilla sick. If you feed more than that, you might set off.
Should Chinchillas Eat Kale?
We suggest that you don’t give your pet kale as a snack. Instead, you can give it one of many other healthy foods. These treats are much better for chinchillas because they have the right amount of protein, fat, water, and carbs and won’t make them bloated. They may also be cheaper than kale, which is good for your wallet. Think about feeding:
Hips of rose. These are the rose plant’s tiny fruits. Chinchillas like dried rose hips, which you can buy. They taste different and robust.
Cut up wheat. About the right amount of nutrients are in shredded wheat (the kind without lots of added sugar, at least).
Flowers of chamomile. Chinchillas like to eat any flower or petal from a flower. Again, dried chamomile flowers are best because they have less water than fresh ones.
Sweet hay. Sweet hay tastes the same as regular hay but tastes more adorable because it has more sugar.
Conclusion
There you have it! Kale is not a good food choice for chinchillas. Broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts are all brassica family members and should be avoided. But luckily, there are several great alternatives to kale that your chinchilla will not only adore but also gain a lot of nourishment from.