Can Chinchillas Eat Corn? (Read Before You Feed!)

I have never been an especially huge fan of corn.

I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it either.

I seem to be alone in that. People love their corn on the cobs where I’m from.

But corn does not have much nutritional value.

Is it healthy for chinchillas? Can chinchillas eat corn at all?

By now you’ve probably realized that there are a lot of things these little rodents can’t digest well.

Keep reading to learn in corn is one of them. We’re going to cover everything you need to know about feeding corn to your chinchilla.

 

Can Chinchillas Eat Corn?

No, chinchillas can not eat corn. You should make sure you do not feed your chinchilla corn, because it can be toxic due to the corn grass part known as teosinte.

In addition to the toxicity, corn does not have any nutrients that are beneficial to chinchillas. In other words, there is no good reason to feed your pet corn, even if it is just the kernels without the grass. But there are a lot of good reasons not give your pet corn.

 

What Will Corn Do To My Chinchilla?

It is the teosinte and the mycotoxins that are found on the leaves and grass of corn that cause harm. But those compounds are far from the only problem with corn.

Even if your chinchilla eats corn without any grass on it, it will not even be able to digest it. This can cause serious health conditions for your pet. Corn is also full of sugar and carbohydrates, neither of which provide any benefit to your chinchilla. Quite the contrary.

They will cause your chinchilla to bloat and cause it lots of pain, even if it only eats a small amount. And, as mentioned, corn offers minimal nutrition for a chinchilla. It lacks any of the vitamins and minerals that help your chinchilla’s body function.

And finally, farmers usually use pesticides to grow corn. If any traces of these pesticides remain on the corn that your chinchilla eats, it could get very sick.

 

Symptoms

If your chinchilla eats some corn, there are symptoms you should be on the lookout for. The first is any sign of indigestion. This includes bloating, gas, signs of pain, or struggling to eat.

If your chinchilla shows these symptoms, you should take it to the vet. Don’t ignore them thinking they are mild. Things can get very bad very quick, if your chinchilla has eaten corn.

 

What If My Chinchilla’s Pellets Contain Corn?

You may have checked the ingredients list of the pellets that you feed your chinchilla and noticed that corn is included. This should not be a problem, as long as corn is far down on the ingredients list, meaning only a very small amount of corn has been included. Any pellets where corn is listed near the top of the list is not something you should give to your chinchilla.

If you are worried about which type of pellets to feed your chinchilla, read this article. You could also feed your pet only hay. It contains all the nutrients a chinchilla needs and no corn. You chinchilla will love it as its main source of food. But hay combined with pellets is the best diet for a pet chinchilla and most pellets contain no, or minimal amounts of, corn.

 

Can Chinchillas Eat Corn On The Cob?

This is still not safe for chinchillas to eat. Corn on the cob can still have bits of grass in the corn, which is harmful to chinchillas. It is also still high in sugar and carbs, which can cause digestion issues with your chinchilla.

Unless you want to deal with some nasty bloating and diarrhoea then avoid corn on the cob at all costs. For your chinchilla’s safety, I recommend keeping any type of corn, including the kernels, far away from your pet.

 

Is Popcorn Safe For Chinchillas?

Chinchillas can have popcorn. It is not toxic, but it does not have any nutritional value and it can cause bloating and other digestive issues. I recommend avoiding popcorn, but if you want to give your pet a tiny amount as a treat, that is fine. A single piece once or twice a week, never more.

 

Is Corn Husk Good For Chinchillas?

One corn item you can give to your chinchilla is a corn husk. This usually comes in the form of a chew and is something your chinchilla can use to keep itself occupied and help grind down its teeth.

You can attach the corn husk to the side of your chinchilla’s cage to allow it to chew it whenever it wishes. Husks are made with all-natural corn husks and hemp string. They make for tasty treats for your chinchilla, but also help keep it occupied during the day.

All ingredients of the corn husk chew are natural with no added chemicals. They come with a wooden attachment for the cage and in a variety of different sizes so you can make sure you get the best one for your chinchilla.

 

Can Chinchillas Have Corn?

No, chinchillas can not eat corn. It has elements that are toxic. Even if you remove those, corn offers no nutritional value and can cause digestive issues.

If you want to feed your chinchilla corn flakes, that is fine. Those make for a good snack, in limited amounts. Popcorn is fine, too, but I would just avoid it. Corn Flakes at least offer some nutritional value, though other cereals, like Cheerios or shredded wheat, are better. Even better, feed your chinchilla millet or a similar grain.