It’s not easy being a chinchilla. Life can be tough ………….. there’s all that important snoozing for a start.

Comfort is important - just cross your legs at the right angle…….

Then there’s the hammock dilemma……….. just how does one get comfy?

Sometimes its nice to sleep in your dustbath

And finally ………. what happens when your favourite hammock is either taken away for washing or you just can’t be bothered to hop up to it?

This pillow’s a bit hard!

Hammock? Nah, too much effort - teddy will do!

…………………………………………………………………………………….

So how much of a hard life do your chins endure?

10 years ago I visited a pet shop to get a treat for my friends’ dog. Whilst mooching around the shop I came across a cage with a big, fat, snoozing chinchilla in it. He looked so cute I could not resist talking to the manager about him - needless to say that’s how the addiction with these fascinating creatures started.

I bought a book about chinchillas, reserved Monty (as I immediately named him) and collected him the following day. The rest, as they say, is history.

Today, my home is affectionately known as Monty’s Manor and Monty is about to celebrate his 11th birthday. There are a number of chinchillas residing here now; some are quality breeding and showing animals, some are re-homes (unwanted pets usually) and several rescues (with varying degrees of poor backgrounds and/or deformities or problems).

The last 10 years have been a massive learning curve and I have amassed a considerable library of books, articles, and magazines - my chinchillas also teach me something new about them almost every day: I am continually learning.

The purpose of this blog is to share and chronicle the events which occur in a chinchilla herd (the highs, lows, and the routine) in the UK, to describe some of the issues and situations which arise, and to discuss chinchillas in general

hope that the blog proves informative and entertaining. Please feel free to add comments or ask questions and I will try my best to respond. Alternatively I can be contacted through my Davidson Chinchillas Website email.

Monty with his beloved bell which he rings for “room service”.