Which Feed

[Paws4Chins]

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?

 

[tunes]

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?)

Ideally, chins should have high fiber, low protein diets. 15-16% protein is deal, with higher fiber.

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?

They do this to protect their formulas. If they listed every single thing with it's amounts, then it would be very easy for someone to copy them. Tradition was developed by a very well known chinchilla breeder and is used by most of the breeders in Ohio and surrounding states. If I could get it out here, it would be hands down my first choice.

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?

There are some who will recommend Penpals and others of us who used it and lost a signifcant amount of animals while using it. I would never recommend using it again. If you choose to use a rabbit feed, I would choose Nutrena or Purina.

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?

I'll leave this to someone else to address as I don't honestly know. I know that Oxbow is highly recommended, mostly by pet owners, and that their chins do very well on it. Breeders don't use it because it is incredibly expensive.

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?

Many people had issues with Mazuri causing diarrhea in their chins. A lot of those people complained to Mazuri. Instead of changing the formula of the feed, they added acidophilus and other "stuff" to control the diarrhea. While I am absolutely sure you will get someone on here saying that Mazuri is wonderful feed, all I can say is - if they had to cover up the problem with a bunch of junk, that doesn't mean they fixed the problem, they simply masked it. If you want to give your chin acidophilus, just give it to them a couple times a week sprinkled on their feed or on a chin safe treat.

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?

See my opinion of Mazuri above. I used it, I had mondo loose poops, I won't use it and I don't really recommend it. Others will. As far as Oxbow's price - buying food for two chins is nothing. I would easily be able to feed Oxbow (and probably would) with just two chins. If you were talking 20+? Not so much. They are ridiculously high by the 50 pound bag. I think you will find that the folks who use Oxbow swear by it religiously and would tell you to go with Oxbow.

 

[menagerie]

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?

See my opinion of Mazuri above. I used it, I had mondo loose poops, I won't use it and I don't really recommend it. Others will. As far as Oxbow's price - buying food for two chins is nothing. I would easily be able to feed Oxbow (and probably would) with just two chins. If you were talking 20+? Not so much. They are ridiculously high by the 50 pound bag. I think you will find that the folks who use Oxbow swear by it religiously and would tell you to go with Oxbow.

Would you consider having a constantly upset stomach (diarrhea) to be a problem if it happened to you? I don't feed Mazuri as it upsets the tummies of a few of the chins here. Even with 29 chins, I feed Oxbow as it's the only food that all the chins will eat, doesn't upset anyone and they all do well on.

 

[missjess10475]

I've only had chins for a few months, so I'm new also. I started them on Mazuri. They had loose poo also. I switched to Tradition and have had no problems. I live in Ohio, and only have to drive 35 minutes to get 50 lb. bags, so I'm very lucky. Mazuri is like $2.50 a lb. at the pet stores! You can have Tradition delivered, but not for as cheap as going out there to buy it! The Ryerson's ship it.
Tradition is highly recommended and used by many people!

 

[Maia]

I also started on Mazuri and switched to Tradition after my chin developed soft poos. There have since been no problems, and while I may prefer the smell of the Mazuri over the Tradition, that's a small price to pay for a healthy chin.

I do happen to live in OH but not close enough to the Ryerson's to pick up my Tradition feed. Still, shipping isn't too bad considering what you might pay for feed in a pet store.

 

[aznmexaggie]

16-18% protein seems to be most accepted as protein values best for a chinchilla diet.

Fiber should be high as chinchillas are meant for a high-roughage diet. Most good chin feeds are >18%.

You did not analyze Manna Pro Sho but it is one of the more popular show rabbit feeds used by breeders here on the West Coast. I have been using it for 5 years now and have never had any problems with the feed.

Here's the Nutritional Analysis and Ingredient List for Manna Pro Sho milled in CA:

Manna Pro Sho

Crude Protein Min 16.00 %
Crude Fat Min 3.50 %
Crude Fiber Min 18.00 %
Crude Fiber Max 23.00 %
Calcium Min 0.75 %
Calcium Max 1.25 %
Phosphorus Min 0.55 %
Salt Min 0.25 %
Salt Max 0.75 %
Vitamin A Min 3,000 IU/lb

Suncured alfalfa meal, wheat mill run, rice bran, soybean hulls (10%), soybean meal, feeding oatmeal, dried whey, cane molasses, brewers dried yeast, Saccharomyces Cervisiae fermentation solubles, DL-methionine, L-lysine, calcium carbonate, monocalcium phosphate, dicalcium phosphate, salt, ferrous carbonate, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, copper amino acid chelate, manganous oxide, manganese sulfate, manganese amino acid chelate, zinc oxide, zinc sulfate, zinc amino acid chelate, cobalt carbonate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin supplement, niacin supplement, choline chloride, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, dried Enterococcus Faecium fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus Casei, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus Plantarum fermentation product, dried Bacillus Subtilis fermentation product, dried Aspergillus Oryzae fermentation extract, papaya extract, Yucca Schidigera extract

 

[Mt. Zion Chins]

I am one of the ones who love Mazuri. Never had a problem with it and I have over 40 chins. I do now mix it with Purina show rabbit because of the expense

 

[Pikaia]

I love Mazuri too. I don't have a problem either, every chin is different though.

 

[Paws4Chins]

Thanks for all the input. I have really enjoyed this forum and have gleaned lots of good information.