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Post by fuzzymom on Feb 11, 2009 13:38:22 GMT -5
While breeding rodents in the past I've always used Mazuri brand lab blocks as food, with a homemade mix used on occasion that consisted of dry pasta, lentils, peas, corn flakes, bran flakes, oatmeal, cherrios, ect. I had asked other breeders about a possible organic diet for rodents but everyone recommended I stick to the blocks as they provided all the nutrients the rats would ever need. I then joined a Raw Food forum (wanting to get more information on a raw diet for myself) and noticed they had a Raw Pets Section. Well since I feed raw to my ferrets and occasionaly to my cats and dog, I started posting and asking questions. I then asked about raw rats and to my suprise there was someone there who fed her rats raw. This is an example of her semi-daily (gives it to them every other day as this amount lasts them two days) raw rat diet: 3 or 4 spinach leaves (or one big romaine leaf) 2 or 3 almonds, walnuts, pecans, or variety small amount of raw oats one baby carrot rolled in chia seeds sprigs of parsley fresh water 2 or 3 blueberries If I switch up the fruit and veggies on occasion, I bet this would make for a great diet for my rat. The above menu is for two rats. What better way to provide healthy food for your ferrets, than to provide healthy food for your feeders. And since my husband and I are adding more raw foods to our diet, feeding our rats this way shouldn't be that hard. It might end up being cheaper too. I will begin posting of my progress as Sasha is starting her raw diet today. Would anyone be interested in me posting up daily menues, pictures, and weights of Sasha as she tries out her new diet? I will also be trying this with my female mouse.
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Post by fuzzymom on Feb 11, 2009 14:32:57 GMT -5
It has been recommended to me that I do more research on a raw diet for rats before putting Sasha on this diet. I will do so at their request. If anyone knows of any good rat forums/sites, please let me know.
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Post by harrisi on Feb 11, 2009 16:09:58 GMT -5
Hey. All our feeder rats get at least 98% raw foods daily. I must stress that it isnt something to go into lightly and it needs a LOT of research but it is so worth it! We feed a homemade mix consisting of: 15kg rolled oats 2kg/1bag of mixed seeds 1kg sugar-free bran flakes 1kg sugar-free puffed rice 500g dehydrated bannana chips 1.5kg flaked peas 1kg other dried veggies (carrot, kale etc) 3kg flaked maize 250g dried meats 250g rice crackers 2 kg whites premium chicken dog food 200g dehydrated fruits 1kg kelp powder Then they are fed crickets, locusts, meal worms, dubia roaches, cooked tuna, cooked chicken, cooked phesant, raw minced beef (though I wll stress this is EXTREMELY fresh - by which I mean its still warm from being killed), lettuces, carrot, kale and so on. To be honest, I think you are best off keeping to that forum for information as I have found rat forums very much "sheltered" from this kind of diet. I have raised literally thousands (if you look in my blog you will see I have raised 375 litters of rats to date and the minimum litter quantity was 5 so baseing of minimum litter amount that would be 1875 rats..not to mention the amount of breeding males and females!) of rats on this diet and not to blow my own trumpet but my rats are high quality. The most difficult part of "raw feeding" is making up protein, but like I said alot of research needs to be put into it. If you need any help, let me kknow
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Post by fuzzymom on Feb 11, 2009 16:56:17 GMT -5
I want to stay away from as much processed food as possible. Raw meats I can provide since I feed the ferrets raw. I can easily get raw veggies, fruits, nuts, and grains.
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Post by harrisi on Feb 11, 2009 17:03:38 GMT -5
Most of the stuff listed isnt processed or is only lightly processed such as the flaked peas and maize, that is just squashed then baked or dehydrated. Rolled oats isnt "rolled", thats just the name and so on. The only things in there that are "processed" are the dog food, kelp powder and rice crackers. And they can be left out if you want, its just a treat really. Raw meats should only be fed if they are extremely fresh as in killed within a few hours, though you can get pieces of beef shin and lightly fry it to make it "blue". Dehydrated or freeze dried foods are done at home aswell. And also to add about the "menu" in the opening post, spinach isnt a good daily food as it contains high levels of oxalic acid.
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Post by fuzzymom on Feb 11, 2009 17:14:55 GMT -5
She said she fed a variety of greens, and that was just an example. From your list, I think a rat would require more grains (carbs) in its diet than anything else.
Instead of using dehydrated fruits, could you use fresh produce? I would probably opt to leave out the processed dog food. I will ask around more and do more research. Until I switch Sasha completely, I will introduce more raw foods into her diet.
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Post by harrisi on Feb 11, 2009 17:23:20 GMT -5
Yep, you could use fresh foods ! We would prefer to, but dehydrating the veggies means we can put in more of a variety, it keeps for ages and its easier when we are feeding 100+ rats per day! The reason we put in the dog food was for protein, but just recently we have been adding more meats into their diet (we found a new butcher in town and he gives us loads of "scraps" such as lamb ribs, beef shin, chicken legs, chicken backs etc) so next time we mix up food we will be leaving that out. Another thing I forgot, we feed scrambled eggs alot aswell - we get free egs from the local farmer so every other day I make up scrambled eggs (half an egg per rat) and put it on a plate and feed it to them all, its great for protein and they really enjoy it and its easy to make.
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Post by fuzzymom on Feb 11, 2009 17:31:52 GMT -5
Could you substitute the eggs for the meat? Eggs are easier for me to get and eventually (when I own my own house) I will be keeping chickens.
What about the puffed rice, bran flakes, and rice crackers? Are they processed?
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Post by harrisi on Feb 11, 2009 17:37:24 GMT -5
Hmm, maybe, though I would still give meats everynow and again. You can also get freeze-dried meats that work well. The puffed rice is just baked rice so not really "processed". The bran "flakes" are just pure bran and like I said earlier the rice crackers are processed but you can leave them out.
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Post by fuzzymom on Feb 11, 2009 17:43:18 GMT -5
So to make my own puffed rice all I have to do is bake it? Could I use brown rice, put it in the oven and Poof! have puffed rice? How long do you bake it? Or do you purchase yours already puffed?
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Post by harrisi on Feb 11, 2009 17:47:06 GMT -5
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Post by fuzzymom on Feb 11, 2009 17:48:51 GMT -5
Thanks. I will do more research, try some stuff out and update on how well I faired at creating a raw/semi raw menu for Sasha.
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