Rodent Diet

I've been made some changes to the dry diet to offer more variety.  Their dry diet consists of a combination of commercial blocks, a commercial mix and a homemade mix.

species	commercial food	source
rat/ mouse	Rodent Breeder 6F # 5M30	You can contact your local feed store or order it online through mazuri.com
hamster/ gerbil	Mazuri Hamster/Gerbil Diet #5E10	I get mine from my local feed store but you can also order directly from mazuri.com
hamster/ gerbil	Supreme Hazel Hamster	I order mine from Pet Mountain.
hamster/ gerbil	Drs Foster and Smith Signature Series Premium Hamster Food	Drs Foster and Smith

The items with a * indicate a non-human grade ingredient.

As of 7/2013 the homemade mixes are:

Homemade Dry Mix Base for Rats and Mice

60%
Thick cut Rolled Oats
Barley Flakes
Rye Flakes

20%
Total Cereal
Cheerios

15%

Air Dried Carrots
Dried Parsley
Dried Cranberries
Dried Bananas
Split Peas
Herb Salad (Calendula (Marigold) Flowers, Whole; Chamomile Flowers; Dandelion Leaf, Cut; Hibiscus Flowers, Cut; Raspberry Leaf; Rose Hips (Seedless), Cut)
Dried Sweet (Bell) Peppers
Other Dried fruits and veggies as available

5%
Dog Food (I use Kirkland Lowfat)*

Syrian Hamster/Mongolian Gerbil Homemade Dry Mix:

27%
Thick cut Rolled Oats/Groats
Barley Flakes/Berries
Rye Flakes/Berries

18%
Seed Mix (millet, canary, flax seed, safflower, hemp seeds)*

27%

Air Dried Carrots
Dried Parsley
Herb Salad (Calendula (Marigold) Flowers, Whole; Chamomile Flowers; Dandelion Leaf, Cut; Hibiscus Flowers, Cut; Raspberry Leaf; Rose Hips (Seedless), Cut)
Dried Sweet (Bell) Peppers

Other dried veggies as available

9%

Unsalted Roasted Peanuts

Sunflower seeds*

Pumpkin seeds*

4%

Split Peas

Lentils

Total Cereal
Cheerios

15%

Freeze Dried Meal Worms* and/or Freeze Dried River Shrimp*

Current fresh food offerings:
As I've been doing more cooking at home, I've moved away from the basic frozen mix.  In season fruits and vegetables, scraps from the table make their way to the critter cages.  Just be mindful of the forbidden food lists for each species.

When I don't cook as much, I prepare a basic frozen mix is (with amounts listed) and then I add something different every day:

Frozen broccoli 5#

Peas 5#

Kale 5#

Sweet Potatoes 5 pounds (cooked, purchased raw from Winco) 

Beans 10 cups (cooked mixed beans purchased from bulk bins at Winco) No kidney beans.

Basmatti Brown Rice 12 cups (cooked, purchased from bulk bins at Winco)

Quinoa 12 cups (cooked, purchased from bulk bins at Winco)

I steam the rice and quinoa the day before combining my mix. I also cook the beans.  I boil them for 10 minutes then let simmer for 3 hours.  I cook the sweet potatoes.  I put the rice and quinoa in the freezer overnight and the beans and sweet potatoes in the refrigerator overnight.   The next day I cut up the sweet potatoes into cubes and mix everything together.  I then divide into freezer baggies for me to pull out and heat up daily for the critters.

Again, these diets are their BASIC diet.  They do eat other foods.  I mix in additional items in their frozen mix, for example bok choy, apples, canned mandarin oranges, blueberries, et cetera.  Just watch the items on the forbidden food list.

Inspiration:
I got inspiration for the diet here from the sites below.

The Dapper Rat http://www.dapper.com.au/articles.htm#diet
Dream Mountain Rattery http://www.dreammtnfarm.com/rattery/about.htm
RatFanClub http://www.ratfanclub.org/nutreq.html
Rattie Rascals Rattery http://www.boardmanweb.com/rattery/nutrition.htm
Shunamite Diet: http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/information/guides.php?subject=shunamite
Hamster Hideout forum

Rodent Dry Mix

I've refined my mix again, and this is current as of 1/11/2013.  The seeds in the mix are sold as bird seeds.  The items with a * indicate a non-human grade ingredient.

As of 1/2013:

Dry Mix Base for Rats and Mice

60%
Thick cut Rolled Oats
Barley Flakes
Rye Flakes
Titricale Flakes

20%
Total Cereal
Cheerios

15%

Air Dried Carrots
Dried Parsley
Raisins
Dried Cranberries
Dried Bananas
Split Peas
Herb Salad (Calendula (Marigold) Flowers, Whole; Chamomile Flowers; Dandelion Leaf, Cut; Hibiscus Flowers, Cut; Raspberry Leaf; Rose Hips (Seedless), Cut)
Dried Sweet (Bell) Peppers
Other Dried fruits and veggies as available

5%
Dog Food (I use Kirkland Lowfat)*

(For treats and enrichment, I put hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, and freeze dried meal worms in a digging box (ground walnut shells).

Syrian Hamster/Mongolian Gerbil Dry Mix:
27%
Thick cut Rolled Oats/Groats
Barley Flakes/Berries
Rye Flakes/Berries
Titricale Flakes/Berries

18%
Seed Mix (millet, canary, flax seed, safflower, hemp seeds)*

27%

Air Dried Carrots
Dried Parsley
Herb Salad (Calendula (Marigold) Flowers, Whole; Chamomile Flowers; Dandelion Leaf, Cut; Hibiscus Flowers, Cut; Raspberry Leaf; Rose Hips (Seedless), Cut)
Dried Sweet (Bell) Peppers

Other dried veggies as available

9%

Unsalted Roasted Peanuts

Sunflower seeds*

Pumpkin seeds*

4%

Dried Bananas
Other dried fruits as available
Split Peas

Lentils

Total Cereal
Cheerios

15%

Freeze Dried Meal Worms* and/or Freeze Dried River Shrimp*

Oxbow hamster/gerbil food*

Frozen mix is (with amounts listed):

Frozen broccoli 5#

Peas 5#

Kale 5#

Sweet Potatoes 5 pounds (cooked, purchased raw from Winco) 

Beans 10 cups (cooked mixed beans purchased from bulk bins at Winco) No kidney beans.

Basmatti Brown Rice 12 cups (cooked, purchased from bulk bins at Winco)

Quinoa 12 cups (cooked, purchased from bulk bins at Winco)

I steam the rice and quinoa the day before combining my mix. I also cook the beans.  I boil them for 10 minutes then let simmer for 3 hours.  I cook the sweet potatoes.  I put the rice and quinoa in the freezer overnight and the beans and sweet potatoes in the refrigerator overnight.   The next day I cut up the sweet potatoes into cubes and mix everything together.  I then divide into freezer baggies for me to pull out and heat up daily for the critters.

Again, these diets are their BASIC diet.  They do eat other foods.  I mix in additional items in their frozen mix, for example bok choy, apples, canned mandarin oranges, blueberries, et cetera.  Just watch the items on the forbidden food list.

Inspiration:
I got inspiration for the diet here from the sites below.

The Dapper Rat http://www.dapper.com.au/articles.htm#diet
Dream Mountain Rattery http://www.dreammtnfarm.com/rattery/about.htm
RatFanClub http://www.ratfanclub.org/nutreq.html
Rattie Rascals Rattery http://www.boardmanweb.com/rattery/nutrition.htm
Shunamite Diet: http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/information/guides.php?subject=shunamite

Rodent Diet

I've adjusted the diet again, mainly the frozen one.  I also added information on the meat and fish offerings.  With the exception of the dog food and some treats, such as Itty Bitty Cloud Biscuits, everything is human grade food.

The current basic dry mix is:

Regular or Thick Cut Rolled Oats (100 pounds) www.azurestandard.com
Rolled 9 Grain Flakes+ (50 pounds) www.azurestandard.com
Triticale Flakes (50 pounds) www.azurestandard.com
Rolled Barley (25 pounds) www.azurestandard.com
Rolled Rye (25 pounds) www.azurestandard.com
Kirkland Low Fat Dog Food (Chicken Soup for the Dog Lovers Soul, Light formula or Diamond Lowfat Dog Food also work for this mix) (40 pounds) Costco
Dried Carrots (10 pounds) http://www.northbaytrading.com/air-dried-carrots/
Total Cereal (12 boxes) Online or grocery store
Dried Cranberries (4 pounds) Winco Bulk Bins
Raisins (4 pounds) Winco Bulk Bins
Banana Chips (4 pounds) Winco Bulk Bins

*I do sometimes add another cereal like Cheerios, for variety.
+Hard Red Wheat, Oat Groats, Triticale Berries, Rye Berries, Dehulled Barley, Soft White Wheat, Spelt Berries, Hard White Wheat, Flax.
Baby rats and pregnant mothers (should any ever come here pregnant) are fed additional food such as Innova kitten food.

Frozen mix is (with amounts listed):

Frozen Broccoli (small pieces) 5 pounds (Cash and Carry)
Frozen Peas 5 pounds (Costco)
Frozen Kale 5 pounds (Whole Foods)
Sweet Potatoes 5 pounds (cooked, purchased raw from Winco or Costco)
Beans 10 cups (cooked mixed beans purchased from bulk bins at Winco--1 cup dry  = 2.25 cups cooked)
Basmatti Brown Rice 12 cups (cooked, purchased from bulk bins at Winco-- 1 cup dry = 3 cups cooked)
Quinoa 12 cups (cooked, purchased from bulk bins at Winco -- 1 cup dry = 4 cups cooked)

I steam the rice and quinoa the day before combining my mix. I also cook the beans. I boil them for 3 minutes then let simmer for 3 hours. I cook the sweet potatoes. I put the rice and quinoa in the freezer overnight and the beans and sweet potatoes in the refrigerator overnight. The next day I cut up the sweet potatoes into cubes and mix everything together. I then divide into freezer baggies for me to pull out and heat up daily for the critters.

Again, these diets are their BASIC diet. They do eat other foods. I mix in additional items in their frozen mix, for example bok choy, apples, canned mandarin oranges, et cetera. Just watch the items on the forbidden food list.

I do feed meat and fish to the critters. They get it at least once a week, the day before cage cleaning. They get lamb, chicken, smelt, beef liver, tilapia, just to name a few.

The Dapper Rat http://www.dapper.com.au/articles.htm#diet
Dream Mountain Rattery http://www.dreammtnfarm.com/rattery/about.htm
RatFanClub http://www.ratfanclub.org/nutreq.html
Rattie Rascals Rattery http://www.boardmanweb.com/rattery/nutrition.htm
Shunamite Diet: http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/information/guides.php?subject=shunamite

Rodent Mix Reformulation

The current basic dry mix is:

Regular or Thick Cut Rolled Oats (100 pounds) www.azurestandard.com
Rolled 9 Grain Flakes⁺ (50 pounds) www.azurestandard.com
Triticale Flakes (50 pounds) www.azurestandard.com
Rolled Barley (25 pounds) www.azurestandard.com
Rolled Rye (25 pounds) www.azurestandard.com
Kirkland Low Fat Dog Food (Chicken Soup for the Dog Lovers Soul, Light formula or Diamond Lowfat Dog Food also work for this mix) (40 pounds)  Costco
Dried Carrots (10 pounds) http://www.northbaytrading.com/air-dried-carrots/
Blueberry Pomegranate Total  (12 boxes) Amazon.com No longer made
Cranberry Crunch Total (12 boxes) Amazon.com
Dried Cranberries (4 pounds) Winco Bulk Bins
Raisins (4 pounds) Winco Bulk Bins
Banana Chips (4 pounds) Winco Bulk Bins

*I do sometimes add another cereal like Cheerios, Corn Flakes, et cetera, for variety.
⁺Hard Red Wheat, Oat Groats, Triticale Berries, Rye Berries, Dehulled Barley, Soft White Wheat, Spelt Berries, Hard White Wheat, Flax.

This makes me 5 18 gallon totes to store this in.  With the exception of the dog food, all foods are human grade.

Frozen mix is (with amounts listed):

Normandy Mix (broccoli, cauliflower, yellow squash, carrots) 11 pounds (Costco)
Green Beans 5 pounds (Costco)
Corn 5 pounds (Costco)
Peas 5 pounds (Costco)
Kale 5 pounds (Whole Foods)
Sweet Potatoes 5 pounds (cooked, purchased raw from Winco)
Beans 10 cups (cooked mixed beans purchased from bulk bins at Winco)
Basmatti Brown Rice 12 cups (cooked, purchased from bulk bins at Winco)
Quinoa 12 cups (cooked, purchased from bulk bins at Winco)

I steam the rice and quinoa the day before combining my mix. I also cook the beans.  I boil them for 3 minutes then let simmer for 3 hours.  I cook the sweet potatoes.  I put the rice and quinoa in the freezer overnight and the beans and sweet potatoes in the refrigerator overnight.   The next day I cut up the sweet potatoes into cubes and mix everything together.  I then divide into freezer baggies for me to pull out and heat up daily for the critters.

Again, these diets are their BASIC diet.  They do eat other foods.  I mix in additional items in their frozen mix, for example bok choy, apples, canned mandarin oranges, et cetera.  Just watch the items on the forbidden food list.

The Dapper Rat http://www.dapper.com.au/articles.htm#diet
Dream Mountain Rattery http://www.dreammtnfarm.com/rattery/about.htm
RatFanClub http://www.ratfanclub.org/nutreq.html
Rattie Rascals Rattery http://www.boardmanweb.com/rattery/nutrition.htm
Shunamite Diet: http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/information/guides.php?subject=shunamite

Frozen Rodent Mix

Taking a leaf from the Dapper Rat's site on her frozen food recipe, I decided to try a frozen mix myself since I'm always so pressed for time.

Thanks to another friend, I found Whole Foods sells frozen kale.  In the interest of time I also used the frozen rice and beans.  In future mixes, I'll make the rice and beans myself.

I gave them some tonight and they all LOVED it.  I will vary it every batch but there are some base ingredients I will use in every batch.  I'll add other items for variety.

• Frozen Whole Kale  (10#)
• Frozen Chopped Broccoli, Cauliflower, Squash, Carrots (11#)
• Peas (5#)
• Corn (5#)
• 10 cups of cooked beans
• 12 cups steamed brown basmatti rice
• 12 cups steamed quinoa
• Frozen Green Beans (5#)

For those in the Beaverton/Hillsboro, Oregon area, I get items to make the mix at the following locations:

• frozen, chopped blue kale - Whole Foods
• frozen corn - Costco
• frozen peas - Costco
• frozen green beans - Costco
• frozen Normandy vegetables - Costco
• brown rice - winco bulk food bins (you can get any grain, but since I eat the basmatti brown, that is what I buy them, it is more expensive)  And I actually purchase my basmatti brown rice at Costco or Winco, depending on which one is cheaper.
• mix of dried beans (I buy a combination of dried beans from the bulk bins in Winco; I do not include lentils or split peas because I already have frozen peas and the lentils don't seem to hold together so well.

I steam the brown rice in a cooker.  I have the small cooker so when I cook it, it takes 2 pots of it for about 12 cups.  I then cook the quinoa in the cooker and it also takes 2 pots to get about 12 cups.

I cook 1 cup of dried beans for every 2 cups of cooked beans.  I place the beans in a pot on the stove and cover with water and bring to a boil for 3 minutes.  Then I turn down the heat and let simmer for 2 and a half hours until the beans are tender but not mushy.  I then drain and put beans in the fridge to cool.  The rice and quinoa are put in the fridge to cool and then in the freezer to freeze.

I then mix all of the frozen foods together and add the beans as well.

After mixing it all together, I part it out in amounts that I will use each night.  Currently I use freezer zip bags (and I reuse them).  Eventually I will get the appropriate sized freezer containers to do this with I still have to find one that I like.

Each night I pull a packet out and  put it in a microwave safe container and cook it for 3 to 5 minutes.  Then I dish it out to the kiddos.

I do include fresh vegetables when I have them.  I don't cook those. 


Because of their dry mix, I don't put in any pasta in the mix.

I purchased the 1 pound paper boats at Costco, 250 for $5 to feed the wet mix in.  I would rather spend the money on paper plates than spend the time washing them. :D

Reference:  The Dapper Rat Rat Diet http://www.dapper.com.au/articles.htm#diet

Rodent Diet Yet Again

After some adjustments, I've redone the mix again, eliminating some ingredients and adding new ones. They all seem to like this. Half the hamsters eat the blocks, the others don't. Mimzi the gerbil won't eat the blocks either, but he will eat the dog food.

	Pounds Used	Cups Used
Regular Rolled Oats (Oatmeal)	50	225
Barley Flakes	100	450
Pearl Barley	25	57
Whole Groats	25	63
Pomegranate Blueberry Total Cereal	6	71
Toasted Oats (Cheerios)	6	198
pumpkin seeds	5	6
Flaxseed	6	24
Air Dried Carrots	5	13
Freeze Dried Parsley	5	120
Raisins	6	17
Dried Bananas	3	15
Shredded Coconut	3	22
cloudstar dog food	20	40
Harlan 2014	99	Info Pending

References:

Dream Mountain Rattery http://www.dreammtnfarm.com/rattery/about.htm
RatFanClub http://www.ratfanclub.org/nutreq.html
Shunamite Diet: http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/information/guides.php?subject=shunamite

Local Food Sources:

I live in the Hillsboro, Oregon area.

Rolled barley (Barley Flakes)- I go to Aloha Garden and Feed. Out of all of the feed stores in my area, they sell the equivalent of barley flakes you get in the grocery store in 50# feed bags. If you are purchasing smaller amounts, you can purchase it at Whole Foods, Fred Meyer or Bob's Red Mill.  (Looks similar to oatmeal.)

Rolled oats (Oat Flakes) - I found that the local feed stores sell crimped rolled oats and I don't like it because the rats have to peel the husk off to eat it. My rats drop the husks back in their dish and it looks like they have food when they don't. It's also something they don't eat that you are paying for. I buy the 25 pound bags from the Winco bulk section. You can also find it in bulk at most major grocery stores in the area. Winco has the cheapest price in the bulk section. (Looks similar to oatmeal.)

Pomegranate Blueberry Total - I feed this over the regular total because they eat it. I have some rats that refuse to eat the plain cereal. This is for vitamin fortification.

Cheerios/Toasted Oats - A toasted oats cereal. They seem to really like this.

Pearl Barley - I order this from Winco in 25 pound bags. You can find this in most bulk food sections in the area. Winco has the best price.

Whole Groats - I order this from Winco in 25 pound bags. You can find this in most bulk food sections in the area. Winco has the best price.

Pumpkin seeds - I purchase bags from Hillsboro Feed store. Many feed stores carry this. You can buy it in smaller amounts in bulk food sections and for most, that is fine. For large populations of animals, that isn't practical.

Flaxseed - The best price is at Winco. They beat feed stores too.

Air Dried Carrots - unless you do it yourself, you will probably have to order online. I have found several places, but since I buy so much, I get it online at North Bay Trading Company. http://www.northbaytrading.com/air-dried-carrots/

Freeze Dried Parsley - Sold in bulk at Winco.  (And other stores in the area.)

Raisins - Sold in bulk at Winco (and other stores in the area.)

Dried Bananas - I was using freeze dried but it can't be mixed in their food because it soaks up the moisture in other foods and becomes soft.  So I finally broke down and used the dried  bananas in the bulk bins.  These usually have oil in them as well so be sure to limit the intake.

Shredded Coconut -    I purchase  from the bulk food bins at Winco.


Cloudstar Dog Food - I purchase from www.cloudstar.com.

Harlan Teklad 2014 - I purchase with the club but it can also be purchased from www.thecraftyrat.com or www.theratshop.com  Or you can purchase the commercial diet, higher protein (18%) Native Earth 4018 which is the same diet as Harlan Teklad 2018.

Seaweed and Sardines

Last weekend we purchased sardines to give the fuzzy ones.  All of them, gerbil, hamsters and ratties alike tore right into the fish.  (The fish was dried.)  This is probably something they'll get once every other week as so for variety.

This weekend I purchased them some seaweed cake.  Which is just seaweed pressed and dried in a round shape.  They seemed to like that as well.  This is another thing we'll give them   for variety on a limited basis.

Rodent Diet Revisted

I've redesigned the food mix again.  This should do it.  Again, this does not include the harlan teklad blocks or fresh foods given.

	Pounds Used	Cups Used
Rolled Oats	50	225
Barley Flakes	100	500
Pearl Barley	50	114
Whole Groats	25	63
Total Cereal (Blueberry Pomegranate)	3	35
Toasted Oats	4	264
pumpkin seeds	5	6
Flaxseed	12	48
Freeze Dried Veggies	5	35
Freeze Dried Parsley	5	120
Raisins	7	19
cloudstar dog food7	40	80

 _____________________________________

Calorie Information Amounts Per Selected Serving Serving Size 15 grams Unit of Measure Total Calories 55.8 kj  Calories From Carbs 40.65 kj Calories From Fat 7.155 kj  Calories From Protein 7.98 kj Calories From Alcohol 0 kj Proteins and Amino Acides 2.205 kj Carbohydrates 9.15 g Dietary Fiber 1.8 g Starch 3.015 g Sugars 0.405 g Fats and Fatty Acids Total Fats 0.945 g Saturated Fat 0.12 g Monounsaturated Fat 0.18 g Polyunsaturated Fat 0.36 g Total trans fatty acids 0 g Total trans-monoenoic fatty acids 0 Total trans-polyenoic fatty acids 0 Total Omega-3 fatty acids 144 mg Total Omega-6 fatty acids 217.95 mg Vitamins Vitamin A 215.1 IU Vitamin C 1.905 mg Vitamin D 1.68 IU Vitamin E 0.21 mg Vitamin K 0.945 mcg Thiamin 0.075 mg Riboflavin 0.045 mg Niacin 0.6 mg Vitamin B6 0.045 mg Folate 356.4 mcg Vitamin B12 42.3 mcg Pantothenic Acid 0.165 mg Choline 6.615 mg Betaine 0.735 mg Minerals Calcium 28.8 mg Iron 3.66 mg Magnesium 19.35 mg Phosphorus 43.95 mg Sodium 6.765 mg Zinc 3.555 mg Copper 0.36 mg Manganese 0.825 mg Selenium 215.25 mcg Fluoride 0.795 Sterols Cholesterol 0 mg Phytosterols 0.06 mg Other Alcohol 0 g Water 1.425 g Ash 0.405 g Caffeine 0 mg Theobromine 0 mg
References include: Dream Mountain Rattery http://www.dreammtnfarm.com/rattery/about.htm RatFanClub http://www.ratfanclub.org/nutreq.html Shunamite Diet: http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/information/guides.php?subject=shunamite

Updated Rodent Mix

Continuing my rodent mix post, I'm putting my actual recipe here. I can and do continue to feed Harlan Teklad 2014/Native Earth 4018 lab blocks (whichever I have available) as all but 1 of my current residents love them. (My hamster Precious stacks them in the corner of her cage so I don't waste them by putting them in her cage anymore.)

This mix and the blocks are my dry maintenance diet for all residents (mice, gerbils, hamsters, and of course ratties). I will switch out grains with others, for example spelt flakes, but these are the ones that are reasonable. The rolled oats and pumpkin seeds are purchased from a feed store, the rest is all purchased at grocery stores or specialty markets. The dog food (www.cloudstar.com) and spinach (www.sfherb.com) are purchased online.

[Click on image to read it.]

All of my rodents eat everything in the mix so I'm pretty happy with it. The spinach and parsley breaks up but they still eat that too.

I did buy rolled barley from the feed store, but they did not care for it. I think part of it was because the hull was still on it (it was more like crimped barley although they sold it as rolled). I bought them the barley flakes from the bulk bins at the grocery store to try and they loved it so I buy it there. I don't mind buying it as long as they eat it.

This mix costs me about 90 cents a pound. That is way less than what you'd pay in a pet store for a crappy mix. But my cost is also held down because I buy full bags of bulk bin items, even at the grocery store. The only item I don't buy full bags of is the parsley. To order full bags at the grocery store, I make sure and order ahead. I am lucky that Bob's Red Mill is near where I live so I can travel there and pick up some items that are actually cheaper there than at the grocery store.

I did run my mix as it is above through the nutrition database and I got the information below: (Please note, the mix nutritional values do NOT include the lab blocks by Harlan/Native Earth.)

	15 gram serving
Total Calories	49.65	kj
Calories From Carbs	33.6	kj
Calories From Fat	8.895	kj
Calories From Protein	7.065	kj
Calories From Alcohol	0	kj
Proteins and Amino Acides	1.98	kj
Carbohydrates	8.055	g
Dietary Fiber	1.59	g
Starch	2.73	g
Sugars	0.15	g
Fats and Fatty Acids
Total Fats	1.11	g
Saturated Fat	0.135	g
Monounsaturated Fat	0.21	g
Polyunsaturated Fat	0.555	g
Total trans fatty acids	0	g
Total trans-monoenoic fatty acids	0
Total trans-polyenoic fatty acids	0
Total Omega-3 fatty acids	301.95	mg
Total Omega-6 fatty acids	249.3	mg
Vitamins
Vitamin A	306.9	IU
Vitamin C	0.855	mg
Vitamin D	2.37	IU
Vitamin E	0.3	mg
Vitamin K	11.535	mcg
Thiamin	0.105	mg
Riboflavin	0.06	mg
Niacin	0.69	mg
Vitamin B6	0.075	mg
Folate	199.2	mcg
Vitamin B12	22.05	mcg
Pantothenic Acid	0.21	mg
Choline	5.085	mg
Betaine	3.045	mg
Minerals
Calcium	30.15	mg
Iron	2.385	mg
Magnesium	21	mg
Phosphorus	48.45	mg
Sodium	10.8	mg
Zinc	2.175	mg
Copper	0.225	mg
Manganese	0.645	mg
Selenium	113.1	mcg
Fluoride	0
Sterols
Cholesterol	0	mg
Phytosterols	0	mg
Other
Alcohol	0	g
Water	3.045	g
Ash	0.405	g
Caffeine	0	mg
Theobromine	0	mg

New Rodent Mix

After talking with a friend and doing some research, I decided to try to come up with my own mix to use here for the critters at Vermin Village. I needed something that I could adapt easily between rats, mice, hamsters, and gerbils. Currently I feed my rats (and when in residence, mice) Harlan Teklad 2014 or Native Earth 4018 if I run out of the other. When I order with the club, it runs about 66 cents per pound. But that doesn't take into account how to get it to my house. When I order anywhere online, it is $1 to $1.10 per pound.

I feed hamsters and gerbils a mix. But I've not been happy with the options available. So here it is...

Rolled Oats (Aloha Garden, Feed, & Pet)
Barley Flakes (Bob's Red Mill)
Wheat Flakes (Winco)
Titricale Flakes (Bob's Red Mill)
Wheat Berries (Winco)
Total Cereal (Any store--sale/coupons)
Toasted Oats (Winco)
pumpkin seeds (Aloha Garden, Feed, & Pet)
Flaxseed (Winco)
Freeze Dried Spinach (SFHerb.com)
Freeze Dried Parsley (Winco)
Cloudstar dog food (Cloudstar.com)

I'm still working on my diet. More protein is added for rodents of growing age and hamsters and gerbils get other items with their mix to make up for what they need.

I currently have millet and rolled barley from the feed store. The millet, while eaten by the hamsters, is not a big hit with the rats. So I'm changing it to wheat berries. The rolled barley, this gets left behind as the hull is still around it, it looks more crimped than rolled. So I am changing to the barley flakes, which they do like. If I'm going to spend the money, they had better want to eat it. :D

This mix costs me about 90 cents a pound to make.

store	Pounds	Cost	Cost/Pound	Notes
Online	200	$212.98	$1.06	Includes shipping
Club(blocks) & PetPros (hamster mix)	476	$319.82	$0.67	Transport brings it to about 88 cents.
Mix	266.91	$239.09	$0.90	Coupons and sales on cereal reduce cost.

References include:

Dream Mountain Rattery http://www.dreammtnfarm.com/rattery/index.htm
RatFanClub http://www.ratfanclub.org/nutreq.html
Shunamite Diet: http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/information/guides.php?subject=shunamite