Can chinchillas eat hay?
Yes, chinchillas can eat hay – it’s their main food. Germany’s Veterinary Association for Animal Welfare (TVT) says chinchillas must always have hay. It should be well structured, dry, and not musty, dusty or moldy. The RSPCA, PDSA, the Swiss animal welfare society (STS), Merck and NC State all name hay as the main food, and PDSA recommends dust-extracted timothy or meadow hay.
How to serve it: always available, a fresh pile every morning (PDSA)
Good to know: Alfalfa hay is the exception – it has its own page.
Sources
- TVT Merkblatt Nr. 153: Heimtiere – Chinchillas (2012)
- RSPCA – What to feed a pet chinchilla
- PDSA – Your chinchilla’s diet
- Schweizer Tierschutz STS – Merkblatt Chinchilla (2019)
- Merck Veterinary Manual (Pet Owner Version) – Diet for a Chinchilla
- NC State Veterinary Hospital – Caring for Your Pet Chinchilla
- Blue Cross – Chinchilla care guide
- Woodgreen Pets Charity – Chinchilla diet: what to feed your chinchillas
- Royal Veterinary College – Chinchilla Care (2022)
Last checked: November 2026