meaty treats for rats - Page 2

catz4m8z · #11 (**permalink**) 20-10-2010, 03:39 PM

I fed a combination of plain rat mix and shunamite style diet. Difference is its in seperate bits!
My rats have their rat/rabbit mix in their cage, also the odd bit of table scraps. Then when they free range in the evening they have a digging box with dog bics or mealworm to pick out. Then I scatter tissue boxes round with healthy breakfast cereal/popcorn/seeds/dried veg/etc so they have to come out and hunt down their own dinner!
I love the look of excitement they get when they discover a particlarly tasty box!!LOL

owieprone · #12 (**permalink**) 20-10-2010, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spoiled_rat

Alfafa is not toxic, and is not undigestible, its just difficult to digest, there is a difference.
There is quite a reasonable level of digestible protein, fibre, minerals, amino acids and so on within it...there are lots of incorrect rumours regarding foods it seems.

Regarding dog food, i do not use chicken based foods, usually fish, as it is often safer to feed due to alot of cheaper dog foods using chicken full of fillers and growth hormones, which can have an effect on tumour formation.

i was close. hard to digest means they don't get the full nutrient source from it and so imo pointless to feed them something like that as it's merely a bulking agent which will make them feel full when they're not getting what they need as they would by eating something that is fully digestable. that is just my opinion though.

the problem with fish is that it's not the best option for anyone, let alone animals. having said that Tilapia is usually the fish used animal feeds (and completely and wrongly ignored for humans, it's quite tasty apparently,i wouldn't know as i don't seafood), it is low tropic level and so has as little crap in it as possible in this day and age.. however, it is NOT problem free by any means. I don't even feed my cats fish, let alone the rats.

I would suggest buying a whole chicken from a known source having the good stuff yourself and giving the rats the offcuts/not so nice bits, that way you also have stuff to make stock for soups/casseroles/pies etc.

spoiled_rat · #13 (**permalink**) 20-10-2010, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by owieprone

i was close. hard to digest means they don't get the full nutrient source from it and so imo pointless to feed them something like that as it's merely a bulking agent which will make them feel full when they're not getting what they need as they would by eating something that is fully digestable. that is just my opinion though.

Urrmmm, well you obviously didnt read my post that well, as its not a bulking agent at all, it just takes a little longer to digest

owieprone · #14 (**permalink**) 20-10-2010, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spoiled_rat

Urrmmm, well you obviously didnt read my post that well, as its not a bulking agent at all, it just takes a little longer to digest

yes i did, what i was getting at was: if it takes longer to digest is it in the digestive tract long enough for all the digestible elements to be digested fully and therefore is it worth the effort and energy used up or is it worth not feeding them anything with alfalfa (and similarly hard to digest foods) and feeding them something(s) with the same constituents that they can readily digest with no problems and therefore guarantee that their dietary requirements are met without undue effort and energy being spent.

momentofmadness · #15 (**permalink**) 20-10-2010, 08:16 PM

OMGoodness.. Now Im just wondering have never read whether bacon is a no no or a yes yes... Any one please???

spoiled_rat · #16 (**permalink**) 20-10-2010, 08:40 PM

Bacon is fine.

momentofmadness · #17 (**permalink**) 20-10-2010, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spoiled_rat

Bacon is fine.

Oh good cause they love it when I have a Bacon Butty..lol

And nd if I have a packet of crisp they will mug me.. Jason tried to steal one I was popping in my mouth the other day..lol then cause I didn't share he licked my lips.. very weird.. lol

lil muppet · #18 (**permalink**) 03-11-2010, 04:17 PM

i have been feeding the shunamite diet for a couple of weeks and my rats love it! they all seem very healthy and are clearing their bowls!! they still get their raw chicks the day before cleanout once every two week (for obvious reasons!!((they get cleaned out once a week btw!)). i will keep feeding this diet as it is doing them the world of good! and its cheaper than pets at home so all is good!

Petitepuppet · #19 (**permalink**) 03-11-2010, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lil_muppet

i have been feeding the shunamite diet for a couple of weeks and my rats love it! they all seem very healthy and are clearing their bowls!! they still get their raw chicks the day before cleanout once every two week (for obvious reasons!!((they get cleaned out once a week btw!)). i will keep feeding this diet as it is doing them the world of good! and its cheaper than pets at home so all is good!

The shunamite diet is brilliant. Glad your lot are doing well on it. I noticed a huge diffrence with my lots coats after I started feeding the SD. You feed raw chicks? I have never thought about feeding rats raw.

lil muppet · #20 (**permalink**) 03-11-2010, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petitepuppet

The shunamite diet is brilliant. Glad your lot are doing well on it. I noticed a huge diffrence with my lots coats after I started feeding the SD. You feed raw chicks? I have never thought about feeding rats raw.

oh yeah they love them! just not too often tho

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