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Your post makes me feel all nostalgic, warm, & fuzzy! I also adopted my 2 babies when they were 6-7 months old, in July. It took the more adventurous one about 3 weeks to even approach me, and the other one warmed up in maybe 2 months.
Something that definitely helped was to sit with them during playtime, and just let them do their thing. I noticed that every day, they'd get more and more curious about me (and my clothes.. more things to chew and investigate!), and just gradually started jumping all over me. It took a couple months before both were comfortable enough to leap onto my shoulders and perch for awhile. My chins are also getting used to my much-taller boyfriend, so I make him sit in the playpen while they have playtime, and they're slowly warming up to him as well.

We also employ the classical conditioning method: every time I make a kissy noise, they come running, begging, and nearly knock me over for treats. I used to give them 1-2 cheerios daily, but after reading that even that was too much sugar and unholy processed-ness, I've just started giving them little branches (these). They still come running, and it's good for their teeth. Have you noticed that they like a particular kind of wood? Mine devour willow and sometimes apple branches. They also seem to LOVE alfalfa hay, and only when I started offering that from my hand (3 months in - apparently you can give alfalfa hay freely up til 1yr old?) did they start to actually tolerate petting. We're still working on holding and such.
Anyways, good luck, and be patient! The rewards are immense! :)

Congrats on the new fluffbutt! <3 As a long term chinchilla owner they're wonderful lil guys, but like someone else on here already said, they do like to do stuff on their own terms (when they want to play/etc). I live in a condo now and unfortunately there isn't a whole lot of places that they run around freely (bc of electrical chords) so I got them (I have two currently) a play pen designed for puppies! They both really enjoy it and since it's pretty large/the zipper top and bottom are machine washable it works out really well. As long as they have a lot of toys in there to play with the little one should be fine! Since it's large enough for a person to sit comfortably inside it is also a great way for your fluff to get used to you at their own pace. (Also might I suggest rose hips as treat? They're very high in Vit C and are a much healthier treat than raisins)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0154M1VWE/ref=sr_ph_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487798291&sr=sr-1&keywords=puppy+playpen

When we decided to upgrade cages for our guys, we went with the Midwest Critter Nation double unit. It's made by the same folks who make the Ferret Nation and is almost identical, except that the bars have less space between them and run horizontally rather than vertically, making them better for smaller animals and easier to add accessories to.

It's been absolutely tremendous for them. One of our boys, Harvey, is also missing one of his front paws, and he runs about without any trouble. The Critter Nation has two main levels and two "half" levels, all of them solid and of a hard plastic that the boys haven't tried to chew on (I know, amazing - but there doesn't seem to be any reason to swap them out for metal, surprisingly). The ramps that reach from level to level come with fleece covers, so there's no chance of a paw slipping between rungs.

Here's a pic of the boys giving the Critter Nation a test drive before we moved them in. They've been in it for several months now and absolutely love it.

We had planned on buying ours through Amazon.com, then found one in our local PetSmart at an amazing price one day and brought it home, just like that. (Someone must have bought it online and returned it to the store or something - I don't think they usually carry them in-store, so we lucked out and didn't have to pay for shipping!)

Anyhow, I highly recommend this model for your three chinchillas. It has plenty of room for living, sleeping, and exercising and is safe for the boy with the missing paw. It was the best decision we ever made for our chins. :)

Con:

• bites hurt.
  
  
• they can take a while to warm up to you.
  
  
• they can have a wide variety of personalities and you're not quite sue what their personality is until they are comfortable with you.
  
  
• they can be bratty and spray you with urine for telling them playtime is over and they need to go back to their cage.
  
  
• you can't take them for walks.
  
  Pro:
  
  
• they are super soft.
  
  
• when they grace you with their affection, it is all worth it.
  
  
• watching them play happily is very peaceful and relaxing.
  
  
• dust bath time is so cute.
  
  I've had Poppy for 3 years now, she's always been the adventurous type who prefers people as things to jump on as opposed to beings who want to shower her with affection. It's taken until about this year for her to actually want pets and to ask for them. She can be a bratty little munchkin, but after 3 years, we've mostly worked out how to deal with it. I think the real joy of the relationship with the chinchilla blossoms after about 3 years (I think that's about how long it took with my first chin, Lilly). After that point, they get a lot more comfortable with you and are more willing to put up with snuggles and being held and will actually seek them out.
  
  As a chinchilla owner, the best supply purchase I made was a playpen. I put the front of her cage at the opening in the pen and then she has access back to her cage during playtime. This makes her a lot happier and relaxed during playtime and also keeps me from worrying about what she could be chewing or getting into.

In the 90s and 2000s we used wire floored cages with solid wood shelves as that was what was standard. We added a small platform on the wood floor where they jumped down and they'd wee through the wire onto litter trays below.

Nowadays I much prefer solid floored cages with wee trays (cheap, sided baking trays/shallow dishes with wood shavings) in their favourite wee spots.

For chins without foot problems I'd go for lots of wooden shelves for jumping and hopping around and lots of fleece hammocks. They like to chew the shelves and it's easier to sweep them clean if they're uncovered. For arranging the shelves you want it so there's no large drops (basically not just shelves all around the sides in a tall cage!)

With chins who have bumblefoot or the beginnings of it, I have wide shelves padded with fleece. Though to be fair the shelves are so very wide 'cause our chin rolls in her sleep and has seizures so the drops have to be very small.

Our cages have mostly been custom built and every few years my father-in-law will revamp them and change all the shelves around. However I've seen a lot of recommendations for Ferret Nation cages. There are links in the sidebar but mostly you just need a large wire cage and then you can add untreated kiln dried pine planks to make shelves with screws and large washers.

I like the phrase 'celebrated poopers'! Very true indeed! You're looking at upwards of 20 droppings an hour with some. However they are dry, hard, self contained pellets if the chin is healthy, so they're very easy to sweep up. I do a quick sweep of the cage every night during play time (a mini sweeper and Oxo compact dust pan and brush are really useful!), change any beds that are weed in every 2-3 days and then a full cage clean every 7-14 days.

Being out for 7 hours during the day isn't a deal breaker. They're crepuscular so active in the evening and early morning, mostly asleep during the day. However they are family animals so most, though not all, are happier in a pair or group. Unless you're rescuing one that's already on its own I'd recommend getting a couple from the start. Introductions later down the line are usually accomplishable and fine, but you get the odd case where one chin just won't accept the other and so you end up with two solo chins that need double the attention and time.

I'm not sure if you're trying to get a special customized wheel, but I got the basic kaytee silent spinner wheel and my babies love it. And it's actually pretty silent. Durable, easy to install on the standard cage.

How do I insert photos here?
well anyways, here's my chin Pookah enjoying hers :)
https://www.instagram.com/p/aHu1vUuCvH/

Keeping the room cool is the important part, but she may also be looking for some extra comfort after she's been particularly active. I know my guy likes to flop over on his granite after extended play times. Fortunately, they're pretty inexpensive, so it's probably worth trying one if you find some wiggle room in your pet supplies budget :)

Levels depend on size of cage really, so it is hard to say. Bare minimum size would be 3'x3'x3'. Preferred brand would be Ferret nation (you will get this from most everyone because it is a completely metal cage with awesome features). Wheels are great to be able to clean up around the cage or to move chinchillas that are frightened of vacuums. AND DON'T GET PLASTIC CAGES OR ACCESSORIES! Plastic is not something anyone should eat. And chinchillas chew EVERYTHING in a cage.

I'm just going to write a list of things you should have in general for 'accessories.' And I'm a college student, so be prepared to hear about bargin stuff.

> Food : Avoid pre bagged food. It's expensive.
>
> Hay : I just get a bale of hay from the feed store (where farmers get their food for their barn animals.) Way cheaper than a little bag at the pet store.
>
> Hay manger : I personally don't use mine, It's a pain to refill, and my chinchillas eat so much hay so fast anyways.
>
> Huge ass waterbottle : Plastic is fine. They won't be able to reach it.
>
> Litter pan : You can just use a small cake pan, I personally use [this](http://www.chinchillathings.com/for-the-critters.html) and to hold it down to the size of the cage I use [these](http://www.amazon.com/Brands-Bankers-Clasp-4X6-1-Silver/dp/B004E3HYW6/ref=pd_sbs_op_5).
>
> Litter : I use something like this.
>
> Dust Bath : Don't cheap out if you want them to have super nice soft coats. Lots of people use blue cloud. [I haven't used this site, but it seems to be the best price for your dollar for a big bag of it.](http://www.chinworld.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=CW02)
>
> Bath House : You can just use a dish for them to bathe in. I personally use this because it keeps the dust from flying everywhere. Plus, since less is going all over the place, you aren't wasting as much dust. Plastic is fine as long as you supervise them while they use it. They should have 10-15 minutes of bath time 3 times a week. Don't leave it in the cage or else they will piss in it to mark it.
>
> Wheel : You can go buy one large enough for a chinchilla for about 150 bucks, but I am not the kind of girl that will spend more than 20 on a stupid wheel. So I am currently in the process of making my own! [Here is a post of mine with a few options on how to make one.](http://www.reddit.com/r/chinchilla/comments/1degot/could_use_some_help_on_making_my_own_chinchilla/) Just keep in mind that the wheel needs to be 15 inches, and if you do end up going out to buy one, don't get one that does not have a solid bottom. Chinchillas can break their feet if it gets caught.
>
> Granite stone : To keep them cool. You can possibly get a free/super cheap slabs from a place that cuts granite counters and stuff. They have no use for the small pieces anyways. I personally just went ahead and bought a couple from the pet store though, because I am picky on how my cage looks.
>
> Hammocks : I personally make my own because their so easy to make and WAY cheaper. Why pay 15 dollars for a hammock that might get chewed so bad that you won't be able to use it in a week or two. Plus, I like choosing what colors. Keep in mind the material. Fleece and flannel are fine because they do not ravel. Remember if it unwravels, and the chinchillas want to eat it, you might come back to a dead chilla.
>
> Chews : Get a fuck ton of them. Seriously.
>
> Treats : Alfalfa, raisins, apple slices. Just give them tiny bits. The reccommended treat allocation is 2 raisins a day if that gives you any idea.
>
> And chinchillas love to run through tubes during play time.


And don't bother with the huge ass chinchilla ball. People call them death balls because chinchillas tend to over heat because their owners consider that their daily play time and will leave them in there for an hour or two. I have one when I only had one chinchilla, and he didn't want to touch me. He really enjoyed it, but I had a close eye on him the whole time. Every 10-15 minutes, I would bring the ball to his cage, and if he didn't hop out, I would let him roll around some more. He loved running into the cat and tormenting her. XD

We had never dreamed of owning a chinchilla before we did. A family friend asked us to look after theirs whilst on holiday and we grew attached to him. They didn't pay him much attention and didn't want him back so we snapped their hand off

The cage they have us was very small and cramped so we got him this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Friends-Blenheim-Extra-Accessories/dp/B005CAYUKY?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_1

You should let him out regularly to run around the room. They are lightning fast, can jump high and have very inquisitive personalities so you might want to 'chinchilla proof' anything you don't want them to get at - we have a sideboard that he managed to climb up the back of and get stuck so now have to cover any gaps but you'll soon learn as you go. They love to chew so be prepared for that.

Otherwise, like I say, you'll pick things up as you go. I'm not really a massive animal person but love our chinchilla, they're not really cuddly animals that you can pick up and handle but have so much personality.

1] the room your chinchilla cage is in should be kept below 70F. if that means having to run your AC every day, then that's what you'll have to do. humidity is slightly less of an issue if you keep the dust bath available inside the cage 24/7, but you'll still want to keep the room relatively dry.

2] i don't know what you've read, but my two girls definitely didn't read the same information. they are LOUD, especially late at night. the wheel is noisy, their chewing is noisy, their general bouncing around the cage is noisy [lilac think it's fun to make her cage shake and rattle].

2.5] i don't recommend getting any pet if it's not 100% okay with your landlord. if you wanted to adopt a chinchilla from a rescue, many places wouldn't even approve your adoption application without talking to your landlord first, because they don't want the chinchilla to end up right back in the rescue when the landlord discovers you've snuck a pet into your 'no pets' rental. what will happen if your landlord decides she's really not okay with it? will you get rid of your chinchilla? will you find pet-friendly housing and move? will you try to sneak your chinchilla into another 'no pets' rental?

3] i've only ever owned female chinchillas, so i can't really say anything about males based on personal experience. i'm happy i never have to deal with hair rings, though.

4] chinchillas are crepuscular, leaning toward nocturnal. my girls sleep mostly during the day, but they don't sleep the entire day. they drift between napping and short bursts of activity. they're most active at night, between 10pm and 5am.

5] i use these dust bath houses, hung up on the wall of the cage. they have little hooks for that purpose, but they break off easily, so i use bolts and washers to secure them instead. unfortunately these houses are made of plastic, but i've yet to find a suitable non-plastic option that can be hung in the cage the same way.

Choco nose bottles have worked the best for me, I haven’t tried the lixit but I got two of the smaller ones for my girls and they work great, I did have to replace one of them when the seal started to break down, but it lasted for about two years.

Got mine on Amazon.

Choco Nose H128 Patented No Drip Small Animal Water Bottle. Best Water Bottle for Small Pet/ Bunny/ Ferret/ Hamster/ Critter. BPA Free. 11.2 Oz. Nozzle Diameter: 10mm (Blue) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00S1SY1X0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_hP3cBbM2DGPCX

The other suggestions of cloth wrapped ice packs are worth trying, but I'd look at how to make the AC more efficient.

1. Can you move the cage closer to the AC? Even if the whole room is warmer, the area closest to the AC will be cooler.
   
   
2. If there's windows in the room, add window film to insulate and decrease heat coming it - it's cheap and easily removable if you rent (I rent and have them up). Just make sure it's non-adhesive, static cling film. Something like this https://www.amazon.com/Gila-Privacy-Static-Residential-Adhesive/dp/B000HE57JS or this one https://www.amazon.com/FILMGOO-Privacy-Control-Anti-UV-Non-Adhesive/dp/B07CYY7PQW/
   
   
3. You could make or buy a solar (or battery) powered swamp cooler. In small spaces it can work shockingly well, but it's annoying to have to check the water level every few hours. You can also buy swamp coolers prefabbed, but if money is a concern you can DIY it. https://www.google.com/search?q=solar+swamp+cooler
   
   My boy starts looking uncomfortable over 76, so I would be very worried keeping him in temps of 80+. I shoot for 72 degrees and he seems comfortable plus or minus a few degrees of that.
   
   Refrigerated stone slabs do help for short term relief, but ultimately you need to keep the temp down. Chinchilla don't sweat, and can't release body heat that way. If you aren't comfortable in a long sleeve shirt or sweater in the room they're in, then it's too hot for the chins.

If you’re looking for a new one and have the room, I definitely recommend this one :
chinchilla cage

It’s the one I have for mine and they absolutely love it, and doesn’t make too much noise. Also the shelves can be moved around for different styles, and we’ve added a load of other wooden ones for them too, plus it’s a great size for them to jump onto different levels!

Great idea! I might have to do this myself!

As for protecting the cord, you could try one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Cord-Protector-CritterCord-Protect-Hazardous/dp/B000EH2I5O

Springs work well too since they're metal. I'm sure a trip to your local hardware store can probably help for finding random plastic tubes that could fit over a cord!

A pack of these guys.

Granted, I'm only feeding two and it sounds like you need a lot bigger bins. But yeah, stackable bins. Maybe one of these too. Like so.

Or, if you're trying to make it look pretty (or like there's no "pet junk" there at all), try getting a piece of furniture like an armoire and storing everything in bins in there, like so or like so.

Since no one has answered I'll chime in. Every wheel is gonna be noisy. You're gonna have to accept that. Even the quietest metal wheel will be loud because of their little footsteps and the rattling of the cage.

I just recently got one of these


http://www.amazon.com/Upgraded-Quiet-ChillaWheel-Chinchilla-Exercise/dp/B00O74S7IC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421851789&sr=8-1&keywords=chinchilla+wheel+metal&pebp=1421851791550&peasin=B00O74S7IC.


And I'm very happy with it. It's a great value. Very smooth rotation and little noise.

I actually started with my 2 chins in the same exact cage. Wound up going with the critternation at Petsmart for $260, you can get it on amazon for about $200 though:

http://www.amazon.com/Midwest-Critter-Nation-Animal-Habitat/dp/B001NJ0DAY

mine came with plastic trays, very similar to a dog crate, but they make metal trays that are obviously chew proof. My gf and I made felt slipover covers for the tray though (for their feetsies, and to prevent plastic chewing), and they absolutely LOVE it!

If it feels cool when you touch it, and stays cool as you hold your fingers to it, then it has a high heat conductivity and is capable of pulling heat away long term. Some ceramics have a high heat conductivity and some don't. I have one of these , which works very well:

https://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-Chinchilla-Chiller-Granite-Stone/dp/B000A7707O

Granite is a really dense rock (not a ceramic) that has a high heat conductivity.

Also, I want to say this clearly for the OP and others - a cooling rock is NOT going to give your chinchilla the ability to exist happily at 86 fahrenheit. It doesn't do enough. It shouldn't be considered as widening the range of temperatures that chinchillas can live in. This is a stopgap measure in an emergency, or a cage fitting for the chinchilla's comfort the rest of the year, no more.

My chinnies have a dust bowl that they sell on amazon like this one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002AS5M8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_dPqJyb1Y0FHSN. It hooks on to the side of the cage and can be removed. Looks kinda like a big plastic birdhouse lol but they love it. It seems to trap in most of the dust although some shoots out on occasion.

This is the cage, we got it in white:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B005CAYUKY/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1549872653&sr=8-3&keywords=chinchilla+cage

Not a fan of the plastic but they haven't chewed it yet, if I see signs of it going to buy wooden ledges for them. It's a great size cage though!

It looks like either a Midwest Critter Nation (double unit) or a Midwest Ferret Nation (double unit). I have had both and they are great cages but I recommend the Ferret Nation over the Critter Nation as the wire gauge is thicker and less prone to breaking.

We have a chinchilla and live in NE Indiana near the Michigan border. We keep our thermostat at 65-68 in the winter when it snows and he is fine. We have also bought some cooler granite boards for his cage that he can lay on if he gets too hot. I have provided a link for that below. In the summer we usually keep a small fan near his cage so he can cool off if he is too hot. http://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-Chinchilla-Chiller-Granite-Stone/dp/B000A7707O/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418139765&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=chinchilla+cooling+board

Hmm yeah that's not a very good bearing for a chin wheel, hence the cheap price tag. I bet they bought the bearing off McMaster-Carr. The only advice I can give you is to possibly lube it up to reduce friction. These table bearings are generally used for an axial surface load and not for a hanging rotational load like a chin wheel.

This is the wheel I have. The bearing I believe is a repurposed skate wheel, and works really well.

We have this one, set it up around his cage door in the evening and let him come and go as he pleases for a few hours. It's big enough for me and my kid and a large cardboard rabbit maze to sit inside while our chin plays.

"Frosted Mini Wheats", without the frosting = Shredded Wheat. It IS cereal lol.

​

https://www.amazon.com/Post-Shredded-Original-18-Biscuits-15-Ounce/dp/B000E1FYBA/ref=sr_1_9?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6MWcsNKW4wIVlozICh1xZQt4EAAYASAAEgJmlPD_BwE&hvadid=323402811492&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9007324&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=b&hvrand=9923926474615672143&hvtargid=kwd-298439552776&hydadcr=29168_10188752&keywords=shredded+wheat+cereal+original&qid=1562084543&s=gateway&sr=8-9

Gates I use for anyone interested .. I’d recommend at least two, especially if you want to sit in the gate with your chinchilla(s).

Guards were made with kiln dried pine from Ring's end lumber.

Liners: Ferret Nation Accessory Kit 2 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007ZOC1BU?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I went with the aspen shavings for bedding and wound up getting [this cage for them] (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NJ0DAY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1). I figured since they'll be in it forever I should spend a bit more on it.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O74S7IC

No problem! Midwest Deluxe Critter Nation We’ve modified it quite a bit.

The material is no-pill fleece we got from a fabric store and cut to fit. We use dog pee pads under the fleece for extra absorbency.

it has two floors but there is a pan and floor with a cutout in a corner that leads between floors. i have the pan positioned to blobk the hole so my chins will be seperated. my girl attacks the boy on site. we bought him after our old boy died of pnumonia cause she looked sad. tried all the introduction method stuff but she hates him so they needed to be seperated.

here is the cage.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NJ0DAY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1