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Post by winic1 on Apr 25, 2012 5:15:36 GMT
Asked here before, you could and would feed the entire stem, in nature they would have the entire plant available. Figured it was worth a look, anyway, not too many sites show up when you search.
Found one that was sounding good, until I looked deeper and found out almost everything was powdered! Um, yah, sure. Bye.
With Good Hope Botanicals, do notice that some things, like their bath herb mixes, which initially look great, have scented oils added, and you can't get them before-scent (unless you were ordering like 25 pounds or more, she said). So do read carefully on their or any site.
I have been wondering if anyone knows about the sources for the European mixes they can buy--are their dried flowers and herbs coming from the same places the same way, so that we would know if Good Hope's stuff is just as good?
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Post by sofaeryrotten on Apr 26, 2012 5:06:15 GMT
Ah, no! There is so much conflicting info out there! I've got my goos on the following diet- 1 rodent block a day 4 'fingerful's of oxbow chinchilla food (about 3/4s of a shot glass) unlimited hay (mostly timothy, local grown organic field hay) and water oats as treats I'm rather frustrated, as I read that rodent blocks were a safe/necessary addition to high quality chin or guinea pig food for a proper degu diet on more than one site. I have a HUGE (about 40 pounds) bag!  |
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Post by sandie on Apr 26, 2012 7:34:28 GMT
After alot of searching, I finally found a good food for my degus. Gerty Guinea Pig Food. That was shown as a recommended degu food from Degutopia, and my degus love it. I am so glad, because I can get it at most pet stores. I also have Timothy hay in their cage at all times too. Here is the link with the info: www.degutopia.co.uk/degudiet.htm |
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 26, 2012 10:23:05 GMT
@ winic, I've had a look at my bags of herbs and flowers but none of them state where they are grown. I think flower growing is very specialist and localised around the world though, I would suspect that lots come from the same places, irrespective of what country you buy them from. sofaeryrotten, the problem with rodent blocks is that rats & hamsters are omnivores and require a significant proportion of protein; degus are vegetarian and require lower levels of protein. Perhaps you could tell us the nutritional content of the rodent blocks so that we can double check for you that they are too high in protein? sandie, Gerty Guinea has been used by quite a lot of people for quite a long time. We have recently realised that the calcium to phosphorus ratio is not quite right in it, not enough calcium, but if this turns out to be the best food available to you, you could supplement the calcium. Fennel seeds, celery seeds, dandelions or parsley would be good choices to improve the calcium to phosphorus ratio. firefly, it's a shame the stuff you had to pick out was the most interesting looking stuff. Perhaps you could hand feed small amounts of some of some of the berries you picked out. I was looking at the nutrition info for that food, and I noticed that the info was mainly given as mainly minimum values. In the UK it just gives the values, and I assume they are averages. I don't really know what to make of this, only it could have implications if things like protein are much higher than the stated value. Are all the american choices labelled in this way? I also noticed that the calcium phosphorus ratio is off on that food, it should be 2:1. See note above for suggestions to help with this. |
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Post by firefly on Apr 27, 2012 3:58:31 GMT
Most small pet food averages especially for protein are labeled as minimum protein. I'm not really sure why, I actually never thought about it. Usually it give the max fiber and the minimum protein. I haven't looked into it, but I always assumed that it was near the number, like within a percent or two, I'll have to look into that. They eat tons of hay and I supplement with seeds and as many herbs as I can. Unfortunately mostly just what I have growing, peppermint, lemon balm, parsley, and marigold. I have rosemary too, but I wasn't sure if they could have that and I always forget to look it up. Anyway, I figure the higher protein is probably ok as long as it is not the main part of their diet. Also I am going to start mixing in the sunseed degu food again if I can find it. I"ll look for some fennel or celery seeds to supplement the calcium though.
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Post by sofaeryrotten on Apr 27, 2012 5:51:40 GMT
sofaeryrotten, the problem with rodent blocks is that rats & hamsters are omnivores and require a significant proportion of protein; degus are vegetarian and require lower levels of protein. Perhaps you could tell us the nutritional content of the rodent blocks so that we can double check for you that they are too high in protein? Sure, here we go! 4018 Rodent Diet Guaranteed Analysis : Crude Protein not less than 18%, Crude fat not less than 5%, Crude fiber not more than 5% Ingredients: ground wheat, ground corn, wheat middlings, dehulled soybean meal, corn gluten meal, soybean oil, calcium carbonate, decalcium phosphate, brewer's dry yeast, iodized salt, L-Lysine, DL-methaionine, choline chloride, kaolin, magnesium oxide, vitamin E acetate, menadione sodium bisulfate complex (source of Vitamin K activity), manganous oxide, ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, niacin, calcium pantothenate, copper sulfate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, thiamin mononitrate, Vitamin A acetate, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B-12 supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin D-3 supplement, Cobalt carbonate. The instructions say to feed freely, but as I said- I feed the Degus a single block each per day. |
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 27, 2012 18:56:23 GMT
Sorry Tess, it's as we thought, I wouldn't feed that to my degus, there's just nothing in there that is good for them, I mean a little piece now and then isn't dangerous as such, but it's just empty calories with a lot of additives I suspect the minimum value given on the packets for protein is because owners are looking for high protein for most rodents, so the manufacturer is guaranteeing a certain level and then saying it could be higher because this is erring on the cautious side for them, if you see what I mean. |
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Post by sofaeryrotten on Apr 28, 2012 0:06:25 GMT
Sorry Tess, it's as we thought, I wouldn't feed that to my degus, there's just nothing in there that is good for them, I mean a little piece now and then isn't dangerous as such, but it's just empty calories with a lot of additives What would you say is "now and then"? I may just try to sell it to someone with other rodents on Craigslist or something, it's a HUGE bag. |
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Post by deguconvert on Apr 28, 2012 4:50:12 GMT
Now and then will still leave you with tons left in a years time. If you can sell it, I would certainly encourage you to do it.
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Post by degupal on Sept 5, 2012 14:19:05 GMT
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 5, 2012 15:17:33 GMT
First product is terrible for degus, don't use it. It is loaded with empty calories and fruit products, which will not do well for your degus health.
The second has really high amounts of both soya bean products and corn products . . . neither of which are all that great for degus. The things that are somewhat favorable for goos are way down the ingredients list and are in such tiny amounts by then that they must be little more than dust. I wouldn't used this product either.
I am favorable to the third and last one. There are two things in there that I am guarded about, the cranberry and the blueberry, but they should be little enough that they are not contributing significant sugars to the mix and will be of no harm. And to be honest, I know that our degus LOVE the rare blueberry to enjoy . . . like 2-3 times a year rare. Out of those three, I think the last is your best choice, especially if these are the only choices available to you!
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Post by degupal on Sept 5, 2012 18:22:26 GMT
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Post by moletteuk on Sept 5, 2012 18:37:42 GMT
I don't think I've seen that particular Oxbow one before, it doesn't look too bad, considering what is available. Particularly as it's a pellet mix, it would be great to supplement it with dried veg, leaves, herbs and so on to add interest as well as give a better range of natural nutrients and fibre.
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Post by degupal on Sept 5, 2012 18:43:36 GMT
They have a few new products in stores, so that may be why. Thank you!  |
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Post by chelle9181 on Sept 6, 2012 3:35:05 GMT
American people... where do you go to get your degu food? The pet stores around me in Kansas only seem to sell guinea pig food and chinchilla foods.
Also What type of hay are you feeding your degus? I Feed my rabbit alfalfa or timothy hay but wasnt sure if it was ok for my little goo's.
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 6, 2012 20:15:40 GMT
Timothy hay is great. There is one I tried out a couple months ago, but can't remember the name and haven't come across it again . . . grrr . . . anyway my goos LOVED it! It smelled really wonderful.
Finding food here in North America is a serious challenge, I must say. I've taken to using Hagens Extruded Guineapig Pellets, and augmenting with seeds etc. They all eat it up pretty good . . . but of course since the pellets are only about a 1/3 of their food, they go for those the most. LOL!
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Post by beckythetechie on Sept 27, 2012 23:34:01 GMT
I'm on the search for good degu food in the U.S. (Upstate NY) as well. There are only 2 tiny pet stores in our town. One of them stocks two kinds of guinea pig food (Kaytee, which I would only feed if they were starving). The other has 1 type of guinea pig food and 2 types of "degu" food. The first is Sunseed Vita whatsit; the second is made by a company here in the state, that looks *great* but contains "animal tallow". Label: www.brisky.com/content/node-8/224-label.jpgAnimal fats for an herbivore?! I realize you have to stick the pellet together somehow, but for the love of mike, why does NO ONE use something like barley flour for these things? |
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Post by beckythetechie on Sept 28, 2012 8:12:17 GMT
An interesting article by a U.S.-based guinea pig keeper with "plain English" assessments of many commercial guinea pig foods. He/she does not include sugar and molasses levels because they're not a problem for cavies, but at least it narrows the list somewhat for other concerns. albatross3300.hubpages.com/hub/guineapigdryfoods |
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Post by moletteuk on Sept 28, 2012 14:34:05 GMT
I'm with you there, Becky, in thinking the animal tallow for a herbivore is just nasty!
Interesting link about the GP food, I think a lot of her reasoning applies to degus, so it's useful.
I compiled this list a couple of months ago of US foods that ALL include sugar in some form and therefore are unsuitable for degus:
Oxbow Cavy Cuisine
Grreat Choice Guinea Pig Food
Kaytee Supreme Guinea Pig Diet
Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health Guinea Pig
Kaytee Timothy Complete Chinchilla Food
Ecotrition Essential Blend Guinea Pig Food
All Living Things Guinea Pig Daily Diet
Mazuri Guinea Pig Diet
ZuPreem Nature's Promise Guinea Pig Food
LM Animal Farms Bonanza Gourmet Diet Guinea Pig Food
LM Animal Farms Guinea Pig Food
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hojni
Newborn Degu
Posts: 2 
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Post by hojni on Jul 28, 2015 18:30:25 GMT
The best US sources for the Sunseed Vita Degu food are www.drsfostersmith.com and www.petfooddirect.com. They are both very competitive with their pricing and frequently offer free shipping. My degus have thrived on the Sunseed Vita Degu food, but it's expensive (~$0.25 to $0.29 per ounce). |
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