Increasing fat?

[Linds]

I am experimenting with some new diets for my rats and mice. The diet I am currently trying out seems great, the ingredients and fiber/protein levels seem suitable, but the problem is the fat level is too low (2.5). What are some efficient ways of increasing fat levels in their diet? I was thinking of perhaps lightly coating the chunks in oil prior to feeding, but wasn't sure if that would cause them to spoil if left for two or three days :confused:

[lostwithin]

Hey, I actually have no idea about rats, so don’t consider this a professional opinion, in fact its more of a question as well, could the rats eat pieces of those Suet/bird seed things you hang out in the winter for birds?? I believe suet would have fat content and as well as seeds (sunflower act) mixed in, I don’t think those things go bad either? Correct me if I’m wrong I really don’t know it was just the first thing that came into my head.
Devon

[Cruciform]

Peanuts have a fairly high fat content.

Have you thought about adding those? It's fun to give them to the rats too :) They wrestle for control of the peanut, even if they're enough for both of them. Whoever holds the peanut rules the cage.

[dave68]

i would suggest sunflower seeds as they have a high fat content and are readily available for an affordable price. be careful with peanuts to make sure their is no mold can be deadly. black oil sunflower seeds for wild birds have an even higher fat content.

[Auskan]

They love olive oil, so I soak a piece of bread in olive oil and give it to them about once a week. You could maybe try this with a little of their food and see how they go for it.

[annieb_mice]

I'd use the black oil sunflower seeds or suet blocks. Both have a good level of fat and won't spoil. Make sure to watch your rats to be certain they aren't getting TOO fat or they won't be good breeders. You could also soak some bread into some warmed chicken or beef fat. I offer this a few times a month and my rats love it.
The mice would be better with the added sunflower seeds. But again you'll have to watch them to make sure they aren't getting too fat.
Good luck
Annie B. <:3 )~~

[jadegrasse]

Do like I do. Find a copmmercial kithchen and get their scraps. I get 10 gallons of cooked chicken left overs from when they stew 10-15 chickens (no breast meat) for the stock. Mostly meat. I also get butcher scraps as well as 15 gallons of veggies. I'm using about 1/4 the dry bagged food I used too.

Alain

[sapphire_moon]

you could also try dog biscuts that are higher in fat than most. I am using wellness dog biscuts right now, peanut and honey, it has about 8% fat, that with their regular food that has 4.5% fat.

[Linds]

Originally posted by Auskan
They love olive oil, so I soak a piece of bread in olive oil and give it to them about once a week. You could maybe try this with a little of their food and see how they go for it.

This is pretty much along the same lines I was thinking of in the first place, so I think I will give this one a try for the rats. Maybe I will start off with once a week coating a small portion of chunks with oil and feeding it to them and see how that works out :)

Originally posted by annieb_mice
I'd use the black oil sunflower seeds or suet blocks. Both have a good level of fat and won't spoil. Make sure to watch your rats to be certain they aren't getting TOO fat or they won't be good breeders.

Yes, I know fat animals don't make good breeders, nor is it healthy for non-breeding animals. In my nearly 10 years of breeding rats, I have found my breeders have done best at 8% fat in their diets. Their previously diet they did excellent on, however after you posted those links I am trying to find a better formalation, but with the same nutrient levels. I have black oil sunflower seeds that I give to my pet rats that I will give to the mice.

Originally posted by jadegrasse
Do like I do. Find a copmmercial kithchen and get their scraps.

That's a good idea. Not many places in my tiny town, but I will check out the restaurants. I have a friend who is sous chef as well so maybe he can hook me up :)

Originally posted by sapphire_moon
you could also try dog biscuts that are higher in fat than most. I am using wellness dog biscuts right now, peanut and honey, it has about 8% fat, that with their regular food that has 4.5% fat.

That wouldn't really add any significant fat to the rats diet, as they were formerly being fed a diet that consisted of 8% fat. Be quite expensive as well. I'm looking for either a pure fat (oil, etc) or something very high in fat that can be added. 2.5% is very low, so I need quite a boost.

[Matt.B]

wax worms lol :) it would be funny to see them hunt the grubs.
Matt

[Linds]

I actually give my pet rats worms and other odds and ends as treats occassionally... little too expensive for a colony 200+ feeders. I would end up spending more than I am saving :/

[ortega]

just an idea, but why not cat or kitten food? its like 30% fat. Obviously I have no clue what im talking about, but what would be wrong with feeding them cat food?

[sapphire_moon]

meat by-products..........icky stuff.......lol

[Linds]

Originally posted by ortega
just an idea, but why not cat or kitten food? its like 30% fat. Obviously I have no clue what im talking about, but what would be wrong with feeding them cat food?

I used to feed my colony a diet consisting of low quality dog food. The levels of protein, fat, vitamins, etc. were all perfect, however the formulation was not. It was recently brought to my attention just how bad some of the ingredients were. I visited many sites on the subject and decided to discontinute it and search for a better alternative. Too many unhealthy additives that I didn't want ending up in my snakes. The other alternative would be a high quality dog food, but then I would be spending at least $300/month on food alone :eek:

[sapphire_moon]

ya, a good lab diet/mazuri breeder food is good to feed and it's about 24$ (USD) a 50lb bag. The rats and mice seem to love it, and they actually appear healthier.

[Linds]

I've tried Mazuri in the past before and wasn't entirely pleased with the results I experienced in the 9 month trial. The prices are also a bit more expensive because I have to have it shipped in. Right now I am trying horse chunks designed for older horses. The ingredients are ideal and it runs $12 CDN for a 50lb bag. Only downfall is the low fat. I am going to look in to the extruded feeds next time I am there to see what their levels are at. Horse feeds are truly incredible in how much they can vary... anywhere from 2-30 percent fat. The only problem is finding something with the correct levels that will also fit in a hopper :rolleyes: