Bindi Heeler's Herd

Chinchillas take serious effort and special equipment. Unlike hamsters and other small rodents, chinchillas are very particular about everything- their diets, toys, routine, even bathing. As I like to say, chinchillas are not merely pets but a lifestyle choice. You can say goodbye to spontaneous overnight trips or long vacations. You can expect your belongings to be covered in a fine coating of silvery dust. You can be sure to show off chewed books, remote buttons, and baseboards to visiting friends and family. There are definitely rewards out of owning chins, but you need to be prepared for what's in store. Look at that naughty face That being said, here is a list of the top five things you should have on hand as a chinchilla owner (although there's certainly more): 1. Time Chinchillas require at least an hour of playtime a night (typically after 6:30-7:30 p.m. when they wake up). That's every night. If you don't have the schedule for that or you like to tur...

As a single chinchilla, Hiddleston was pretty happy. Which is odd because chinchillas tend to prefer being in pairs. When Hiddleston's bonding partner died, I thought that was going to be the end of Hiddleston as well. My research showed that some chinchillas are so heartbroken over the loss of their friend that they will try to commit suicide by starving themselves. Hiddleston, however, continued to be his boisterous, curious self, and I stopped watching for signs of starvation. We were a happy one-chinchilla family. Then, I got a message on Facebook from a work colleague. "I hear you have chinchilla experience." "Yes, I do." "Do you want two more?" Unbeknownst to me, my former coworker is a foster mom for our state's Fish and Wildlife Service. She has taken in everything from chameleons to rabbits to chinchillas that are either abandoned, found, or confiscated. She is a busy young woman with a heart of gold and a house full of anim...

I order supplies and gifts for the pets all the time. So, of course, there's going to be an unboxing post. About a week ago, I ordered goodies for myself and for the pets from Amazon. A few days ago, they arrived and I filmed what happened! Unboxing: The Guinea pigs had a few items - a woven chew ball, the tassel hidey, and the plush crocodile bed. You don't see the crocodile bed in the unboxing video. I thought it was a dreamcatcher kit I ordered, and I put it to the side. I didn't realize my mistake until after i had already filmed all my videos. Here's a photo of Butter Stick checking out the bed. No one has used it so far, but I like it. I put it out during floor time so the chinchillas can check it out as well. I'm really happy with the tassel hidey. Apple Butter has spent a lot of time there since I installed it in the cage. I will definitely purchase a second one for Hiddleston and maybe a third for the other side of the Guinea pig cage. ...

Storms are settling in here, which means it's the perfect time to write. The last few days have been a blur of long walks, floor time with various pocket pets, and running errands. So, it's nice to take a minute and type a few things out. When it comes to food dishes, ceramic bowls are where it's at! And I'm not talking about just the rodents; I mean everybody. There are two main reasons why ceramic is used in this house - unchewable and easy to clean. When selecting bowls for rodents, you have to choose something they can chew. Plastic is a big no-no, especially for chinchillas. Hiddleston, my oldest chinchilla, is using the same ceramic radish dish that my chinchilla from college used. It's a bowl with a lot of miles and a lot of meals, and still, it's in perfect condition. The Guinea pigs have two ceramic bowls - one for their Oxbow food and one for their fresh veggies. Now, sometimes, I hide their green pepper slices and chunks of celery around th...

My job takes a hiatus over the summer, which means I get to stay home all day. That is not a skill I am good at. I need to be out doing something, preferably with a regular schedule, and contributing to society. So while I look for temporary summer employment, I have been thinking of goals to accomplish at home with the animals to keep me busy... and sane. - First, I will be petsitting my boyfriend's dogs in my home for three days a week. Marbella is a 70-lb. black Labrador/pit bull mix with the energy of a racehorse and the pull of a freight train. Addie is a chunky Chihuahua mix who adores all human beings. Together, they are a handful. Add my dog Bindi into the mix, it's a full-on rave party at Jay Gatsby's house. Anytime my boyfriend has come over with the dogs, we've suffered the syndrome of living in a house blockaded with gates, angry cats, dog crates, incessant whining, closed doors, and heated "discussions." It's difficult to put Marbella and Ad...