what do you guys feed your rodents and what store do you get it from or what online store do you use
thanks

This past summer I started using a rodent food made by Sand Valley...It has 18.5% protein and 5.5% fat.....I forget what I pay for a bag of it....but I do know since switching to it over the dog or cat food I was using before.....my mice and rats have really taken off....:yessir:

I pick it up at this place about 45 minutes away....along with any shavings I need as well...

http://www.themillofbelair.com/index.htm

I use Lab diet rodent chow by purina cost about $25 a bag and I pick huge bags of pine up there as well for $5 a bag.

Here is a picture of it since I can't seem to find one on the web right now....

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp184/JOHNS6068/IMG_8644.jpg

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp184/JOHNS6068/IMG_8646.jpg

I only breed ASFs (but I know a large scale rat breeder who uses the same stuff) and I use 16% protein hog feed. 10 bucks for a 50lb bag and you cannot go wrong. I give nursing mothers some cat or dog food to increase protein content but I've had no problems with it at all, and its all my breeding colonies get.

My grow out tub gets some millet/bird seed mix along with some timothy blocks but the bulk of their diet is the hog feed. I've gotten a few different brands from different places, so I don't really have a name for ya, just check out a local feed store, its a great alternative to things like mazuri which are at least 2-4x as expensive. Just make sure you get the unmedicated kind.

I use Lab diet rodent chow by purina cost about $25 a bag and I pick huge bags of pine up there as well for $5 a bag.

Same thing on food...

Most of the local dog food places can get it.

I use a hog food also. Southern states. My price averages about 12 dollars for a 50 pound bag.

this past summer i started using a rodent food made by sand valley...it has 18.5% protein and 5.5% fat.....i forget what i pay for a bag of it....but i do know since switching to it over the dog or cat food i was using before.....my mice and rats have really taken off....:yessir:

I pick it up at this place about 45 minutes away....along with any shavings i need as well...

http://www.themillofbelair.com/index.htm

thats exactly were i buy mine & use the same sand valley.

Haven't bred rodents in years but when I did, there weren't any commercial rodent feeds out for the public so I used cheap dog food with no red dye and black sunflower seeds. I would also throw in carrots occasionally. I had mice litters of up to 25 pinks at a time....

thats exactly were i buy mine & use the same sand valley.

Yeah cause your the one that told me about it :lol:

The Sand Valley is manufactured by Harlan for them. I use Harlan food since I have one 10 minutes away and if I am short I use "Doggy Bag" from Tractor Supply and it works great. The tsc stuff is $12.99 for 40 pounds........

LOL thats right John I did LOL.

One of our local hog feed producers started making rodent feed using Harlan's %. It costs us $12 a bag. :yessir:

see i have to order it online because i live in north dakota and i cant find it here

see i have to order it online because i live in north dakota and i cant find it here

I believe that....Probably cause even rodents can't survive there :lol: I'm just kidding with ya :greenman: Not even a local feed store will special order it?

I believe that....Probably cause even rodents can't survive there :lol: I'm just kidding with ya :greenman: Not even a local feed store will special order it?

i am sure a feed store would if i order a truck load :yessir:

i am sure a feed store would if i order a truck load :yessir:

You don't have any close local reptile shows either? :lol: My guess is no on that :greenman:

You don't have any close local reptile shows either? :lol: My guess is no on that :greenman:

no there are no local shows here :mad: i am beginig to hate the north pole :machinegun:

no there are no local shows here :mad: i am beginig to hate the north pole :machinegun:

Your always welcome back on the East Coast :D

Your always welcome back on the East Coast :D

thank you :cheers:

I use kent rodent feed. It seems to work well and i found a place that carries it for 11.50 a bag but you ahve to order by the ton. Kent is based outta iowa

I have seen a lot of people use dog food. Is that really acceptable? I know they offer like half and half with dog food and rodent food. I am wondering because I feed high quality dog food and wonder if some can be mixed in or not.

I use kent rodent feed. It seems to work well and i found a place that carries it for 11.50 a bag but you ahve to order by the ton. Kent is based outta iowa
do you have a web site

I have seen a lot of people use dog food. Is that really acceptable? I know they offer like half and half with dog food and rodent food. I am wondering because I feed high quality dog food and wonder if some can be mixed in or not.

i was thinking the same thing top of the line dog food but i am not sure

Dog food isn't the best IMO.

I used to feed Native Earth (another repacked Harlan) purchased and shipped online from Pet Food Direct. Then they tripled the price per bag and it was no longer worth going that route. I checked Mazuri's dealer locator, and after a few phone calls was able to find a place 15 minutes form me that is willing to bring in a few bags of mazuri whenever I need it. It's currently $22 for a 50 pound bag where I'm at.

Dog food isn't the best IMO.

Dog food isnt bad as long as you watch for red dye which a lot of dog foods use. I used it with my mice and rat colonies for years and I had phenomenal clutch and growth rates. You just have to be sure to supplement with things like black oil seeds and carrots once a month or so.

I use the Kent feed and it works great and the price is even better at $12 a bag.

Dog food isnt bad as long as you watch for red dye which a lot of dog foods use. I used it with my mice and rat colonies for years and I had phenomenal clutch and growth rates. You just have to be sure to supplement with things like black oil seeds and carrots once a month or so.

I hated that the cat and dog food companies can and will change the ingredients without telling you unless you look at the label every time.....I was using one food and at some point the jerks started adding the red dye :machinegun: That was the finally straw for me....got tired of always worrying weather it was in there or not and looking to see if it was...I mean who says they are honestly telling you everything that is in there to start with?.....I went with a rodent chow and honestly I think the rodents are doing better since then and I don't worry anymore about red dye....:yessir:

I use Purina 5001 lab diet...23% protein. I was getting it for $22 a 50lb bag, now it's jumped to $25 a bag.

I have mentioned it before I use Southern States hog food. Hovers around 12 Dollars for 50 pounds. Works for my RAts, Mice and ASF. TOdd

I mix high protein dog food with hog chow. I add corn, black sun flower seeds and peanuts (comes all in a bag together from walmart- called squirrel food)
I also give some type of cereal (cheerios are a big hit). A few days a week they get some fresh fruit and veggies and occasionally plain dried pasta.

We have parrots and they get veggies and cooked pasta and such, so I just started making a big pot of pasta and everyone gets some...

I tried some mazuri rat block stuff... only a few bags and I really didn't like it... the rats weren't terribly impressed either so we went back to my original diet plan.

I have HUGE 15-20 mouse litters and rat litters run 8-12

:)
~Beth

i have mentioned it before i use southern states hog food. Hovers around 12 dollars for 50 pounds. Works for my rats, mice and asf. Todd

thank you

I mix high protein dog food with hog chow. I add corn, black sun flower seeds and peanuts (comes all in a bag together from walmart- called squirrel food)
I also give some type of cereal (cheerios are a big hit). A few days a week they get some fresh fruit and veggies and occasionally plain dried pasta.

We have parrots and they get veggies and cooked pasta and such, so I just started making a big pot of pasta and everyone gets some...

I tried some mazuri rat block stuff... only a few bags and I really didn't like it... the rats weren't terribly impressed either so we went back to my original diet plan.

I have HUGE 15-20 mouse litters and rat litters run 8-12

:)
~Beth
What type of dog food do you use.

What type of dog food do you use.

good question :yessir:

I also use the Kent rodent diet. It supposedly is a carbon copy of one of the Mazuri rodent diets but have never compared. I wish i got it at the $12 rate but I pay $15-$16 per bag. But I only buy 2 bags at a time maybe be cheaper if I bought more.

I also use the Kent rodent diet. It supposedly is a carbon copy of one of the Mazuri rodent diets but have never compared. I wish i got it at the $12 rate but I pay $15-$16 per bag. But I only buy 2 bags at a time maybe be cheaper if I bought more.

can one get that online :dunno:

Not sure.. you can go to www.kentfeeds.com and there is a dealer locator on there where you can type in your zip code and they will find the nearest dealer to you.

I know you live in the land of the lost but there has to be a feed dealer up there somewhere. Some one has to keep horses up there and they need to feed them. And if you can find a Kent dealer its not a big deal for them to add the rat diet to the there orders. My dealer only orders Kent every other week.


Its called: 23% rodent diet Item# 7439

Not sure.. you can go to www.kentfeeds.com and there is a dealer locator on there where you can type in your zip code and they will find the nearest dealer to you.

I know you live in the land of the lost but there has to be a feed dealer up there somewhere. Some one has to keep horses up there and they need to feed them. And if you can find a Kent dealer its not a big deal for them to add the rat diet to the there orders. My dealer only orders Kent every other week.


Its called: 23% rodent diet Item# 7439

thanks for the info :cheers: and yes i do live in the land of the lost

What type of dog food do you use.

Ranch Hound its 18% protien
about $12 bucks a bag (40 lb) from the feed store.
No red dye, its little tiny pieces.

~Beth

Ranch Hound its 18% protien
about $12 bucks a bag (40 lb) from the feed store.
No red dye, its little tiny pieces.

~Beth

thanks

A word of warning from some one that has tired alot of food. Stay away from Flint River Mills rat chow. They seem to use Chicken fat as a fat source. I have never had such smelly food or rats in my life. I would clean and the smell was back days later.

I use Mazuri 5 m 30 at 16 bucks a 50 pound bag.

Bill

Do you have a TSC nearby Andrew? I've heard more than once that they can special order the Kent rodent feed. They've also recently started carrying Purina brand feeds. I asked if they could order Mazuri and was told they should be able to in future, but as the Purina deal is so new they don't have everything set up yet.

I use Mazuri 5 m 30 at 16 bucks a 50 pound bag.

Bill

Good price down here in Florida its 23 unless you buy in bulk

a word of warning from some one that has tired alot of food. Stay away from flint river mills rat chow. They seem to use chicken fat as a fat source. I have never had such smelly food or rats in my life. I would clean and the smell was back days later.
thanks
do you have a tsc nearby andrew? I've heard more than once that they can special order the kent rodent feed. They've also recently started carrying purina brand feeds. I asked if they could order mazuri and was told they should be able to in future, but as the purina deal is so new they don't have everything set up yet.

yes and i will go look and see what they have thanks

Although I buy from a feed mill in PA. what I get comes from the Mill of Bel Air. I feed what's called Pro Scratch and Hen Scratch mixed together. My guys love this stuff and do well on it. Although more of a pain to feed in bowls rather then rodent diet just laid on top of the screen. However for the cost and the lack of having healthy happy rodents, and babies being eaten before the food, I had to try something else. So I switched to these Scratches mixed together, and my rodents ever since have been healthy and happy. So I'm saving money going this route so this makes me happy.