Possibly Switching Feeds

[aussiljd]

My herd is currently eating Oxbow and everyone is doing great on it, but I was wondering if there is any food that could help the new chins with their coats (the new rescues and the beige I rescued about a month ago). The dust baths are only going so far, and the new guys have kind of a greasy look to them. Any particular recommendations?

*Note: I will not feed any Purina foods, I do not like the company at all. I am an avid dog lover, and would NEVER feed my dogs anything Purina, nor my cats, and so nor will I feed any Purina to my chins.

 

[aznmexaggie]

I feed Manna Pro Sho (also called Classic Sho Rabbit at some feed stores. It has high quality ingredients, digestive enzymes and probiotics, is a high fiber feed and has a moderate protein level (16%). It is also just 0.5% higher in fat compared to Oxbow. I have used this feed since 2006 and am very happy with the health of my chins, their growth, their coats, and performance on the show table. It has been a great feed for all my chins and I would recommend it if you have a Manna Pro dealer nearby.

Even my rescues have had great turnarounds in appearance whole being fed this feed (though of course, finally getting good care helped a lot too). I have pictures posted in the rescue thread ''Stratus and Aurums's Christmas Wish'' which shows their drastic change. Although they were previously fed treat-filled feed and cereal, they loved the Manna Pro and gained a good amount of weight on it as well.

 

[Stackie]

Oxbow is a wonderful chinchilla feed and I don't see why any other particular feed would be better for their coats. All of my chins are on Oxbow and they have fine coats. I would just feed them Oxbow.

 

[AZChins]

I'd stick with the Oxbow, too, since you are already using it. It's a good feed for chins. Just given them time and the rescues will come around. Slow and steady weight gain and changes in appearance are best. Sometimes the rescues will take six months to get to where they need to be...and that's fine! It's not something you can have happen overnight...just feed a fresh pellet and give lots of good hay and everyone will be great. The dust baths will take care of their greasy fur eventually, but nutrition will be the thing that will spruce it up the most!

 

[arf2184]

If Oxbow is working, I'd stick with it. Rescue may never look like nice show chins, but in time their coats will improve.

Just an FYI...the pet food company is not the same as the animal feed company. While both companies do stem out of "Purina Mills" founded in 1894, they have been separate for over 20 years.

The crap pet food Purina brands are now made and marketed by a division of Nestle (Nestlé Purina PetCare).

The Ralston Purina Company sold off the feed portion of the business (Purina Mills, Inc) in 1986. It is now Purina Mills LLC owned by Land O'Lakes.

 

[AZChins]

Land o Lakes? Really? That's funny to me for some reason. They really are separate companies as far as the animal feed goes. Purina owns Mazuri, but it's much different from the dog food Purina, too. The customer service is different, everything seems to be different.

I wouldn't want to feed Purina food to my dogs either.

 

[arf2184]

The history of Purina is quite interesting and confusing. It started out as animal feed in 1894. It was called 'purina' to relate it to 'purity'. The found was very religious. The company grew to people food and became Ralston Purina (cereal...did you know Chex cereals were created by Purina?) and eventually got into restaurants and a bunch of other stuff. Basically they just got too big for their own good and had to start selling off companies in the 80s. Purina Mills (the feed but not dog and cat food company) changed hands a few times after being sold in 1986 (originally being sold to British Petroleum), eventually became an independent company (with no parent company), then let themselves be taken over by Koch Industries, got in trouble by investing too much in the pig industry (which went down hill in the late 90s) and ended up filing for bankruptcy. After reorganizing, it was bought by Land O Lakes in 2001(?).

Sorry...gone a bit off topic.

 

[AZChins]

I think it's interesting....it's on topic...it just organically grew to embrace another aspect of the topic.

 

[aussiljd]

I guess I'll just stick with the Oxbow then Thanks for the input.

As for the Purina thing, I had no idea they were separate companies, thanks for pointing that out. Now if I ever find a reason to feed my chins the Purina Mills products I will not be as hesitant

 

[Chin_Pig]

i dont think we should be bashing companies like that saying they are crap...


the indecent with melamine with dog food started with Menu Foods, i dont now if this is why you hate purina but i just dont think it should be called crap food, there are plenty of other companies that make lower quality foods then purina.

 

[Essentia]

What kind of dust are you using on the rescues? I only use Blue Cloud and I have had the absolute greasiest chins looking fantastic in a few weeks.