How long can you keep Chin pellets?

[Pikaia]

I am feeding my chins Mazuri and they really enjoy it. I was looking around to buy in bulk. The Mazuri site offers 50lb bags for like $17 + $17 for shipping. This sounds like an excellent deal to me, but I only have three chins and 50 lbs is a bit much. How long can you keep chinchilla pellets? I don't want them going stale/old...

 

[Cassi]

Most people keep their feed for no longer than 6 months after the mill date. $34.00 seems steep, maybe not for Mazuri though.

Just a suggestion, have you thought of switching them to a high quality and approved rabbit pellet? At average, you're looking at $15.00/50 lb bag from your feed store.

 

[Pikaia]

No, I actually haven't thought of switching them to a high quality rabbit pellet. People on the forums sell Mazuri for $1.00/lb and it is $9 for 2.5 lb at Petsmart. So it really is a great deal. I don't know. Maybe I will think about it. What kind of pellet do you use, Cassi?

 

[Pikaia]

Oh, how do you know what the mill date on Mazuri is? Is it posted on the bag?

 

[Megan]

Where are you in ohio? The ryersons sell tradition pellets. Ryersonchinchillas.com If you are close enough you may be able to just pick up a bag. They have both 50lb and 25lb bags, and you can buy as little as 1 lb or so.

 

[Cassi]

I don't currently have any chinchillas, but when I did I fed PANR, which is no longer available. It is now Purina Rabbit Chow Show. Other alternatives are Nutrena, Manna Pro Sho, and others that I can't think of at the moment.

Tradition and Oxbow are two other great chinchilla feed, Oxbow being another expensive one.

 

[CrazyForChinchillas]

I keep my pellet food in bulk in one of these vittles vaults: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753798 They keep out air and bugs. I use a smaller one for storing dust also.

 

[alli713]

If you go to the Mazuri website there is a place to put in your zip code to find dealers near you. Perhaps there's a feed store in your area that carries the 25lb bags of Mazuri so you wouldn't have to pay shipping.

And most people do say that 6 months past the mill date is as far as they let it go. On Mazuri, the date is plainly posted on the bottom of the bag.