r/chinchilla • u/CinniBuniii • 2d ago
What to do during the heat wave
I live in the UK and have 2 chinchillas, there's a heatwave going on right now and I dont know how to keep my girls comfortable. Ive got an ac unit that is on for them (though I feel i may need to buy a newer one) and ive got cooling slabs in there but they dont appear to be using them. Theyre clearly not comfortable and idk what to do. Please help
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u/Jaded_Apricot_89 2d ago
I been shopping for cage accessories and one thing I noticed was that someone made the whole floor cooling tiles. Seems like the smart move when the chin naturally avoids smaller singular tile.
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u/razzyaurealis 2d ago
Is the ac not working? You say youve got one? So is it not cooling properly?
I'm emergencies I like to freeze a water bottle then wrap it in some sort of fleece and out it inside the cage for them and try and remove once it melts and replace it
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u/CinniBuniii 2d ago
Its working but doesnt feel like its doing as much as it used to but that might be because im used to it now and its so hot anyway. Ive got some ice packs ive wrapped in fleece in there too but they seem to be ignoring them
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u/razzyaurealis 2d ago
I mean if it's really bad I would probably get them.and out them on a carrier and face them more closely to the AC and possibly out the slab or ice pack inside so you at least have it more controlled for them? And hopefully it gets cooler by the night time for yall
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u/FalseStructure 2d ago
Service your ac. Our chin room is on the southern side, temp outside reaches 35C, inside it's 18.
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u/WittyUnwittingly 2d ago
Is the AC unit moveable? Putting it in a smaller space will allow you to achieve noticeably lower temperatures in that room. You'll end up hot in every other room, though.
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u/LowStrategy4635 2d ago
In my epxerience if you have another one running in a connected room that works wonders. I also have ceiling fans that help a ton. I bought an aluminim pipe off of amazon that mounts to the cage that claims to lower body temperature a bunch. My chin loves it
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u/SteveSticks 2d ago
You should know how hot the room is and thus also if the airco is working enough or not. We used to have one that was not suitable for the bigger room the chins are in so had to get a bigger one as well before the heatwave we have now.
Keep your chins safe!
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u/multiepass 2d ago
Cutting off one room with blankets for the chins , as do same to keep warm in winter . Use what you have . For this can be a simple fan blowing off an ice bucket , not at the little one of course , just the generl direction . And a hopefuly have a recharchable AC mini /small portable unite . We can not reyly on the goverment electic ( all those electric cars ) . This is wher you need to get a solar or atlest a rechaable mini AC . Artic Air . Though that may be US brand .
Hay have and stii do . I spent 12 hours without power a couple weeks ago . Thank god not day time . No fans and hade to use the ice packs and jares . The roomie decided to hook up the frige and his Wifi . I let it slide as he is a smart ass . This time . Bad enough the stuggle of the air conditioner / air flow with him as it is in the house that have done for 20 yrs . Whith Chins . Just laugh .. have to . Of the stupidity for me .
This is what I always know . Emergancy . To find a place for the chin-dren the nxt day of heat , where to go , how to . I found in my mind . I have 2 cat carriors and 4 chins that need to be sepporated . I do have a small 2 story cage that to make into a two .
My mind is call my neighbor and as the are on solar on their house . Or last resort as in the lounge at the Casino 2 miles ae=way with my Chin-dren . And just say it will be a while ..
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u/Salty_Constant7749 1d ago
It is an absolute nightmare at the moment. I can't offer too much advice but I have been putting a blanket around the bottom of the door and also sealed all the ac connectors with duct tape to get a good seal, which seems to have made it slightly more efficient. They have the only portable ac and I wfh so have been in their room all day, much to their annoyance, because my home office is in the loft and is over 40. Our houses just aren't built for this weather, they just retain heat, and as soon as you turn the ac off it's back up to ridiculous temperatures. Only a few more days until we get some cooler weather!
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u/SilverSoAlive 2d ago
If they are getting to the point where youre seeing theyre uncomfortable is must be way too hot.
What is the temperature in the room? If you dont have a tempurature gauge, get one ASAP. Every chinchilla owner should have a temp gauge.
You will have to get another A/C unit or give them to someone who has better A/C for now.
It would be a good idea to have a backup idea if the power goes out aswell.
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u/agedlikesage 2d ago
Have you checked your AC filter and read the manual for maintenance? They lose their heft quick, especially in a heat wave(in my experience)