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Post by ntg on Apr 12, 2017 20:05:35 GMT
We're interested in seeing what everyone feeds their degus and in what quantities on a daily basis (approximations are okay).
Please use the following outline:
Pellets (if fed)
Seed mix (if fed)
Forage (leaves, flowers, herbs)
Daily treats
Twice weekly/weekly/monthly treats (include how often they're fed)
For example, here is mine
Pellets (if fed) Versele Laga Crispy Herbs Chinchilla and Degu - 1-2g JR Farm Grainless Guinea Pig - 2 cobs ~1g
Seed mix (if fed) Homemade, equal parts coriander, fennel, cumin, ajwain, aniseed, nigella, sesame, linseed, milk thistle, dill, caraway and fenugreek - 1/2 teaspoon/1.5g
Forage (leaves, flowers, herbs) 1/2 handful JR Farm garden herbs 1/2 handful Hansemanns SAB degu plantmix/degumix exquisite/Happiness 1/2 handful Hansemanns gartenblatter/kraut und Blaetterschmaus/JR Farm dandelion/JR Farm ribwort and plantain 1/2 handful Hansemanns blutentraum high premium/blutenzauber first class
Daily treats 5-10 sunflower seeds Dandelion root - 2-3g 1/4 mini shredded wheat for medication
Twice weekly/weekly/monthly treats (include how often they're fed) A few pieces of dried veg - twice weekly 1 nut in shell - monthly
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Post by zenaida on Nov 1, 2017 2:35:17 GMT
I've been too scared to post here... But oh well here we go: roast me!
For 6 female degus, stated to be approximately 2 years of age at time of posting:
Pellets (if fed) Sunseed Degu Vita - constant: approx two handfuls daily (maybe about a cup)
Seed mix (if fed) Custom blend from Mountain Rose and Monterrey Bay - approx a teaspoon per degu per day - Dill - Nigella - Celery - Fenugeek - Cumin - Corriander - Poppy - Seasame - Chia - Flax - Carraway - Fennel (probably more I can't remember right now) If the seed is above the 2:1 Ca:P ratio I do at least 2 parts of that to the ones below the ratio. Numbers get fuzzy though when I'm just dumping into a jar
Forage (leaves, flowers, herbs) Organic Kale (fresh) from grocery store - constant: approx 2 handfuls daily Custom blend of marigold, dandelion, and hibiscus - constant: approx 1 handful daily
Daily treats Lately Dandelion root - probably like an ounce or two per degu per day (like 20 seed sized pieces per degu) Sometimes Milk Thistle - similar amount to dandelion root (like 20 per degu per day) (Usually it is one or the other, we like to do one "treat time" per day.)
Twice weekly/weekly/monthly treats (include how often they're fed) Sunflower seeds - maybe like 5 per week, more if I'm working on tube training during play pen time Pistachios in shell - one per degu per week (it used to be at least one a day from Nico, it took me awhile to get him to cut back) Other treats on hand, but infrequent: oats and almonds
In general, mine tolerate forage, pellets, hay, and water all centrally located (no need to split into multiple bowls). Treats are had fed. Seeds we have to make 6 little piles for them so they don't fight.
It is very hard to NOT give lots of treats, and not just because they are cute. With 6 of them, it is important to have treats that get carried away for a moment so the human has time to dole out treats to the other 5. Also sometimes one comes "late to the party" so just giving 2-3 each is not going to be a fun time most of the time. I try to make up for it with treats that are super healthy.
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Post by misscatafer on Nov 1, 2017 12:34:19 GMT
Pellets (if fed) Science selective degu pellets, small pinchful per day, probably 10 per degu each. Seed mix (if fed)None Forage (leaves, flowers, herbs)One generous handful of Burgess forage mix per degu each day, either the Meadow herb or country garden (they all prefer country garden as it has the milk thistle in!) Daily treats3 each of either rice puffs or pumpkin seeds Twice weekly/weekly/monthly treats (include how often they're fed)Once a week they also have a small pinch of linseed each, a quarter of a frozen bean and whichever fresh herbs we are cooking with (only Toby likes them really) Every two weeks we weigh them, so we use a small sprinkle of oats on the scales to get them to sit still. Once a month we might treat them to a small piece of walnut, a monkey nut or some sunflower seeds each. I also realised hay isn't included in the options! Mine have a large handful of hay every other day, at the moment they love the Meadow hay available in Pound World, only £2! I went in today to restock but they were out. they also have unlimited access to hay cookies, I always have a few in the cage. Toby, Bella & Harmione are all good hay eaters and munch on it throughout the day, Boo not so much lol... I'm keeping an eye on her teeth a lot more for this reason.
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Post by clearsparkle on Nov 1, 2017 19:22:50 GMT
Pellets Science select for Degus Seed mix Not fed as pellets contain linseed and I give seeds Forage (leaves, flowers, herbs) I give a pinch of burgess meadow herbs everyday Daily treats I stay away from all grains and give either burgess herb mix,fresh vegetables rich in vitamin C his fave are greens or seeds daily so that he burns fat not carbs I keep it really simple
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Post by clearsparkle on Nov 1, 2017 19:34:07 GMT
Are people feeding plantain and Ribwort? I thought Degus can't have sugars?
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Post by savvy on Nov 1, 2017 19:53:49 GMT
Had to do this as a quote as my tablet is just not playing at cut and paste! Flippin technology! Here are the votes from the North Shields sector
Pellets (if fed) fed twice a day
Versa laga complete degu 3 pellets per day 1 egg cup full of Beapher degu mixed with vitakraft degu - I think I have rare goos as they leave all the cereal bits. Seed mix (if fed)1 teaspoon of ratrations seed mix Forage (leaves, flowers, herbs) fed twice a dayHalf a cup of Hannseman degu ratatoulle, with only beetroot biscuit only Half a cup of own mix of dandelion, plantain, Raspberry leaves, blackberry leaves, chives, rose petals, ratrations flower mix and basil Half a cup of Hannseman degu paradiso, with large pieces of carrot removed for later. Daily treats
6 sunflower seeds, spread out throughout the day 2 small pieces of dandelion root 3 pumpkin seeds, spreadout throughput the day Twice weekly/weekly/monthly treats (include how often they're fed)Hazel nut monthly Small piece of dried carrot every 10 days, approximately. Large handful of hay, two different varieties each night. Might not be the best diet, but they done appear to be complaining.
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Post by moletteuk on Nov 2, 2017 11:56:55 GMT
Are people feeding plantain and Ribwort? I thought Degus can't have sugars? Ribwort is a species of plantain, but it's plantain as in the meadow plant Plantago major, Plantago lanceolata etc, they are all good forage plants. Are you thinking of plantain as in the banana type thing, because you are right, that would not be suitable.
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Post by bouncy on Nov 2, 2017 12:08:33 GMT
Pellets (if fed) None
Seed mix (if fed) Own mix consisting the top 10 calcium seeds, porridge jumbo oats, and flax)
Forage (leaves, flowers, herbs) Hansemann mixes
Daily treats Dandelion root without fail
Twice weekly/weekly/monthly treats (include how often they're fed) Nuts in shells (fortnightly) Sunflower seeds (as and when I have some) Fresh mint (as and when) Fresh dandelion leaves (as and when) Fresh herbs (as and when) Baguette crust (not offered, when they are able to thieve some) Fresh bamboo (as and when) Fresh birch (as and when)
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Post by ruskadegu on Feb 8, 2018 10:05:10 GMT
I have tried all manner of pellet mixes (spending a lot of money on the internet), and after trying them all,my Degus simply prefer the Chinchilla mix from Pets at Home.
For snacks, they reject many but LOVE: Oats. Dried dandelion roots. JR Farm degu snacks (it's like a mix of dried flowers and pea flakes etc).
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Post by degulover21 on Feb 12, 2018 22:41:20 GMT
I have tried all manner of pellet mixes (spending a lot of money on the internet), and after trying them all,my Degus simply prefer the Chinchilla mix from Pets at Home. For snacks, they reject many but LOVE: Oats. Dried dandelion roots. JR Farm degu snacks (it's like a mix of dried flowers and pea flakes etc). Degu also like sunflowers seeds and pumpkin seeds
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Post by degumummy137 on Jul 3, 2019 20:48:28 GMT
Pellets (if fed) None
Seed mix (if fed) *Coriander * Cumin * Dill * Fennel * Nigella * Carrot * Clover * Fenugreek * Hemp * Milk Thistle * Sesame *Chia
Forage (leaves, flowers, herbs) Parsley Basil J artichoke Birch leaves Dill stalks Meadow grass Plaintain Marigold Peppermint stalks Echinacea Chamomile flowers Apple leaves Blackberry leaves Rose petals Dandelion root Mixed roots * cornflower * calendula * chamomile * red clover * hibiscus * rose * sunflower
Daily treats Dandelion roots (maybe half a dozen) Rice puffs (one each twice a week with vitamin D) Sunflower OR pumpkin seeds (two or three each)
Twice weekly/weekly/monthly treats (include how often they're fed) Interchangeable, weekly: Vitakraft lofty’s (in halves) Supreme science hoops (in quarters) Totally degu carrot or beetroot cubes Pinch of oats
Monthly: hazelnut/walnut/pistachio nut
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Post by yasmin on Jul 5, 2019 3:06:08 GMT
Regular Diet *
Pellets Selective Science - 20-30 pellets per day per degu
Seed mix Hansemann's SAB Degu Seed Mix (Purchased from Nature's Degu Pantry) - about half a teaspoon/day per cage
Forage (leaves, flowers, herbs) Hansemann's SAB Degu Plant Mix- a generous handful per cage per day Western Timothy Hay - a generous handful per cage per day
Daily treats Daily (added to the pellets) - I rotate over the course of 5 days one of the following depending on what I have on hand: a pinch of sesame seeds, hemp seeds, dried vegetables, organic puffed rice, sunflower seeds, oats, dried pea flakes, adzuki beans, flax seeds, beechnuts, green lentils, sliced almond or milk thistle seeds.
Twice weekly/weekly/monthly treats (include how often they're fed) Half to a full Versele-Laga Complete Crock Herb treat per degu - once every three days, . When available, a fresh dandelion leaf/flower/root or slice of carrot, or clover leaf/flower, grass, Swiss chard, daisy, pear tree leaf, apple tree leaf. Summer once every two days; winter, weekly. 1 nut in shell - once every two weeks.
(*Those with dental disease get a special diet tailored to their needs depending on their issues.)
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Post by moletteuk on Oct 3, 2019 10:53:22 GMT
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Post by goodragons on Mar 3, 2020 23:06:14 GMT
Pellets (if fed)- 10g each Sunseed Vita Sunscription Adult Guinea Pig Pellets Unlimited Timothy Hay, Alfalfa and Oat Hay to supplement
Seed mix (if fed)- A cpl pinches daily my own mix: Celery Poppy Caraway Fennel Nigella Currently introducing Fenugreek Plan to expand variety
Forage (leaves, flowers, herbs)- Dandelion leaf Plantain leaf Strawberry, Raspberry, Blackberry leaves
Yarrow flower Rose petals Hibiscus flowers Cornflowers Chamomile
Currently introducing: Ginko leaf Meadowsweet Linden leaf Nettle leaf Chickweed Hawthorn leaf Lady's Mantle Plans to expand variety in future
Daily treats- Calendula flower Dandelion root
Currently introducing: Marshmallow root Echinacea root Yellow dock root
Twice weekly/weekly/monthly treats (include how often they're fed)- Rose hips (about 2x month) A few Sunflower seeds (approx ev other day) A few dried carrot or pea pieces (approx ev other day)
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Post by deguden on Jul 18, 2020 7:40:21 GMT
Hi, does anybody know whether Versele-Laga Nature Degu Food from zooplus is anygood for my goo's?
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Post by savvy on Jul 18, 2020 9:06:36 GMT
Having checked the ingredients, I would say no as it contains fruit. It doesn't say which fruit but most are high in sugar and should not be given to degus.
If you want to feed Versele Laga, try Complete and Crispy Degu and Chinchilla pellets.
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Post by yasmin on Jul 19, 2020 2:52:49 GMT
Did not realize that Versele Laga Degu Nature contains fruit . Used to feed it to my degus for years until I found out that I could order Science Selective Degu Food from the UK and have it shipped to Canada. It has a more appropriate Phosphorus to Calcium ratio.
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pbbdegu
Foraging Degu
Dedenne will be my profile pic until I can get some actual degus. I guess it looks a bit like a goo?
Posts: 52
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Post by pbbdegu on Feb 5, 2021 5:30:53 GMT
Hey people... I might get a degu next year and I want to ask how much food (in teaspoons or tablespoons) a single degu should eat. Don't worry, I will have plenty of time each day to interact with him/her. Also, is Sunseed Vita Prima degu kibble/nuggets/pellets good for degus?
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Post by savvy on Feb 5, 2021 11:01:17 GMT
Welcome to the forum.
I can't answer your question about the pellets as it's not one I'm familiar with, but how much you feed very much depends on the age of the degu. Young degus will eat loads more than adults because they are growing and have so much more energy.
Also degus should ideally be kept as single sex pairs or groups. Single degus can get really depressed. No matter how much you interact with them, you are not a degu and don't speak their language.
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Post by bouncy on Feb 5, 2021 15:21:49 GMT
Ditto Savvy, have at least two goos!
As a general rule, degus are sensible, and don't overeat. As long as there's something in the bowl, they'll feel comfortable. Like Savvy, I don't feed pellets either, but I've never measured how much food I've given mine. The "something in the bowl all the time" approach works well. And yes, pups will eat at least double what an adult does!
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