Emma Jones
The enclosure is an essential part of your new housemate’s living space. It is therefore important to plan and set it up carefully.
Chipmunks are very active rodents. Therefore, the enclosure should have at least a floor area of 4 m² and a height of 2 m. You have to look for such an enclosure in the pet shop, as most of the enclosures offered there are significantly smaller. Indoor aviaries, which were originally intended for ornamental birds, are well suited. It is important that the lattice spacing is no greater than 1.5 cm and in young squirrels no greater than 1 cm. The bars should run as horizontally as possible so that the squirrel can climb on them easily. It is also important that there is a floor pan about 20cm high so that enough bedding can be placed to give the Burunduk the opportunity to dig. Make sure that the floor pan is stable so that it does not break due to the loads. Metal tubs are much more suitable here than plastic ones, as these can also be destroyed by the squirrels’ teeth.
Homemade squirrel enclosure
If you have a little manual skill, you can also design your own chipmunk enclosure. In many cases, this is also the better way to get an affordable enclosure of the right size. Suitable building materials for this are e.g. B. coated chipboard that can not be gnawed by the squirrel. But natural wood panels that have been coated with a non-toxic clear coat are also suitable for the basic construction. In addition to the larger space available than in a commercial enclosure, building one yourself also offers the advantage that it can be precisely adapted to the spatial conditions and the wishes of the owner. And a self-made squirrel enclosure is a real eye-catcher and more of a piece of furniture than a cage. However, when building the enclosure, do not lose sight of the needs of your pet. Squiggly and crooked enclosures may be visually appealing, but they are difficult to clean, and the squiggles usually take up unnecessary living space. Instructions for building a species-appropriate enclosure for chipmunks can be found on the Internet or in trade magazines. Visiting experienced keepers and breeders also offers inspiration for building enclosures.
The right location
Finding the right location is not always easy for such a large enclosure. An ideal enclosure location is as quiet as possible in your home. Close proximity to televisions and hi-fi systems should be avoided, as the noise is very annoying to a chipmunk’s sensitive ears.
When choosing the cage location, also consider the living habits of the chipmunks. As diurnal animals, chipmunks need sufficient light, but since they mainly live on the ground, direct sunlight should not fall into the enclosure. With large glass fronts, this can even lead to overheating of the enclosure and heatstroke in chipmunks. Smoking should not be allowed in the room where the enclosure is located, as the smoke is harmful to chipmunks.
Aviary keeping
Asian chipmunks can easily be kept in outdoor aviaries, as they get along well with the temperatures in our latitudes. A large amount of space in an aviary accommodates the animals’ urge to move. If the aviary is large enough (2x3m floor space), several animals can possibly be kept together. In order to protect the animals from the weather, at least one-third of the aviary should be covered and protected from the wind. A connected shelter, which can be kept frost-free in winter, is better. If this is missing, the animals should not be overwintered outside.