New Chins - food change question

[Lindsay8808]

Hello. I am a new chin owner and have a question. I have 2 male chins that I recieved 3 days ago. They are eating the food they came with which is LM Animal Farms Vita-Vittles.... filled with bananas, raisins, corn, and other junk. Bad bad, I know. I am taking all the junk out and feeding them just the pellets, lots of hay, and plain cheerios for a treat. Other sites said they could get sick or die from a sudden food change. I am getting them Mazuri for sure. But I worry about the change for them. Was it true what I read, or is it best to mix it gradually and slowly until they are weaned from the Vita-Vittles completely? I don't want to shock their little systems especially since they had a big change with the move here already. Humphrey, Maxwell and I thank you!

 

[tunes]

I have done plenty of cold food switches with no problems at all. Most of the time when you buy from large breeders, they don't send transition food home and you give them what you've got.

If they will eat the pellets without the junk in it, then do a slow switch. If they won't eat them at all, then do a cold switch and provide lots of hay and acidophilus.

The ideal switching schedule is
Week one, 1/4 new, 3/4 old
Week two, 1/2 new, 1/2 old
Week three, 3/4 new, 1/2 old
Week four, total switch

 

[Jenn]

Welcome! This is a great place to get lots of wonderful info!

I believe the best way to introduce your chin to a new and better pellet is to do it gradually. I'm not sure of what the method is, and I know someone will post the correct way to introduce new food. I also know some people have done a cold switch if the food they were formally eating is complete crap. It sounds like you are starting out right, by at least taking out the crap that is included with the pellets. Mazuri is a good brand to switch to, but I'll need someone to help me out with the rationings over the next few weeks.

ETA - I posted the same time as Tunes did. She explained it all

 

[Lindsay8808]

Thanks so much I got so scared after reading all the conflicting info out there! I have stopped giving raisins though, thanks to you all.