Where to by good pellets and hay

I have checked local feed stores, pet storesetc... and I can't find Purina or Oxbow pellets anywhere. Ifound pellets at a local feed barrel and they are called PenPals... analysis is Protein.... 15% Fat.... 2.5% (is this a little high) Fiber.... 17.5% min to 21%max. The protein and fiber seemed right to me and they arejust pellets, no junk (colored or seeds). I want to feed myrabbits the best I can but don't know where to find the name brand goodstuff. I'm wondering if this is a good alternative based onthe analysis or if anyone has ideas of where to look for the betterstuff. Same questions about Timothy hay too... is the petstore mini bales ok or should I be looking for the "namebrands" Thanks!

~ Jamie, Pepper, and Butterscotch

as a last resort if you dont find anything elsethats suitable, or an easier option, you can always order oxbowproducts off of their website,www.oxbowhay.com

I don't know if this is an option for you I know that my local feed store can order Purina Rabbit Chow for me.

Is there a Tractor Supply Co. near you? they carry the Manna line of rabbit pellets and they are really good too.

I have recently found that Kaytee now has hay. It's is awesome.All five of mine love it and it's not that much either. Believe it ornot I found out that Wal-Mart carries the hay. I think I paid $ 3 for a2.5 pound bag. It's a bit compressed in the bag so you are getting morethan it looks like.

I wish I could be more of a help.

Tina

I can't believe I didn't think of this. If you go to the Purinawebsite and click at the bottom of the page to find a local supplieryou can type in your zip code and how far you are willing to drive tofind a dealer near you.

http://showchow.purinamills.com/rabbit/index_rabbit.html

Yes there is a TSC here... I buy my woody petfrom there. That is good to know that Manna is a good lineand I will check walmart for the Kaytee hay too! Thanks forthe advice Tina and FreddysMom.... does the rabbit food I am feedingthem now sound ok?

Jamie

Hi, Click on the Rabbit, and then on Dealer Locator

http://www.purina-mills.com/main.html

As long as the mini-bales are fresh looking, smelling
good, and not flaky, they should be fine.

I gave up on Pet Shop hay and now order from:

http://www.sweetmeadowfarm.com/

Oxbow products are very nice, but a little pricy.

Charlotte

I second your opinion on the Kaytee Timothygrass. I found a bag last week and it looked and smelledsooooo good, nice early-cut stuff. The brand I had beenbuying suddenly turned from being green to more like straw.

here is the analysis from the back of the bag of OxBow pellets

crude protien(min) 14%

crude fat(min) 1.5%

crude fiber(min) 25%

crude fiber(max) 29%

moisture(max) 10%

calcium(min) 0.35%

calcium(max) 0.85%

Phosphorus(min) 0.25%

salt(min) 0.5%

salt(max) 1%

Vitamin A IU/kg 20,000

Vitamin D IU/kg 880

Vitamin E IU/kg 140

Copper mg/kg 20

hope this helps!

-tiffany

I wanted to double check to makeabsolutely sure but you generally want to keep the fat down at 2%. Ialso tend to try and get the higher fiber content too.

The Kaytee is always green and smells awesome. Jeremy triedsome before he would let me feed it to the rabbits. He said it tastedtons better than the HayKob I had bought before.

I am filling hay rackstwice a day now. They all love it.

Tina

dajeti2 wrote:

The Kaytee is always green and smells awesome.Jeremy tried some before he would let me feed it to the rabbits.

Click to expand...

lol... that's funny... I wouldn't have thought to try that As for the pellets... I thought the fat content was a little high butthey had the highest fiber I could find without too high of aprotein. I will have to try that Kaytee hay... my buns eatquite a bit of hay but I would like to see them eat more.Thanks again for all of the info. Gotta give my buns the best

~ Jamie

Pen Pals may be perfectly fine for your buns.This feed business is such a "voo doo" art that it is difficult to make comparisons, and it is only by comparison will you be able to distinguish any differences between brands.By that I mean if you actually try several different types and notice a significant difference in the appearance and well being of your bun(s) with one or the other manufacturer, then you have arrived at your choice.

Most feeds won't kill your bun(s). Some will seem to make them better, healthier, stronger. Some will appeal more to your bun(s).

I started with a local brand named Scarlett because that was what my first bun came with. I only changed after a local breeder recommended Blue Seal 16%. After a while I noted a lot of fines in the feed (powdered pellet) and that the buns didn't seem to like it all that much.

I then started using Purina Complete (?) because it was recommended by a lot of Internet contacts. I segued over to Purina Advanced Show Formula because it had additional oils and yucca extract. Buns seem to like it, but it only comes in 50 lb bags, so I have tofreeze it and dispense it on an as needed basis.

In point of fact, I have swung over to a more natural diet of late and the buns receive daily greens and/or fruit, plus diminished pellet rations. Every bun is maintaining weight and seems fine.

Buck

Thanks Buck... and let me say how glad I am tosee you well and back on the forum... we sure did miss you.My buns seem to like this pellet ok and the fines dust don't seem to betoo bad. I would like to try a couple of other types and seeif they respond any better. My buns also get veggies atnight... a mixed salad so to speak before bed time. Butbecause they are still only about 4 months old, they also get unlimtedpellets and timothy hay for the time being. I plan on cuttingthat back and feeding more veggies as they get older. I willsee how it all goes. Thanks for the advice.

~ Jamie

Buck, Am I going to have a problemhere? I feed my buns the Purina Complete with oats.They also get carrots & dandelion greens, every day.With 27 buns, carrots & greens are at a minimum (half a carrot& a couple of leaves a day). They get grapes& apples too, but once a week...same with banana. Idon't want your buns to become distressed because of such a radicalchange in diet. Charlotte

Not at all, Charlotte.I will begin moving back in the other direction in preparation for the change soon. Shouldn't be a problem at all.

Buck

:kiss:Great! (Seems that the "emoticons" aren't working properly!!!!)

If they have pen pals then go for it. Pen palshappens to be a highly recommended feed. Manna pro is ok. But alot oftimes its sits on the shelves at tsc for a long time. And when I usedto feed I had alot of M.E problems.

You think that Pen Pals is ok even with a 2.5%fat analysis? I had never heard of this product until I sawit at the feed store. I'm glad to hear someone has.

~ Jamie

thats because its hard to get in some areas.Purina also has a high fat content too. But I dont really worry aboutthe fat. Its the protein and fiber that are more important.