[LilCritter]

My co-worker gave me some really good dog food that he can't use since his dog is picky and whatnot. Anyways, it's an all organic brand and I'd like to use it. Currently, my mix is at a 10% protein ratio, but that is for when the dog food is 18% crude protein. This brand, Lotus, is at 24%. I'm thinking to dilute it more in the mix. I also have some Oxbow Regal Rat pellets in the mix to cover anything that I miss with the grains, seeds, fruits, and veggies. Currently, I have it planned out to be diluted to ~7-8% protein in the mix. Should I dilute the protein further?

 

[nanashi7]

Rats need about 12-14% protein

 

[LilCritter]

So I should increase the amount of protein in the mix even though it's so high in the dog food?

Currently, this is my mix:

Base Mix
3 hulled millet 50.00% 50-60%
3 rye berries
3 pearled barley
3 hulless barley
3 quinoa
4 whole oat groats
4 chia seeds
3 amaranth grain
3 raw buckwheat groats
3 wild rice
3 brown rice


Processed Grains
3 whole wheat pasta 20.00% 20-25%
3 tri-colored pasta
4 Arrowhead puffed wheat cereal
4 Arrowhead puffed kamut


Lab Block
5 Oxbow 7.14%


Protein
8 Lotus (24% crude protein) 11.43% 12-14%


Seeds
1.5 raw hulled pumpkin seed/linseed/hemp seed 5.00% 5%
1 golden flax seed
1 brown flax seed


Herbs and Vegetables
2 Dark Greens 6.43% 5-10%
1 Colorful Veggies
1 Other Veggies
0.5 Fruits

Total 70

I have 5 females currently. I'm not sure if that makes a difference. The protein is lower than 12% since the Oxbow Regal Rat pellets are still available and have protein in there as well.

 

[Isamurat]

Ahhh your mixing by volume. The 12 to 14% is relevant to by weight. The oxbow is kind of protien neutral in thete because it's what your aiming for. i would use about 5 to 10% by volume of the dog food in your mix. towards the 5% if you have old ladies in the group and higher if you have youngsters. If there coat starts getting a bit rough you can up it

 

[LilCritter]

I have 4 4 month olds and a 3 month old, approximate ages... I made some adjustments in regards to the protein. The mix is now:

Base Mix
3 hulled millet 52.24% 50-60%
3 rye berries
3 pearled barley
3 hulless barley
3 quinoa
4 whole oat groats
4 chia seeds
3 amaranth grain
3 raw buckwheat groats
3 wild rice
3 brown rice

Processed Grains
3 whole wheat pasta 20.90% 20-25%
3 tri-colored pasta
4 Arrowhead puffed wheat cereal
4 Arrowhead puffed kamut

Lab Block
5 Oxbow 7.46%


Protein
5 Lotus 7.46% 5-10%


Seeds
1.5 raw hulled pumpkin seed/linseed/hemp seed 5.22% 5%
1 golden flax seed
1 brown flax seed


Herbs and Vegetables
2 Dark Greens 6.72% 5-10%
1 Colorful Veggies
1 Other Veggies
0.5 Fruits





Total 67

 

[Isamurat]

That looks good. i would give them bones once a week out two and try and find a vitamin d suppliment (they do vit d extracted cod live oil here and vit d drops in the states). I'd also give liver about every fortnight to help with the copper.

That does look a lovely varied mix

 

[LilCritter]

How would I deliver vitamin D drops? How much would I give per rat?

Would these work? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001R5O3QY...TF8&colid=2LSBIERAQG5A1&coliid=I1FVGW0TI2S3X4

Can I dehydrate the liver and add it to the mix? I also have dried white mushrooms added to give some copper as well. The rats seem to love it.

What are the bones for?

 

[Isamurat]

If yours eat dehydrated mushroom thats brill, mine hated the stuff lol. Dried liver can also work, you can also get liver treats for cats and dogs, or i regularly make liver busicuits which i freeze a batch of and then give them one every couple of days. I also add other vitamins to that regularly too.

The bones are a very palitable form of calcium, most rats love gnawring them, if they've got marrow in too that is full of other useful bits and bobs. You have tow atch the amount of bones more with oldies but for babies and youngsters they are a really good healthy treat.

In terms of vitamin D, if i lived in the US i would use something like this http://www.amazon.com/Liquid-Vitami...UTF8&qid=1415883320&sr=1-9&keywords=vitamin+d and feed probably 1 drop per rat around twice a week. Or two drops once a week. In theory you could back this into liver busicuits too, though bear in mind that a good amount will be destroyed by cooking so tripple the amount to be safe.

 

[LilCritter]

Do you just put it in the water?

 

[Isamurat]

i would put it on wet food as it's easier to judge how much the take