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Buckeye pellets?

joab97

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Dec 28, 2004
Messages
109
Has anyone every used Buckeye brand pellets? I have oxbow right now and the shipping is too much. I cant find Oxbow in my area. My local feedstore carries these kind of pellets and they are reasonably priced. Also next time I get hay, it's going to be from there. It is way cheaper. Thanks.
 
you need to check the ingredients, there should be no ethoxquin(sp), the first thing should be timothy , there shouldn't be any corn, and last but not least, no animal products.
 
joab can you post a list of ingredients here for us please?
 
No, I will have to go back to the store to find out, I was kinda in a hurry the other day. I will let ya know when I do. Sorry took so long to reply,,I have been working.
 
I did a search and found the ingredients.

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
Crude Protein, Minimum 22.00%
Crude Fat, Minimum 2.50%
Crude Fiber, Min. 13.00%
Crude Fiber, Max. 15.50%
Calcium, Minimum 0.70%
Calcium, Max. 1.00%
Phosphorus, Minimum 0.55%
Salt, Minimum 0.30%
Salt, Max. 0.80%
Ascorbic Acid, Min. 100 mg/ lb.

INGREDIENTS: Alfalfa Meal, Soybean Meal, Wheat Middlings, Ground Corn, Soybean Hulls, Heat Processed Soybeans, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Phosphate, Salt, Magnesium Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Cobalt Carbonate, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Niacin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Choline Chloride, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate.

FEEDING DIRECTIONS: Feed only as much as the guinea pig will consume in a day so the feed will stay fresh and clean. Young guinea pigs are born with their eyes open and with a complete coat of fur, and will begin eating pellets at a few days of age. The feeding of lettuce, cabbage, carrots, or turnips to provide additional vitamin C is not necessary since more than sufficient levels of Vitamin C have been added to Buckeye Guinea Pig Pellets. The product should be fed within 5 months of the manufacturing date to ensure freshness, freedom from mold growth, and adequate dietary vitamin levels. Always provide guinea pigs with plenty of clean, fresh water. Follow a strict sanitation program to prevent disease.

I wouldn't feed this stuff to any animal.

Definition
This poisoning is caused by an overdose of calcium phosphate. It can be found in some cosmetic products, as well as many industrial chemicals and cements.

Poisonous Ingredient
Calcium phosphate

Where Found
* Some cosmetic products
* Some industrial chemicals and cements

The ground corn is fattening, calcium carbonate is used in antacids and everything else in bold is not something that should be fed to pigs. Especially the poisonous ingredient! Also it is loaded with salt and piggies don't need that either.
 
It's not as bad as most commercially available pellets. As for Timothy being the first ingredient in a pellet, off hand I only know of two brands that offer quality timothy based pellets. It's not common, and the amount of alfalfa that a guinea pig gets in pellets will generally not harm a pig that doesn't have a problem with stones/sludge. Afterall, a high quality timothy hay being provided free choice is much more important and eaten much more than pellets anyhow - at least it should be. Pellets are the least important part of a guinea pigs daily diet.

Saying all of that, I've used Buckeye feed for the last year+ with no adverse effects. All of my pigs here, pet and rescue, maintain a very healthy coat, bright eyes, and normal dropping output/appearance.

Yes, I do order Oxbow for some of my seniors because it is superior food and I do recommend that my adopters use it if they are able to. But it is cost prohibitive for some with the shipping costs and not readily available without ordering online or over the phone - which some cannot do easily. Even with local distrubutors, there is shipping cost added in to the price you pay, but not as much since the distrubutors do get a break on ordering and shipping mass quantities of Oxbow items.
 
The one thing that bugs me the most Erin is the calcium phosphate in it. But if you have used it with good results for over a year, then I guess it can't be as bad as some foods out there.
 
I will admit that I'm no expert in the nutrition department, unfortunatly, most pellets that are readily available are crap. Sometimes, you have to choose the lesser of the evils. I did an experiement for a paper last quarter for school, no pellets to a group of pigs for about 4 weeks - slight weight loss from 1 of the group of 3 but overall they did really well on a no-pellet diet, water consumption dropped on the pellet-free group as well probably due to the reduced salt in their diet from taking the pellets away. It could be another option for someone who took the time to research it and had the patience to ensure their pigs were given a proper balenced diet without the pellets. Pellets are just a convienient way to provide the balenced diet to our pets, it's the same with bagged dog kibble, cat food, etc.
 
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