Chinchilla Community Forums
Chinchillas => Q & A => Topic started by: ThreeLilChins on August 31, 2006, 11:58:46 AM
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We use Mazuri, and have no problem with it. We were just wondering about a few of the other pellets. Does anyone use them? What do they think of them?
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I use the Kline pellets and mine chins seem to like them.
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We use Manna Pro Sho Rabbit and have for years! I have also used Mazuri but I prefer the results I get with the Sho.
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::) I use Mazuri, thats all I have ever uesd.
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I amusing Mazuri right now, but have mixed it with some Oxbow pellets to increase the palatability. My chins don't seem to like just plain Mazuri, but if I add in about 1/5 Oxbow they eat it up like crazy. I know it seems like I should just switch to Oxbow but it is harder to get it in bulk around here, and my local feed store sells Mazuri in stock.
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I don't know which to vote honestly... I've been mixing Mazuri and APD Timmy for their feed for 6 years, simply because Mazuri is alfafla-based and Timmy being timothy-based and my chinnies produce solid poops. ::shrug::
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I use oxbow because i love the results i get with it, i currently slowly mixing Manna Pro Sho Rabbit (Jamie's food) I'm not switching it's because Daisy is much healthier looking than when i got her when i use both foods.
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::silly::I used Mazuri for many years, but when you have a problem getting it delivered in a timely manner and have 200 hungry mouths to feed, you have to go else where.
Kline and Oxbow are not available in my area, but are both very good.
Tradition was developed by a major breeder that has beautiful high quality chins, but is not available in my area.
Manna Pro Sho is available and has the approval of a chinchilla research center. I'm having great results with it so far, just haven't been using it long enough yet. I know I saw a huge difference in some chins Jamie is raising on it (some were formally my chins) ... I hope I can get the same results.
::wave::
Jo Ann
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:) Hi Jo Ann Can you tell me How much is in a bag and est. on the price? Is rellay better than Mazuri ? ::shrug::
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I don't know if anyone will know this, but I'm looking for a good website to order Chin food in the UK. I've had a look around without much luck.
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;) All 28 of my chins are Mazuri chins!
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I'm using Tradition. When I started purchasing my chinchillas from the larger ranchers, I kept having to switch them off the tradition onto the mazuri. I figured in the end, instead of having to switch everyone over- I might as well just switch to the feed that the people I'm buying from use. The two breeders I tend to deal with the most use the same feed as I do, so now I don't have to worry about having to switch the animals over.
I've been considering mixing a high-quality rabbit food into their mix, though. Simply because I need to get my feed twice a year- Once in ohio(8 hr drive), and once at the York Show.. and If I run out of tradition, it would be hard and expensive to get it to me.. With two different feeds going, I would have a "back up" incase I did get low on one feed.
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::silly::Hi All,
:) Hi Jo Ann Can you tell me How much is in a bag and est. on the price? Is rellay better than Mazuri ? ::shrug::
Hi ChinPo,
25 pound bag of Mazuri cost us 12.49
50 pound bag of Manna ProSho 16.49 twice as much for 1/3 more in price.
I'm just getting going good with the Manna Pro Sho, so I haven't been using it long enough to see a big difference yet, but you can ask Jamie about the difference with her chins ... they look beautiful. Now, the Manna ProSho is not the same as Purina Show Rabbit ... two different companies.
I've been considering mixing a high-quality rabbit food into their mix, though. Simply because I need to get my feed twice a year- Once in ohio(8 hr drive), and once at the York Show.. and If I run out of tradition, it would be hard and expensive to get it to me.. With two different feeds going, I would have a "back up" incase I did get low on one feed.
Hi Megan, What is the shelf life on Tradition? Most pet foods only have 90 days.
::wave::
Jo Ann
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I've been told Tradition is fine for about 6 months. After the 6 months, the nutrition starts to wear down, and it's no longer as fresh,but can still be fed.
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:) Thank you for the info Jo Ann. ::silly::
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This is a very informative topic! I have used Mazuri in the past and my chins are currently on a food I get from the breeder I bought them from. I'm not sure which brand it is! LOL, but I was thinking about switching to mana pro sho if I can get it in Nevada.
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:) Ya I was thinking about switching to? ::shrug::
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With the manna pro. I have a few questions. What do you mean by better results? Increased weight gain, things like that. Thxs.
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We started on Mazuri years ago and then switched to Manna Pro Sho rabbit after talking with our mentor that has over 500 chinchillas and had been using it for years.
We noticed that our chinchillas had better fur, gained weight (healthy weights not fat), the females kept weight better after deliveries, and we had less still births and loss of kits under 10 days old.
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::silly:: Hi Jamie,
If you will post a current photo of Little Girl, here's one when she was 3 years old and on Mazuri ... she's 7 years old now and on Manna Pro Sho. Just open this post and add it. Two pictures are worth a thousand words!
::wave::
Jo Ann
My After picture of SHO feed: (and we should mention that she was over 2 when your picture was taken so growth is not a factor.
Not only that ... as chins get older, they often become more frail and the fur also suffers ... she shure does not look frail and her fur looks great in your photo and she 7 years old!
(http://www.chinchillaclub.com/forum/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/LIttleGirl.JPG)
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Wow, look at how much her color has kept changing. :o She still has those dumbo ears though! :2funny:
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How long does the Manna Pro stay fresh after the mill date? I am just asking because a friend of mine has found it some where around here and I may switch to that if it is fresh. We just live in a very small town and I am a little scared it may not be fresh to start with. I am getting the Kline from a breeder that isn't to far but if I can get a good food right up the road it would make my life a little simpler.
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I would say 3 months if its kept in the heat at that store, 6 months if it is in the A/C. And be sure it is the SHO (in a purple & white bag) they also make a product called GRO (I think thats the right name) it is NOT a good chinchilla feed!
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::fruit:: I am so thrilled to finally be able to see a photo of your Little Girl, I have heard so much about her!!! It's great to put a chinnie face with a name! It is truly amazing how much the white mosaics & white ebonies can change in color over time isn't it? Sometimes as the months go by they don't even look like the chins they started out as!
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She is a mess!! She loves me when I am following the rules and only touching her between the ears or under the chin. She wouldn't get out of the lower corner this morning so I could take the picture so I had to pick her up. ::Hairraising:: WOW! my sweet angle disappeared and this mean biting monster came out of nowhere and bite me hard! She was fighting mad! ::tickedoff::
:D Thats my Little Girl!! I always say we have a Love/Hate relationship! :2funny: I wouldn't trade her for the world!
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::silly::Keep in mind, this is Manna Pro Sho ... from what we hear from other people, not just any brand show rabbit pellets will be as good.
And, No, we are not getting paid to say this ... Manna Pro has no idea, or way to know about this post ... our only intrest is in the good health of your chinchillas. Also, keep in mind, not everything works the same with everyone ... you have to find out what is best for your chinchilla. And you will not see an INSTANT change ... it takes time.
Keep in mind ... even the best ... if it is old ... is no better than cardboard.
::wave::
Jo Ann
:D I see she hasn't changed! rofl
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Thanks for posting all of that information. I have been getting my food from the breeder I got my chins from, but I was thinking of switching them to Mazuri. :::grins::
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Jo Ann she's a real beautie! ::nod::
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Here is the website for Manna Pro : http://www.mannapro.com/
Unfortunately their site is in frames so I can't really send you to the pages you want to look at. On their website you can see the nutritional info on the SHO Rabbit feed and you can also look for a dealer near you. If you have a large enough herd that you can buy in bulk and you don't have someone in your area selling it you can contact them through their website. They might can help you get it.
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I found a place here that has the Pro but not she Sho.
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::silly::Not sure if this is what you are looking for, but...just click on it for a larger picture.
::howdythere::
Jo Ann
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Do not use the PRO! It is not good for chinchillas. There was a breeder around here that tried it when we could no longer get the SHO a few years back and they had horrible results.
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Brand new here with a question regarding chin food. I feed mine Kaytee Timothy Complete for Chinchillas. Does anyone know about this food? I've never heard of all the foods you are talking about but doesn't it make more sense to feed it a food made specifically for chins. I'm also new to owning a chin (fairly so, we've had out one for prob. a year now). I just buy his food at Pet Supermarket. He seems to be doing great on it. He also gets alfalfa hay daily and 1 or 2 raisins periodically.
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::silly::I have found anything marked "Complete", Deluxe or Mix and contains things in it other than pellets,
it is not good for you chin and is not giving it a healthy balanced diet.
Chinchillas are like little children ...
If you set bowl of ice cream and a plate of spinach in front of a child, and give them the choice to choose freely which one they will eat... which one do you think a kid going to eat?
Same with chinchillas ... give them a pellet diet with all kinds of extra goodies in it and guess what they are going to do ... fill up on the goodies and pitch the pellets out! Not good for your chinchilla.
If a chinchilla diet does not have a mill date or an expiration date on the package, do not get it.
If it is not dated, you have no idea how old it may be.
If it is sold in one of those "shoots" or in containers without being sealed air-tight, it could very well be contaminated.
If there is a lot of sediment (dust) in the bottom of the bag or box, it is probably to old to be feeding your chin.
If it is to old, then the nutritional value in it is about the same as dirt (or less).
Personally, I would not give Kaytee Chinchilla Diet to my chinchillas.
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Mazuri Chinchilla Diet is specially made for chinchillas.
Oxbow makes food especially for chinchillas.
Traditions Chinchilla Diet is specially made for chinchillas and was developed by a very well-known breeder in Ohio.
Kline Chinchilla Diet was also developed just for chinchillas, by Alice Kline. Very well known and highly respected breeder/researcher in the chinchilla world.
Manna Pro Sho Rabbit Pellets is used by a research center for chinchillas in California, of course,you do also have to feed a supplement with this. www.cachins.org
The five I mention above that are underlined are the only ones I reccomend for chinchillas.
::wave::
Jo Ann
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;) Hi there, make sure your chin gets lots of timothy hay every day too!
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I've never noticed any dust or sediment in the bottom of the bag. He gets lots of the timothy hay daily. We make sure of that. I will go home and check for a date. He seems to be doing great on it. That's what I've been feeding him since I got him. No hair loss or weight loss or anything. But I will definitely check the date on the bag. Thanks for the answers. I'll also go and look at the nutritional analysis info and ingredients in it and compare to the ones I'm reading about on here. I thought since I heard so many good things about the timothy hay that their food should be good too.
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I always worry over anything edible by people or animals when it says complete.
If there were such a thing we wouldn't need to eat but could take a pill.
Boy what time that would save, and how many wishes have I made for just such a meal. ;D
If it were true for chin food you wouldn't need hay at all.
To say nothing of all the treats and little things I can't even tell what they are. ::think::
I have yet to see a pet shop chin pellet with a date, and it's so much more expensive than the better feeds mentioned.
You are always better going with the freshest available in a timothy based pellet, Even if it's a show rabbit pellet.
Here you need to do your homework.
I've been using Martin's Rabbit pellets here in Newfoundland Canada for about 5 years now, and have been very happy with the results.
Until you find a better feed to switch to at least pick out the junk food and let her eat just the pellets.
I don't feed anything in the line of treats I wouldn't eat myself, so ask yourself would you eat the treats in the Kaytee. ;)
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When we got Cheech he was being fed a chinchilla pellet mixed with guinea pig food. Non of which had dates or ingredients. After coming here and finding out more I hurriedly switched him over to a pellet. I am lucky to have a great pet shop not too far that make their own brand. It isn't the best available in England but everything else would be too hard rto get and I need to make sure his food is always available. Anyway, I found that he much prefered the plain pellet to the food with all the treats in it.