Pellets

[Smitti]

Hello Aagain Every One

It has been awile since I have last posted anything, but I think I will be getting my pigs finally in September when I start Vet Tech school.

Any way my question:

I was wondering how much pelletes you guys buy at a time? How many feedings does this amount of food last? How many pigs do you have that you are feeding? And how do you store what you are not using to make it last longer?

Thank you so much for your help
Smitti

[Percy's Mom]

I buy my pellets 50lbs at a time from Kleenmama's Hayloft :: Home, seperate them into 4-5lb packets and freeze them, taking them out a night or two before needed. Each packet lasts about 2-3 weeks for my 4 pigs.

[Ly&Pigs]

I buy in bulk as well. I buy 25lb. bags and freeze most of it like PM does. This size bag lasts my pigs about 5-6 months. I have 5 sows and they each get 1/8th of a cup per day.

[Piggersrule]

Freezing the pellets doesn't distroy the vitamin content or make the pellets mushy from thawing?

[Piggersrule]

I came across American Pet Diner pellets and was wondering if this brand is good to feed.

[SIZE=2]Benefits[/SIZE]
Maintain and control weight - Provides complete daily nutrition

Increase fiber intake

Reduce protein intake - Yucca extract for order control

Reduce calcium intake - Yucca extract prevents respiratory problems

Increase micro-flora activity - Great taste for increased palatability

Help to move hair balls - Small 1/8 inch pellet for ease of eating

Aid in urinary track problems

Improves fiber digestion - Special Yeast Culture stabilizes micro flora

Stabilized Vitamin C for increased health and prevention dental problems



[SIZE=2]Guaranteed Analysis[/SIZE]
Crude Protein (min)
Crude Fat (min)
Crude Fiber (min)
Crude Fiber (max)
Ash (max)
Calcium (min)
Calcium (max)
Phosphorus (min)
Sodium (max)
Vitamin C (min)
15.00%
2.00%
18.00%
25.00%
11.00%
0.50%
0.80%
0.45%
0.55%
93 mg/lb
INGREDIENTS:


Sun cured Timothy Meal, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Molasses Dried Beet Pulp, Ground Wheat, Salt, Monocalcium & Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Lignosulphonate, Yeast Culture (Diamond V "XP"), Calcium Carbonate, Yeast Cell Wall Extract, L-Ascorbic Acid Phosphate (Stabilized Vitamin C), Mold Inhibitor (Propionic Acid, Acetic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Benzoic Acid, Ammonium Hydroxide), Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Methionine, Copper Lysine, Manganese Methionine, Cobalt Glucoheptonate, Flavoring, Chromium Picolinate, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Mixed Tocopherols, Rosemary Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Lecithin, Silicon Dioxide (carrier for liquid antioxidants), Folic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite (source of Vitamin K activity), Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Choline Chloride, Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, D-Biotin, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Ethylene Diamine Dihydroiodide, Sodium Selenite.



FEEDING DIRECTIONS:

• Feed APD Timmy Pellet Ration at 2 ounces daily depending on size of animal. Consult your veterinarian for feeding amounts.
• This ration is designed for the animal that is overweight or on a maintenance diet or needs a higher fiber and lower calcium diet.
• For young, growing and lactating animals feed our ALFFY pellet ration.
• Provide American Pet Diner hay free choice along with this pellet ration to help satisfy your animals daily fiber needs.
• Keep fresh water available at all times.
• This pellet recommended for the following animals: Guinea Pig, Chinchilla, Hamster, Gerbil, Rat and Mouse.
• Available in a 2 pound, 5 pound, 10 pound and 25 pound size.

[Ly&Pigs]

They aren't the worst but aren't the greatest either. They are mediocre. It does have Molasses and Dried Beet Pulp in it which should be avoided in pellets. All those yucca extracts aren't so good either. On a scale of 1-10, I'd give it a 6 overall. These pellets are better than Kaytee Brands because they contain no ethoxyquin.

[TX_2_Pigs]

Originally Posted by Piggersrule

• This pellet recommended for the following animals: Guinea Pig, Chinchilla, Hamster, Gerbil, Rat and Mouse.

Because it is recommended for multiple species, I would say no. Every one of these animals has distinctly different dietary requirements. There is no way to provide complete nutrition for each species without also including items that are detrimental to one of the other species listed.

Also looking at those incredients, I would say there are quite a few that aren't good. I'll let someone more knowledgable be more specific.

[Piggersrule]

Thanks for the fast replies. I guess I won't go with that brand. I have been using Oxbow but since I use KM for my hay(Bluegrass) I was thinking about giving her pellets a try. I have 7 girls, 2 of them don't really eat aot of pellets and Abby very rarely eats pellets, maybe a couple times a week she will nibble a few. Lona and Miss Piggy will eat the pellets several times a day. April and May eat pellets but about a handful a days worth between the both of them. I was thinking buying a 25lb. bag, how long do you think that would last?

[envisionary333]

I've never heard of freezing pellets before- is it necessary? I order Oxbow in bulk and keep it in sealed containers. I have six pigs so it goes fairly quickly. I believe they are supposed to be used within a year. Should I bother freezing them? Sorry to intrude upon the thread, I'm just a little curious about this!

[Smitti]

Thank you every one.

I have found 3 pigs that I hope to be able to adopt. So my thought process was to order the 50lb bag for pellets from KM and because I am in Canada I was hoping that they would last for a wile.

Is freezing ok? Do they not loose anything when this happens?

Regarding What Ly&Pigs said, is it better to feed 1/8 or 1/4 of a cup per pig per day, or is that just 1/8th of a cup for all of them?

Thank you so much
Smitti

[Piggersrule]

I have heard of people freezing their pellets but I'm affraid of the pellets getting mushy from thawing. I have always been confused on how long you can keep pellets fresh from either freezing or dry storage. When freezing, do you use freezer bags? Do you thaw in a refridgerator?

Dawn

[Percy's Mom]

They freeze and thaw very well actually. I use freezer bags to make 4-5 pound packets, and I have never had a problem with them thawing mushy. I just leave them on the counter and let them naturally come back to room temperature.

As far as if it is necessary to freeze bulk pellets, it's like any other food, freezing keeps them good longer. The vitamin C in the pellets degrades with light and oxygen, so if you only have a small amount exposed at a time, they will be "fresh" for your pigs for an extended amount of time.

[Ly&Pigs]

Regarding What Ly&Pigs said, is it better to feed 1/8 or 1/4 of a cup per pig per day, or is that just 1/8th of a cup for all of them?

You can feed up to 1/4 cup per pig per day. If you are feeding top of the line pellet such as KM's or Oxbow, you can give 1/4 cup per day per pig. With some brands such as Mazuri, it's better to give 1/8 of a cup per pig per day because it's alfalfa based.

Pellets should be stored in a dark, cool place. Like PM said, exposure to light and air will degrade the C in them faster. Freezing them does not harm them and does not make them mushy. When preparing them to freeze, you want to use a good freezerbag and then get as much air out of the bags as possible.

[Piggersrule]

Thanks for the info. I think I will give freezing a try. The next order of hay from KM, I will get a 25lb. bag of pellets which will be soon.

Dawn

[Ledasmom]

There's very little moisture in pellets, therefore no mush when thawed. I keep flour and rice, among other things, in my freezer and there's never been a problem at all.