Rodent Feed

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Originally Posted by JohnNJ

I'm glad you are happy with it but...

you're adding horse feed and hog feed plus cleaning 56 tubs every four days instead of seven, almost twice as often. How can you think you're saving money?

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Well the horse and hog feed are both 10.00 a bag so those are also way cheaper and I'm OCD about my tubs so I change tubs every four regardless of smell or feed. So I'm definitely saving money. My feed runs me around 160.00 a month total whereas with mazuri it was 330.00 and the pine is the same either way so that's a major savings.

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Originally Posted by JohnNJ

Sand Valley sells their food in 40lb bags. They will let you pick up from them in PA when they have it but delivery is by the truckload. It's a little more than $18 per 50lbs. They gave me the name of a local guy that sells it and it was the same price as Mazuri - $23.50 - so again, a no-brainer.

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Excuse me then, I was mistaken on the weight. We pick up, when we drive through, for $13.50 a bag.

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Originally Posted by Amon Ra Reptiles

Nope I keep my rats in my basement. I change tubs every four days and I have very little issue with odor. I admit I didnt have any issues with mazuri either but no way I'm spending 24 a bag when I have the same production for almost half the cost and to be honest I'm using less kent than I was mazuri. I do use some sweet mix horse feed and hog feed for a variety of diet but I doubt that I will ever buy mazuri again. Not for those prices.

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Make sure that whatever horse feed you're using is not high in hay content. Hay is basically useless for your rodents to eat.

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Originally Posted by MeinDraco

I got my information from talking to a Mazuri nutritionist. She recommended the 9F over the 6F because I was breeding rats and using them to feed to snakes. especially for ASF's since they are a slower growing rat, the extra fat will put on size faster. The 6F is a lower energy diet than the 9F. still a great diet. The 11F is actually the one I want but there is a 2 ton minimum order. She also said they are all for "rodents" including rats and mice. Neither of them is specific to rats or mice only. I pay $20 for a 50 pound bag of the 9F same as the 6F. that is a typo on the website picture...click on the 9F product details and it says 50 pound bag. if you want happy healthy rodents, give them some super worms or crickets once a week. Rats and mice are omnivores and all rodents will eat insects in the wild. they love to chase and hunt them...good mental exercise too

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I have not spoken to a nutritionist but I'm pretty sure that extra fat will put on weight, not size.

Could you post or send me the phone number of the place you buy Mazuri from?

Thanks

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Originally Posted by Amon Ra Reptiles

Well the horse and hog feed are both 10.00 a bag so those are also way cheaper and I'm OCD about my tubs so I change tubs every four regardless of smell or feed. So I'm definitely saving money. My feed runs me around 160.00 a month total whereas with mazuri it was 330.00 and the pine is the same either way so that's a major savings.

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As I said, I'm glad it's working out for you but Kent rodent feed almost killed me. I'm not trying to change your mind about what you feed. I just want to post my experience so others that are thinking about it, like I was, will know there may be issues.

As for the horse and hog feed, I have read the ingredients and I just don't think it's a healthy choice for my rats. I like the rolled oats and occassional sunflower seeds as a supplement.

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Originally Posted by Rhasputin

Excuse me then, I was mistaken on the weight. We pick up, when we drive through, for $13.50 a bag.

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No biggie. I have never tried their food and have yet found a reason to drive anywhere near them on a regular basis so I'll never get the chance.

I really wish I could find Mazuri 6F for less than $20. :please:

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Originally Posted by MeinDraco

I pay $20 for a 50 pound bag of the 9F same as the 6F.

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I checked with the Farm and Pet Outlet in Orlando and they sell 6F for $22.75 a bag.

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Originally Posted by JohnNJ

No biggie. I have never tried their food and have yet found a reason to drive anywhere near them on a regular basis so I'll never get the chance.

I really wish I could find Mazuri 6F for less than $20. :please:

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Have you tried out the hog grower pellets everyone was raving about? The main issue we've had with it, is it's too small to go in food hoppers. I mix it in with my mouse mix, and it cuts down the cost per lb exponentially. I also like that I can crush it and mix it with water and make a mushy food/treat too.

I got some "sow cubes" and did abysmally with it. I had cannibals and death. I don't know that it's that particular type or what.
My regular feed is Mazuri 6f.

I do have a bag of non-medicated hog feed(pellets) that I gave some of the rats, with no real adverse affect that I could see, but they didn't really go for it like they do the Mazuri. I did buy a 50 lb bag of rolled oats to supplement, but I haven't seen much difference using it and the rats don't seem to care for it at all, since I find a great deal of it in the tubs when I clean. Same with the linseed for the rats with tumors. They don't like it.

So far, my rats really like mealworms, any cereals(I normally buy puffed PLAIN rice or wheat at walmart in big bags), dried fruit, fresh apple, or non-salted roasted peanuts. The pet rats get way more tasty treats that I don't buy in bulk for the main breeders.

The asf get the same diet, less treats.

Any of my breeder females that look a little worn out get a dish with regular Mazuri soaked in strawberry Ensure(soak it for 20 minutes and it's mush, no grinding needed). They gobble it down and it seems to have an effect almost overnight.

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

I did buy a 50 lb bag of rolled oats to supplement, but I haven't seen much difference using it and the rats don't seem to care for it at all, since I find a great deal of it in the tubs when I clean. Same with the linseed for the rats with tumors. They don't like it.

So far, my rats really like mealworms, any cereals(I normally buy puffed PLAIN rice or wheat at walmart in big bags), dried fruit, fresh apple, or non-salted roasted peanuts. The pet rats get way more tasty treats that I don't buy in bulk for the main breeders.

The asf get the same diet, less treats.

Any of my breeder females that look a little worn out get a dish with regular Mazuri soaked in strawberry Ensure(soak it for 20 minutes and it's mush, no grinding needed). They gobble it down and it seems to have an effect almost overnight.

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That's funny. You think they're going to eat rolled oats, which is basically dry oatmeal, after mealworms, cereal, fruits and peanuts? You spoiled them but it sounds like they're well taken care of.