Godins Chinchillas
Godin's Chinchillas
I read an article in the Empress magazine and Chinchillas.com posted an article in regards to feed. They feel chinchillas should not be fed a rabbit feed. How do you feel about that? Do you agree or not?
Chinchillas.com article about feed
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ChinnieShop
Well-known member
this is very interesting, because when I bought my girl chinchilla the lady that I bought her from said that I could just feed her rabbit feed and it is cheaper and the same. I was giving my other chinchilla Mazzuri pellets and that is what I had her on. I did notice that when we got her she was a big girl, but when I started her out on the other pellets she slimmed down a bit and did not seem so huge as before. I thought that the rabbit feed was making her fat, but I have seen that many people on here give their chinchillas rabbit feed. I personally am going to start on manna pro sho and see how it goes.
I believe that referred to rabbit feed when it contained hormones. The higher end rabbit feeds no longer do. I'm pretty sure we've discussed this on here before, but I'll have to try and dig it up.
poetrue
Well-known member
Jess,
Did the article say why not? When reading through the ingredients and crude analysis of some of the commonly recommended chinchilla pellets versus the commonly recommended rabbit pellets, they are very similar. Out of the first 5 ingredients of Oxbow versus Purina Rabbit Chow Show - 4 of them are the same.
Additionally after reading the feeding chapter in "Chinchilla Care" by J. Houston, the approximate analysis of feed for a chinchilla is:
protein - 15%
carbohydrate - 35%
fat - 4%
fiber - 30%
minerals 6%
Once again looking at Oxbow versus PRCS, the crude analysis breakdown is very similar:
PRCS:
Crude Protein (Min)....................................................16.00%
Crude Fat (Min)..........................................................3.50%
Crude Fiber (Min).......................................................18.50%
Crude Fiber (Max)......................................................21.50%
Calcium (Ca) (Min).....................................................0.70%
Calcium (Ca) (Max)....................................................1.20%
Phosphorus (P) (Min)..................................................0.40%
Salt (NaCl) (Min)........................................................0.50%
Salt (NaCl) (Max) ......................................................1.00%
Vitamin A (Min)..........................................................4,800 IU/lb
Oxbow:
Crude Protein (min) 18.00%
Crude Fat (min) 2.50%
Crude Fiber (min) 18.00%, max 23.00%
Moisture (max) 10.00%
Calcium (min) 0.60%, (max) 1.10%
Phosphorus (min) 0.25%
Salt (min) 0.50%, (max) 1.00%
Vitamin A (min)*IU/kg 19,000
Vitamin D (min)*IU/kg 900
Vitamin E (min)*IU/kg 190
Copper*(min)*30 ppm
Comparing these 2 analysis, the protein seems a bit high on the Oxbow, though the Fiber content is higher to balance it out. In the end if you take the fiber to protein breakdown for each feed at a min you get 1 serving of fiber to 1 serving of protein or at a max 1.27 to 1 for Oxbow. For PRCS it is a min of 1.15 to 1 or a max of 1.34 to 1. The difference is relatively minimal.
Based on all this data, I don't feel that feeding a high quality rabbit feed with a similar crude analysis and ingredients is detrimental to a chinchilla.
Cheryl
Did the article say why not? When reading through the ingredients and crude analysis of some of the commonly recommended chinchilla pellets versus the commonly recommended rabbit pellets, they are very similar. Out of the first 5 ingredients of Oxbow versus Purina Rabbit Chow Show - 4 of them are the same.
Additionally after reading the feeding chapter in "Chinchilla Care" by J. Houston, the approximate analysis of feed for a chinchilla is:
protein - 15%
carbohydrate - 35%
fat - 4%
fiber - 30%
minerals 6%
Once again looking at Oxbow versus PRCS, the crude analysis breakdown is very similar:
PRCS:
Crude Protein (Min)....................................................16.00%
Crude Fat (Min)..........................................................3.50%
Crude Fiber (Min).......................................................18.50%
Crude Fiber (Max)......................................................21.50%
Calcium (Ca) (Min).....................................................0.70%
Calcium (Ca) (Max)....................................................1.20%
Phosphorus (P) (Min)..................................................0.40%
Salt (NaCl) (Min)........................................................0.50%
Salt (NaCl) (Max) ......................................................1.00%
Vitamin A (Min)..........................................................4,800 IU/lb
Oxbow:
Crude Protein (min) 18.00%
Crude Fat (min) 2.50%
Crude Fiber (min) 18.00%, max 23.00%
Moisture (max) 10.00%
Calcium (min) 0.60%, (max) 1.10%
Phosphorus (min) 0.25%
Salt (min) 0.50%, (max) 1.00%
Vitamin A (min)*IU/kg 19,000
Vitamin D (min)*IU/kg 900
Vitamin E (min)*IU/kg 190
Copper*(min)*30 ppm
Comparing these 2 analysis, the protein seems a bit high on the Oxbow, though the Fiber content is higher to balance it out. In the end if you take the fiber to protein breakdown for each feed at a min you get 1 serving of fiber to 1 serving of protein or at a max 1.27 to 1 for Oxbow. For PRCS it is a min of 1.15 to 1 or a max of 1.34 to 1. The difference is relatively minimal.
Based on all this data, I don't feel that feeding a high quality rabbit feed with a similar crude analysis and ingredients is detrimental to a chinchilla.
Cheryl
EMSChins
Hendryx Chinchillas
I have found that many of the articles in the Empress magazine as well as the MCBA one (but especially Empress) are recycled over and over and generally they do not put a date on when the article was first written. I believe many of them date back to the 60's and reflect the thinking of that time.
ticklechin
Well-known member
How about posting the article, the author and their credentials and the date of writting.
Godins Chinchillas
Godin's Chinchillas
"Water, Feed, Hay, and Supplements
Offer fresh clean water at all times. Sterilize water bottles in a dishwasher weekly. Clean the inside of bottles, tubes, and stoppers daily. Use distilled water if you are unsure of the bacteria/chlorine levels in your tap water. If you use automatic waterers, flush lines regularly. Chinchillas are far more susceptible to contaminants than people are. Be aware that baby chinchillas can drown in water bowls, so bottles with tubes are usually recommended. Give your chinchilla time to learn to use a bottle if it came from a place that used automatic watering systems or any other kind of watering source. Hang bottles in such a way that the chinchilla cannot chew the bottle or the cap. Chinchillas drink about 2 ounces of water a day, but it varies with age and pregnancy.
Feed an unlimited amount of fresh clean chinchilla pellets. Do not use feed that is over three months old, as its nutritional value begins to drop after this time. The most readily available quality feeds are Oxbow Chinchilla Deluxe, Purina's Mazuri Chinchilla Diet Pellet, and Hubbard's Tradition Chinchilla Specialty Diet. Make sure the feed was milled no more than three months prior to purchase, and freeze any portion that won't be used immediately. Many breeders have their own feed milled, but most mills won't mill under a ton at a time for individual purchase. Chinchillas eat an average of 2 tablespoons of high quality pellets per day, but this amount can vary. Don't use rabbit feed. Do not feed chinchillas lettuce, and other vegetables. They can have 1-2 raisins or 1-2 sunflower seeds per day, but no more.
Feed a fresh clean grass hay, like western timothy, brome, orchard, or bermuda grass. Make sure the hay is free of mold and any other contaminants. Store the hay off the ground in a cool dry place that rodents cannot get to. Contamination by rats and mice is the primary source of chinchilla diseases. Chinchillas should have loose hay available at all times. Alfalfa, clover, vetch, and other legume hays are not advisable. Legume hays are much to high in protein for a regular part of the chinchilla's diet. Grass hay is readily available and very inexpensive.
Some breeders choose to supplement the chinchilla's diet with Calf Manna. If you choose to do so, add 1 teaspoon per day per chinchilla in the feed as a supplement. Don't overfeed Calf Manna…more is not better. Do not mix the calf manna, or any supplement in with the regular feed. This will encourage "digging." Chinchillas can develop this digging habit, and dig through their entire feeder's worth of pellets looking for the supplement. One alternative is to use an automatic feeder with special sections built into the feeder for feed, and for supplement.
As an alternative to Calf Manna, you can make your own supplement. Feed no more than one teaspoon per day per chinchilla. Ingredients can be found at a local health food store, or at some feed stores. Supplements can also be fed by hand as a treat, but this practice may encourage nipping. Again, don't mix the supplement with the regular pellet feed."
This was in the Empress Chinchilla Breeder March 2012. I happened to go on Chinchillas.com and it is the same exact article. So I am not sure when it was written.
Offer fresh clean water at all times. Sterilize water bottles in a dishwasher weekly. Clean the inside of bottles, tubes, and stoppers daily. Use distilled water if you are unsure of the bacteria/chlorine levels in your tap water. If you use automatic waterers, flush lines regularly. Chinchillas are far more susceptible to contaminants than people are. Be aware that baby chinchillas can drown in water bowls, so bottles with tubes are usually recommended. Give your chinchilla time to learn to use a bottle if it came from a place that used automatic watering systems or any other kind of watering source. Hang bottles in such a way that the chinchilla cannot chew the bottle or the cap. Chinchillas drink about 2 ounces of water a day, but it varies with age and pregnancy.
Feed an unlimited amount of fresh clean chinchilla pellets. Do not use feed that is over three months old, as its nutritional value begins to drop after this time. The most readily available quality feeds are Oxbow Chinchilla Deluxe, Purina's Mazuri Chinchilla Diet Pellet, and Hubbard's Tradition Chinchilla Specialty Diet. Make sure the feed was milled no more than three months prior to purchase, and freeze any portion that won't be used immediately. Many breeders have their own feed milled, but most mills won't mill under a ton at a time for individual purchase. Chinchillas eat an average of 2 tablespoons of high quality pellets per day, but this amount can vary. Don't use rabbit feed. Do not feed chinchillas lettuce, and other vegetables. They can have 1-2 raisins or 1-2 sunflower seeds per day, but no more.
Feed a fresh clean grass hay, like western timothy, brome, orchard, or bermuda grass. Make sure the hay is free of mold and any other contaminants. Store the hay off the ground in a cool dry place that rodents cannot get to. Contamination by rats and mice is the primary source of chinchilla diseases. Chinchillas should have loose hay available at all times. Alfalfa, clover, vetch, and other legume hays are not advisable. Legume hays are much to high in protein for a regular part of the chinchilla's diet. Grass hay is readily available and very inexpensive.
Some breeders choose to supplement the chinchilla's diet with Calf Manna. If you choose to do so, add 1 teaspoon per day per chinchilla in the feed as a supplement. Don't overfeed Calf Manna…more is not better. Do not mix the calf manna, or any supplement in with the regular feed. This will encourage "digging." Chinchillas can develop this digging habit, and dig through their entire feeder's worth of pellets looking for the supplement. One alternative is to use an automatic feeder with special sections built into the feeder for feed, and for supplement.
As an alternative to Calf Manna, you can make your own supplement. Feed no more than one teaspoon per day per chinchilla. Ingredients can be found at a local health food store, or at some feed stores. Supplements can also be fed by hand as a treat, but this practice may encourage nipping. Again, don't mix the supplement with the regular pellet feed."
This was in the Empress Chinchilla Breeder March 2012. I happened to go on Chinchillas.com and it is the same exact article. So I am not sure when it was written.
Godins Chinchillas
Godin's Chinchillas
So it doesn't say why not to. I don't know. Ranchers/breeders around me feed a rabbit pellet. Chinchilla feed is not readily available here. Oxbow is but that would be way to expensive.
ticklechin
Well-known member
Manna a tsp a day? Raisins and sunflower seeds 1-2 a day? No rabbit food for no reason?
Last edited:
EMSChins
Hendryx Chinchillas
Like I said - 1960's reasoning!
ticklechin
Well-known member
And I find it funny, they say no alfalfa because of protein yet advocate 1 tsp of manna a day-at 25% protein.
Sycamore Chins
Well-known member
The links for all the foods mentioned as being suitable go to the e-store too.
This was my thought process. They are probably saying no rabbit food because they want you to buy their chinchilla food.
Was there an author mentioned for the article?
Godins Chinchillas
Godin's Chinchillas
No author per say but it does come from chinchillas.coms site
Riven
Bad Chin
I am going to disagree about this being a 60's era article, I couldn't find a date on either site, but I doubt that mazuri or oxbow were around in the 60's, especially selling chin feed. I'd say this is maybe 10 yrs old...
I'd also like to comment that Empress is ALWAYS looking for people to submit articles either found or written by the submitter... since the pay is bad ( $0 per article ) they don't have a full time staff there to find or write articles! Kathy is so helpful and glad to print articles and such!
I'd also like to comment that Empress is ALWAYS looking for people to submit articles either found or written by the submitter... since the pay is bad ( $0 per article ) they don't have a full time staff there to find or write articles! Kathy is so helpful and glad to print articles and such!
It also says add the calf manna to the feed, but don't add it to the feed. Okay?
designer chins
Well-known member
Very true!
I have no idea when the article was written, but I am sticking with high end rabbit pellets. The chins seem to be doing well on them, and I don't make big changes without substantial justification.
mark miller
Miller Chinchillas
We used Purina Rabbit Chow about 15 years ago on our chinchilla herd of around 500 animals. We were unhappy with our milled chinchilla pellets and the rabbit chow was cheaper and easier to get locally. We fed it to our chins for a little over 2 years. The animals ate it fine, but we began to notice some changes with them over that time. The animals seemed to be putting on weight, which was great for our young animals when we went to shows. We noticed they were growing faster and getting larger than previous animals out of the same parents. We also noticed several of our breeders seemed to be putting on a little weight as well. We felt that this led to a slight decrease in our overall production by the 2nd year of use. The biggest difference we noticed was when my father pelted the animals that had been raised on the rabbit chow there was Han abundence of yellow fat on the hide's that hadn't been there before when we fed the milled chinchilla pellets. In comparison, the PRCS does have a higher rate of crude fat and protein than our milled chinchilla pellets contain. It is only a slight difference in amounts, but over time we felt there were negative effects shown in our chins. We consulted a feed nutritionalist, got a chinchilla pellet formula we were happy with and went back to having our chinchilla pellets milled. We have had our own formula milled for us since and have been happy with it. I don't know if Purina has changed their formula a lot in the last 10-15 years, but even if they have their feed is designed for the nutritional needs of rabbits not chinchillas, so even if they are similar and chinchillas can survive on rabbit chow, I find it hard to believe that it is optimal for chinchillas. If it is all you can get and your best option in your area then it seems to be working ok for some people using it with chins now. We won't ever go back to using it though based on our experiences.
designer chins
Well-known member
Thank you for the specifics, Mark! Those observations are constructive. I have not pelted any of my animals, so have no basis for comparison there but your post encourages me to analyze my feed more closely in comparison to other options.
