How to Build a Chinchilla Hut

Like all rodents, chinchillas enjoy having multiple places to hide and play in their cages. While you can purchase metal and pine huts and nesting boxes for chinchillas, these items can be expensive. Rather than purchasing one, make your own chinchilla hut out of basic household items. Using materials you already have, or can get for free, you can create a custom hut that your chinchilla will love. Simply gather a few empty cardboard boxes and tubes and see what you can come up with.

Things You'll Need

  • Cardboard shoebox
  • Pencil
  • Cardboard tube
  • Heavy-duty scissors or box cutter
  • Nesting material
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Select a cardboard shoebox large enough for your chinchilla to sit and stand in. The box should also have enough space inside for your chinchilla to move around a bit. For most chinchillas, a box that is at least 8 inches wide and 12 inches long with a depth of 8 inches should be sufficient.

    • 2

      Trace the opening of a large cardboard tube onto one side of the cardboard box with a pencil. The diameter of the cardboard tube should be about 6 inches -- large enough for your chinchilla to fit through. You can use a large mailing tube or the type of tube that carpets come rolled in.

    • 3

      Cut out the hole you traced in the side of the box using heavy-duty scissors or box cutters. Be careful not to enlarge the hole as you cut it. In fact, it is better to keep the hole just barely smaller than the width of the tube.

    • 4

      Cut the cardboard tube to a length of 6 to 8 inches, and insert one end into the hole cut in the cardboard box. The end of the cardboard tube should sit just inside the cardboard box, jutting out into the box no more than 1 inch.

    • 5

      Fill the cardboard box with your choice of nesting material and place it in your chinchilla's cage. Your chinchilla will enjoy running through the tube and will love having a new hut to hide in.