right type of pellets?

[RachieAC]

I just got my Chili last week. He is 2 yrs. old and he came for free with everything from this girl I know. He had no toys and no bedding and I don't think she took the best care of him. I already built him a very nice melamine cage with a little house and got him some stuff to chew on and play with, but I was wondering if I should switch his food? She has been feeding him this kind that has dried fruit and carrot pieces in it, and he will eat those instead of the actual pellets. Does anyone recommend a specific brand or anything? Thx!

[Charles & Ingrid]

I know that people are going to jump me for using the forum to promote ChinWorld... but really, your little guy should be eating better so here goes...

There are quite a few good chinchilla diets out there. It doesn't sound like Chili has been getting one of these. At ChinWorld.com (http://www.chinworld.com) we sell Mazuri which, in our experience and opinion, is one of the best, if not the best, chinchilla pellets available. Other good diets include the Alice Kline diet and we also like Chillets from Nutritional Research.

Pet store diets with "goodies" in them are definitely not what you want to be feeding Chili. Also, be aware that pet store feeds tend not to be the freshest and chins do notice the difference.

Having said all that, most people give great attention to their choice of pellet, but no attention to the hay they use. In fact, chns get most of their nutrition from eating hay. Their pellets are just to fill in any nutritional gaps left out in the hay. Give as much attention to your hay selection as you do your choice of feed.

Hay cubes are nutritionally fine, but if you are willing to put up with the mess, Chili would undoubtedly prefer loose hay and considering his age, timothy would be the hay of choice.

So, we would suggest that you couldn't go wrong in putting Chili on Mazuri pellets (other's may recommend their favorite brand, but Mazuri certainly has a proven track record), and giving him a daily handful of loose quality timothy hay.

Finally, if you think he might not have been getting the best diet in the past, it might not be a bad idea all to give him a daily teaspoon full of our Herbs'n Oats in a separate treat dish for a few weeks. It will help fill him out and get his fur in good shape. After that give him some every so often as a treat. By daily, we don't mean every single day, but rather, maybe 5 or 6 days a week to start and then taper down to 2 or 3 days per week.

Anyway, hope this helps you provide Chili with a happy and healhy life!

Chinnie best,

Charles & Ingrid

[dawn]

This FAQ may help you also http://www.chins-n-quills.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44293

[mmantyh]

Since your in MI, there are plenty of breeders who use Tradition there. You can check with JAGS & see if you can order a smaller amount than a 50# bag. Get a good hay also ... Oxbow or Kleenmama's sells in smaller amounts suitable for a single chin :)

[Karin]

ahh.. why would anyone want to pounce on you for pushing chinworld.. you are the originator's of this awesome forum anyways..

and i concur with all that was stated.. i have been trying (to no avail) for months to get my best friend to change her chin's food.. she also feeds the food with the "extra's"... why??? pellets, hay... all they need.. geez..
and knowing her chin also gets treats? whew...
i've recently started ordering extra supplies.. so when my friend comes to visit, she always takes home "good" hay, (apd) and toys..
i use mazuri.. only mazuri since that's all dusty has ever known.. and i recently started buying the 1st and 2nd cut apd hay since dusty tears it up so fast..
some will say mazuri, tradition, and oxbow.. they are all awesome...
please, do stop feeding the chin that food, and get some quality food.. you will find tons of links to the different stores that offer it..

[Jules7533]

Surprisingly, at least the ones here, Petsmart started carrying fresh hay as well. My chins love it, I believe it is Kaytee. I use to buy at a feed store and it was not as green nor did my chins like it as much as the stuff at Petsmart. Give it a shot, it is easily accesible. They carry Mazuri there as well, but I don't know how fresh it is, but it is better than what you have now. I get my pellets through a feed store that special orders Mazuri for me, chins love it!!

[chin_gal]

Actually Jules, Kaytee isn't all that good. But, I too noticed that it has been very green and strong (smell) at petsmart. I used Kaytee a few months back...but am now using Oxbow and have never been happier with hay! I think my chinnies say the same! :) I also use tradition which I think is an EXCELLENT feed! Good luck with your new chin! Post pics when you can! :D

[Chinch]

i just got my chin a little over a month ago, and he too was eating kaytee hay (not good) and eating the pellets with rolled oats, raisins, and banana chips in it!!!

i recently switched to Oxbow Timothy Hay (super, super awesome!!!), and i just started him now on Tradition Pellets (again, super super awesome, he finishes all of his food now!!!).

i would totally recommend these 2 things for him, and i also have in my chin's cage an alfalfa hay cube.

[marper]

i recently switched to Oxbow Timothy Hay (super, super awesome!!!), and i just started him now on Tradition Pellets (again, super super awesome, he finishes all of his food now!!!).

i would totally recommend these 2 things for him, and i also have in my chin's cage an alfalfa hay cube.

Hehehe thats the same things i feed my chin and I have 2 agree there great!

[Jules7533]

Actually Jules, Kaytee isn't all that good. But, I too noticed that it has been very green and strong (smell) at petsmart. I used Kaytee a few months back...but am now using Oxbow and have never been happier with hay! I think my chinnies say the same! :) I also use tradition which I think is an EXCELLENT feed! Good luck with your new chin! Post pics when you can! :D


I am sorry, but I beg to differ! :lol: My chins love it and it is Kaytee. I know their food is horrible, but Timothy hay is Timothy hay, right?? As long as it is really green and smells strong it is great hay. I have bought Oxbow for my chins at a feed store and it was not nearly as fresh, my chins threw it on the floor. I also bought Alfalfa King from Chin world and my chins ate some of it, but the Kaytee, they eat the great majority of. I guess it depends where you buy it. Not arguing, but just because a company makes a crappy food, does not mean all their products are bad, their rosehips are great to! :) Just a different perspective for all you Kaytee critics, try it you might like it! :rofl: