Paws4Chins
Chin Spirit
I will be a new Chinchilla owner of 2 in about 10 days and have evaluating my different feed options. I have read many threads regarding this topic but still have questions. Here is what I have gleaned so far from my research. Hill's Animal Clinical Nutrition requirements for Chins is Protein 18-20% Fiber 15-35% and Fat 4%. I have been analyzing the Mazuri, Oxbow, Tradition, and then the Rabbit feeds Nutrena, MannaPro, PANR (I think this is the one), and another one recommended to me PenPals.
1. I have noticed that most of the rabbit feeds fiber content is way up there any were from 19 all the way up 24%. I understand that Chins need lots of fiber but do they need this much and as much as rabbits? Is this too much a bad thing or would it be better to feed a higher fiber diet? Then if so I would think it would be a better idea to go with high quality rabbit feed (even if it is against conventional thinking?)
2. Did you know that the ingredient list for Tradition Chin Pellets lists forage products, grain by-products, plant protein products, and roughage products...thus meaning it can contain anything that fits these categories. I have been trained that when analyzing feed that this type of label is highly suspect. Purina's rabbit feed lists forage products, plant protein products, and grain products as well. What are your thougts?
3. Pen Pals label lists the same ingredients as the first three n Mazuir's label and the fourth being ground soybean hulls for Mazuri and Pen Pals being Soybean Hulls. This would seem to me that they are similar products?
4. Oxbow's label is also very similar but they list soybean hulls as 2nd ingredient. I have learned that grinding a product will decrease the amount of digestion needed to digest the food. So would it be better to have whole hulls listed higher and less meal in Chin food because they need more fiber?
5. Finally, I see that Mazuri has beet pulp this is supposed to aid in digestion and maintain optimum GI Flora in dogs/cats would it do the same in Chins? Also Mazuri includes Lactobacillus and yeast culture (Oxbow adds yeast culture only and PenPals adds Lactobacillus only). Is this to help in digestion and GI flora as well?
6. I think after analyzing my options I have decided on Mazuri as the best choice but I have read posts by people who feed it and that they get soft poos. Do you think this is a big consideration. Also, I think this is a more cost effective product...does Oxbow quality really equal its high price? Am I missing something?
1. I have noticed that most of the rabbit feeds fiber content is way up there any were from 19 all the way up 24%. I understand that Chins need lots of fiber but do they need this much and as much as rabbits? Is this too much a bad thing or would it be better to feed a higher fiber diet? Then if so I would think it would be a better idea to go with high quality rabbit feed (even if it is against conventional thinking?)
2. Did you know that the ingredient list for Tradition Chin Pellets lists forage products, grain by-products, plant protein products, and roughage products...thus meaning it can contain anything that fits these categories. I have been trained that when analyzing feed that this type of label is highly suspect. Purina's rabbit feed lists forage products, plant protein products, and grain products as well. What are your thougts?
3. Pen Pals label lists the same ingredients as the first three n Mazuir's label and the fourth being ground soybean hulls for Mazuri and Pen Pals being Soybean Hulls. This would seem to me that they are similar products?
4. Oxbow's label is also very similar but they list soybean hulls as 2nd ingredient. I have learned that grinding a product will decrease the amount of digestion needed to digest the food. So would it be better to have whole hulls listed higher and less meal in Chin food because they need more fiber?
5. Finally, I see that Mazuri has beet pulp this is supposed to aid in digestion and maintain optimum GI Flora in dogs/cats would it do the same in Chins? Also Mazuri includes Lactobacillus and yeast culture (Oxbow adds yeast culture only and PenPals adds Lactobacillus only). Is this to help in digestion and GI flora as well?
6. I think after analyzing my options I have decided on Mazuri as the best choice but I have read posts by people who feed it and that they get soft poos. Do you think this is a big consideration. Also, I think this is a more cost effective product...does Oxbow quality really equal its high price? Am I missing something?