What do you feed?

I am just curious about what you guys feed your rats. I have heard Missouri is good, I don't know. Help please?

I breed mice but i use a rodent feed my local feed store guy throws together for me. Essentially its hampster feed with extra stuff thrown in. little bit higher protien. like 15% or so. some people swear by higher protien levels but it works great for me. Ive had 0 cannabal acts and zero stillborns. Just look around locally. Try a local feed place. they normally have rat food

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Originally Posted by Herpking

I am just curious about what you guys feed your rats. I have heard Missouri is good, I don't know. Help please?

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I believe you mean Mazuri:P

Mazuri "6F" is what most people feed their breeder rats. It's whats called a "Lab Block", which is a food designed to give breeding rats everything need to be top notch breeders, complete nutrition.

The two lab blocks brands I use are Mazuri 6F and the Native Earth 4018 (company is called Harlan), both are a 18% protein formula, which is what is recommended for breeders.

Now for finding/buying quality lab blocks you can go two ways.
1. You can find a local feed store, which usually sell 50lb bags of Mazuri 6F for about $30 a bag. To find a local feed store that carries Mazuri I recommend going to Mazuri's homepage and entering your zip code in the dealer locator and seeing if there is any place near you that either carries it or can order the 6f for you.

2. You can order Native Earth Lab block online from National Pet Pharmacy, which is only $.53 a pound for one 40 pound bag or $.38 a pound for five 40 pound bags shipped to your door (tax free in most cases), compared to paying a typical $30 for a 50 pound bag or Mazuri 6F at your local feed store( .$60 a pound + sales tax and round trip gas).

After I discovered National Pet Pharmacy it's now where I get all my Lab Block from.

15% protein is just fine... for your male rats.

Females need more. around 19%. You may not be seeing the effects, but it's happening...

I use ADM 19% for my rats and Mazuri 6F/ADM for my mice.

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Originally Posted by jasbus

15% protein is just fine... for your male rats.

Females need more. around 19%. You may not be seeing the effects, but it's happening...

I use ADM 19% for my rats and Mazuri 6F/ADM for my mice.

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What's ADM?

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Originally Posted by JohnNJ

What's ADM?

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Archer Daniels Midland Company
Most people know them as Midland... Huge midwest milling company.
I like the ADM rodent blocks because they are roughly twice the size of Mazuri, so less waste...

I use Native Earth 4018 also.

Regards,

B

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Originally Posted by jasbus

Archer Daniels Midland Company
Most people know them as Midland... Huge midwest milling company.
I like the ADM rodent blocks because they are roughly twice the size of Mazuri, so less waste...

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I googled ADM and can't find any reference to rodent block, even on their site.

Native Earth 4018 here as well:gj:

Native Earth 4018 for me also (from National Pet Pharmacy)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jasbus

15% protein is just fine... for your male rats.

Females need more. around 19%. You may not be seeing the effects, but it's happening...

I use ADM 19% for my rats and Mazuri 6F/ADM for my mice.

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I breed mice not rats. Im still experimenting. Didnt want too much protien in thier diet. So far its worked good for me tho. 10 pups the first litter and the other mom looks bigger than the first but she hasnt popped yet

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Originally Posted by JohnNJ

I googled ADM and can't find any reference to rodent block, even on their site.

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I'm sure the rebag it under a different name for mass sell. Mine comes bagged from ADM, but like I said, it's direct from the mill....I buy a ton at a time.

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Originally Posted by Bill T

I breed mice not rats. Im still experimenting. Didnt want too much protien in thier diet. So far its worked good for me tho. 10 pups the first litter and the other mom looks bigger than the first but she hasnt popped yet

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That's perfect for mice...

I feed Mazuri 6F to everything - rats, mice, soft furs.

Native Earth from National Pet Pharmacy.

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Originally Posted by Adam Chandler

I believe you mean Mazuri:P

Mazuri "6F" is what most people feed their breeder rats. It's whats called a "Lab Block", which is a food designed to give breeding rats everything need to be top notch breeders, complete nutrition.

The two lab blocks brands I use are Mazuri 6F and the Native Earth 4018 (company is called Harlan), both are a 18% protein formula, which is what is recommended for breeders.

Now for finding/buying quality lab blocks you can go two ways.
1. You can find a local feed store, which usually sell 50lb bags of Mazuri 6F for about $30 a bag. To find a local feed store that carries Mazuri I recommend going to Mazuri's homepage and entering your zip code in the dealer locator and seeing if there is any place near you that either carries it or can order the 6f for you.

2. You can order Native Earth Lab block online from National Pet Pharmacy, which is only $.53 a pound for one 40 pound bag or $.38 a pound for five 40 pound bags shipped to your door (tax free in most cases), compared to paying a typical $30 for a 50 pound bag or Mazuri 6F at your local feed store( .$60 a pound + sales tax and round trip gas).

After I discovered National Pet Pharmacy it's now where I get all my Lab Block from.

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I wish I could thank more then once :D