The chain pet stores by me carry the stuff I keep reading not to feed them, so was going to order some mazuri online as that is what my breeder uses. But I read here that sometimes causes loose poops. So went digging and found some non-chain stores near me - one carries oxbow essentials the other had no chinchilla food but I asked about manna pro rabbit food and they said no, but they do carry nutrena? He said it is 16% protein. Should I go with either of those or order something online. I really will only need small amounts at a time and the oxbow is conveniently located and smaller bags are available.
Order food online or get locally?
- Thread starter my3esses
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Oxbow is a really good food. If you can get that in smaller bags, I would. I'm not really familiar with the rabbit type foods. Mazuri is what I feed my chins. I never had an issue with the soft poops, but I guess if I was doing it again- I would feed Oxbow just to avoid a potential problem. 
akane
Well-known member
I feed nutrena and we are having no problems even after a cold switch. Have you looked at feed stores? You'll get better prices and might find more options like manna pro. If you've only got 1 or 2 chins though the little expensive oxbow bags are fine.
Yes, there is only 1 feed store in my area and they were the ones with the nutrena but only in $25 lb. bags - so most of it will go to waste based on what I've read about how much a baby chin eats. I don't think I will need more than 5-10 lbs. in the next 6 months. They said they could probably order me manna pro but again, in 25 lb bags.
ashleynicol3
Well-known member
Do you have a PetSmart near you? That's where I get my Oxbow chinchilla food.
akane
Well-known member
You can put it in containers and freeze it or some people just donate the extra to a shelter or rescue because it's still cheaper than buying small bags every few months. I used to do orders of 200lbs of oxbow guinea pig pellets at a time (you get a huge ups shipping discount or at least used to at that weight) and split each 50lb bag with another rescue as we opened them.
