Pellets in NZ

[manda2paran]

NZ peeps, which brand of pellets do you feed your piggies? I'm having a hard time looking for really good ones. The pellets that I've seen so far are always mixed with seeds and grains, and other artificial looking junk. The plain pellets are mostly not hay-based. I've had a look at the ingredients list (especially at the stuff sold at animates) and the main ingredients are "barleymeal, peameal, wheat middlings, soybean hulls" to name a few.

I think the closest to hay-based pellets that we can find here are lucerne, but that's alfalfa, and from what I've read, it's only good for babies and pregnant/lactating sows.

I thought about probably ordering bulk online, but then with NZ's strict importing laws, I don't think this will be possible.

[melissa98]

I can't find anything good either! Everything's alfalfa based...

[Skylarnz]

Hi the best pellets I could find is LM Animal Farms Bonanza Gourmet Diet Guinea Pig Food. It is alfalfa based but does have timothy hay as well. I know its not a great food but I think it must be better than the junk food they sell as rabbit/guinea pig food! We can't get the good stuff from the US and Oxbow AU would sell to us here (not sure about that now, I checked about a year ago) but postage was too much....it was $150 per 12 kgs and that did not include the pellet price!! No real demand here....everyone seems to be happy to feed rabbit food!

[melissa98]

Where can you buy the LM Bonanza food? Would they have it at Animates?

[Skylarnz]

Diet and Nutrition (sorry I see the link did not work.....if you are interested I will try and get the right one for you)

You can read the replies I got when I asked about pellets before. I was told to rather feed veggies only instead of the bad pellets. That is an option. I don't think I have seen that brand at Animates, they only sell their own brand, Kaytee and Vitakraft. You can find Bonanza online but they are also not the cheapest! What pellets are you using now? Where do you get your hay from? From Animates? I am having a hard time to get nice hay. Have you found something for your cage yet?

[melissa98]

I haven't gotten my guinea pigs yet... I'm getting them in about 3 weeks!
So I haven't yet bought any hay or pellets because I'm not sure which ones to get. I think I'll probably get my hay from Four Seasons Pets which is in the St John's area. Here's the website: http://www.fourseasonspets.co.nz/ Although it might just be the same quality as Animates The cage... I'm still working on!

[RodentCuddles]

Has anyone found good pellets to feed them yet?

[melissa98]

Not me

[RodentCuddles]

Naw, what stuff do you feed your piggys?

[melissa98]

Haven't gotten them yet... I'm getting them in about 1.5 weeks!

[RodentCuddles]

Aww! Do you know what one/s you're getting?

[melissa98]

Nah, I'm still looking. I can't seem to find anything decent

[RodentCuddles]

I know the feeling! Right now I'm feeding my pigs mostly vege with a bit of a mix of two brought food product but just can't find anything good.

[RodentCuddles]

OMG!! I think I found a way we can get Some Oxbow Pellets for our piggys!
Order of Oxbow Australia.

Just Contact them:

Contact Us | Oxbow Australia

And I think we might be able to order it online. I HOPE SO!!!!!

[kananaka]

OMG!! I think I found a way we can get Some Oxbow Pellets for our piggys!
Order of Oxbow Australia.

Just Contact them:

Contact Us | Oxbow Australia

And I think we might be able to order it online. I HOPE SO!!!!!

Just because I am nosy I clicked your link and found they do have 3 retail places in NZ New Zealand | Oxbow Australia .

[RodentCuddles]

Yea, but they don't sell Pellets or hay. I did check that out, I wish they did though be so much easier.

[Skylarnz]

OMG!! I think I found a way we can get Some Oxbow Pellets for our piggys!
Order of Oxbow Australia.

Just Contact them:

Contact Us | Oxbow Australia

And I think we might be able to order it online. I HOPE SO!!!!!

HI RodentCuddles
I have already tried that....they will send to us but postage is nuts!! I phoned Oxbow in OZ and they quoted me $145 dollars for postage only and that was for 12kgs of pellets.....pellets was an extra on top of that.....unless you have lots of money it works out way to much! I must add that I checked on this about a year ago and it doesnt hurt to check out again.
We don't get anything else that is good I tried a couple of online people and all said they only stock what they have and will not bring in anything new unless they have high demand as they need to bring in a good couple of pallets at a time. I will keep looking and let you know if I find anything!!

[RodentCuddles]

HI RodentCuddles
I have already tried that....they will send to us but postage is nuts!! I phoned Oxbow in OZ and they quoted me $145 dollars for postage only and that was for 12kgs of pellets.....pellets was an extra on top of that.....unless you have lots of money it works out way to much! I must add that I checked on this about a year ago and it doesnt hurt to check out again.
We don't get anything else that is good I tried a couple of online people and all said they only stock what they have and will not bring in anything new unless they have high demand as they need to bring in a good couple of pallets at a time. I will keep looking and let you know if I find anything!!

Wow, The postage is nuts!! I'll try them just in case, I can't believe how much the postage is. If not I will go to both of the Vet Clinics in Auckland and ask them if they could seeing as they already stock the Stocks Critical Care for Herbivores (syringe feeding formula).

What do you feed your piggys? I wanna get my pigs the best that I can.
Thanks

[Skylarnz]

Hi
I already phoned all the vets that stock the Oxbow critical and none will stock the other stuff....very sad.....yes postage was nuts but that was the cheapest she told me.......give them a try again and see.....maybe they found a better way to get it here....

[kananaka]

Wow I just did a net search for Guinea pig food in NZ, there was not much that came up at all.... WOW! Is there a pet store chain maybe that will order for you guys?