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[Debbie.nl.ca]

    The ones that are "Deluxe Mix"  are a big "no-no" ... they have a bunch of treats mixed in with the pellets and like a child ... when given the choice ... a chinchilla will eat the treats and leave the stuff that is good for them.

The container could say "Complete Chinchilla Diet", and I've yet to see a pet shop feed with an expiry or a milled date.
Folks think they are doing good when it says things like"Deluxe, or Complete", but they still need hay, and sure don't need extra treats.
I tell all customers not to buy or try any feed that does not have either date on it.

[Leslie]

I have been buying my Oxbow pellets online from chinchillas.com but they are now switching over to Tradition.  Does anyone know how this compares to Oxbow?  This web-based store is awesome, by the way, they are giving away (for free) their Oxbow pellets to help everyone with the transition.  They actually ship directly from Oxbow and their pellets are always very fresh.

[chinclub]

Tradition is a very good food. It was formulated by a breeder.  Riterspach, I believe.  Many large ranchers use it.  I was about to switch myself when The sweet head guy at Manna Pro agreed to help me get their SHO Rabbit feed shipped to me.   (Which is my all time FAVORITE choice of chinchilla food)...but I digress  .... you should have great success with Tradition.   

[Jo Ann]

It was Ritterspach ... he's had chins since he was 19 and is about my age now (56), he is also a judge for many chinchilla shows ... local and national.

    I can't get Traditions where I am, but I've got Manna Pro Sho on order.  Normally I use Mazuri, but I've had lots of trouble getting it in on time.  When you have 200 hungry little mouths to feed, you have to have one you can depend on getting in a timely manner.  My local distributor has had to have it shipped in UPS several times and the shipping cost is as much as the Mazuri itself.

 
Jo Ann

[Debbie.nl.ca]

  My local distributor has had to have it shipped in UPS several times and the shipping cost is as much as the Mazuri itself.

Yes postal is robbery, I just shipped in 50 pounds of Blue Cloud, and it was about $8 more for the shipping than I payed for the dust.
Even a small program like mine can't do without feed.
I used to ship everything in but being late just didn't work.

[chinchillaboy4]

Hi just thought id keep you posted and tell you that we have switched to Mazuri we found a good feeder store and the food is fresh.

[Jo Ann]

Hi ChinchillaBoy4,

      Great!  Freshness is an important as the food itself ... once the food is old and the nutrition in it is no longer there, you might as well feed them cardboard.  If it is old, no matter what brand it is, it is not doing any good.

      Make sure it is stored in a cool place, that helps it last longer.  Most pellets are good for 60 to 90 days, as long as they are stored in an area that is under 70 degrees (F) ... anything above 70, it breaks down much faster.

 
Jo Ann 

[Leslie]

I have to buy big quantities of food all at once to justify the shipping costs.  I end up having to freeze some pellets.  I figure it's better than just letting them sit in the humid air.  I'm careful to date everything though and not freeze it for more than a few months.

[Jo Ann]

Hi Leslie,
     Have you thought about getting yourself those vacuum sealed bags that people use with food (they are reuseable) ... OR, if your very careful and put the pellets in a plastic bag, then put that in one of those vacuum sealing clothing bags?  That would work as good, if not better, than freezing OR in addition to freezing it.  I use both for so many things, if we ever open all of them at the same time you would not be able to go from one room to another in the house!        I put 10 blankets, we use on the beds, in two of the chester drawers last week.
      I just got my Manna Pro Sho {500 pounds} in today, now I will start the change over with half of the herd.  At this time and for years, I have given nothing bur Mazuri, but you have to be able to get it in a timely manner to give it to them.  :-[   I am hopping it will do as good with mine as I have seen in the improvement in some of the breeders I have visited after they got it to their little ones.

 
Jo Ann

[Summer]

I recently switched to Oxbow Hay, I finally found a place that had it and fresher to. Thank god to because I was feeding them Kaytee.  Thay love it .

[ChinchillAZ]

If people are having trouble getting fresh hay locally, they may also consider ordering through Kleenmama's Hayloft.  I've ordered through them when the hay at my favorite feedstore has looked more brown than I'd like.  They have wonderful hay.  Shipping, as with anything, is expensive, but the cost of the hay itself and the fact that it is of high quality helps to offset that price.

[chinchillagrl06]

Susan has nice hay and she is in AZ as well.
http://chinstore.azchins.com/List.htm
She is a very quick shipper. I don't know how close you are to her, but it's free delivery to the Phoenix area.

[ChinchillAZ]

She and I use the same feed store.  If I don't like the look of the hay they have, buying it through Susan isn't going to make it any better.   

[chinchillagrl06]

LOL! 
Maybe its just that time. 
I hope you find something good.

[ChinchillAZ]

Oh!  It's been perfectly fine for me!  I've only had to order from Kleenmama's twice in the last... 4 years?  I just wanted to let people know it's an option.     It's much better than Kaytee hay, in my opinion.