Rat Maintenance Mash
|
Nutrition Info per 120g dry mix: Calories/cup=250 Protein=14.5% Fat=5.7%; yield 1.8K (7C) cooked
a) After soaking at least 6 hr, boil Chick Peas in full pot of H2O (Other beans require less soak time, and lentils none)
b) Meanwhile Rinse Red River if desired to reduce starch and calories, and place in cooker c) Add Oats + 5-6 Cups of boiling water & cook on Hi till it thickens (a couple hours). You may replace the water with home made chicken stock (aka bone broth)* d) Add Chickpeas, with remaining bean liquid if possible. e) Add other ingredients |
To raise the protein level: simply add wheat germ OR sub lentils, bean soup mix, or black (turtle) beans
see advanced mashing
To lower the protein: choose a filler like Rice (wild, red, and black), see advanced mashing
To raise the fat: choose sunflower, hemp, chia seeds see advanced mashing
To lower the fat: choose Barley see advanced mashing techniques
see advanced mashing
To lower the protein: choose a filler like Rice (wild, red, and black), see advanced mashing
To raise the fat: choose sunflower, hemp, chia seeds see advanced mashing
To lower the fat: choose Barley see advanced mashing techniques
If you ever wonder if you're really feeding your rat properly, this is the best starter diet for you
|
|
Other Foods to Feed Your Rat *= sparingly; ***type and source of this item is important
Apples, Artichokes cooked, Avocado (avoid area near pit and skin), Bananas, (most) Beans cooked, Beets cooked, Blueberries, Bones, Bok Choy, *Brazil Nut, Broccoli and Cauliflower (organic only), Brussels sprouts cooked, Cabbage cooked, Carrot, Celery, Cherries, Cranberries, Cucumbers, *Chia seed, Chicken, *Duck, *Egg cooked, Grapes, Flax seed *oil*, Haddock, *Hemp seed, Herring, *Kale, Lettuce (romaine), Mackerel (N. Atlantic & Chub) Melons, Ocean Perch, Pear, Probiotics, Pacific Sole, Peas cooked, Pollock, cooked Potato, Rice (wild, red, and black), Sardines, Sesame oil*, Tomato, Salmon***, Scallop, Sprouted Grass*, Squash cooked, Squid, Sunflower Seed*, Tilapia, Trout, Turkey, Vegetables frozen, Whitefish
Never feed daily
Desserts, Corn frozen, Cereals (boxed, processed) especially bran flakes/Fibre One/Grape nuts, Chestnuts (sugar), Dairy, processed meats, Green beans, Lettuce (iceberg), Nuts (70% fat), Pasta, Popcorn, Sugar
Never feed at all
Baby food (commercial), beans raw, beans Navy (unknown), beans Fava (unknown), Beets (oxalates) and Beet Greens, Blue cheese, Breads, Corn dried, moldy foods, Nuts raw, Peanuts (best to avoid), Rhubarb (oxalates), Saltine crackers, SPINACH, Tofu raw bulk, wild insects, seeds & nuts like acorns & conkers (parasites), Xylitol
If its not on one of the lists, I probably don't know offhand, so you'll have to Google it.
Apples, Artichokes cooked, Avocado (avoid area near pit and skin), Bananas, (most) Beans cooked, Beets cooked, Blueberries, Bones, Bok Choy, *Brazil Nut, Broccoli and Cauliflower (organic only), Brussels sprouts cooked, Cabbage cooked, Carrot, Celery, Cherries, Cranberries, Cucumbers, *Chia seed, Chicken, *Duck, *Egg cooked, Grapes, Flax seed *oil*, Haddock, *Hemp seed, Herring, *Kale, Lettuce (romaine), Mackerel (N. Atlantic & Chub) Melons, Ocean Perch, Pear, Probiotics, Pacific Sole, Peas cooked, Pollock, cooked Potato, Rice (wild, red, and black), Sardines, Sesame oil*, Tomato, Salmon***, Scallop, Sprouted Grass*, Squash cooked, Squid, Sunflower Seed*, Tilapia, Trout, Turkey, Vegetables frozen, Whitefish
Never feed daily
Desserts, Corn frozen, Cereals (boxed, processed) especially bran flakes/Fibre One/Grape nuts, Chestnuts (sugar), Dairy, processed meats, Green beans, Lettuce (iceberg), Nuts (70% fat), Pasta, Popcorn, Sugar
Never feed at all
Baby food (commercial), beans raw, beans Navy (unknown), beans Fava (unknown), Beets (oxalates) and Beet Greens, Blue cheese, Breads, Corn dried, moldy foods, Nuts raw, Peanuts (best to avoid), Rhubarb (oxalates), Saltine crackers, SPINACH, Tofu raw bulk, wild insects, seeds & nuts like acorns & conkers (parasites), Xylitol
If its not on one of the lists, I probably don't know offhand, so you'll have to Google it.
So you're saying lab blocks are bad, right?
Not necessarily. Lab blocks have a function --mainly in the lab-- but should not comprise all of your rat's diet. What % to use depends on your needs and intentions. I still feed Harlan to keep them occupied while I work long hours, and simply for variety if they've had the wet diet many days in a row. Studies have shown that feeding the same thing every day causes bowel inflammation and even allergies.
Why "steel cut" oats? Do rolled or quick oats hurt the rats?
No, rolled oats won't hurt your rats, but they are heat treated in the rolling process & lower in nutrients (ex. 2g less of protein/serving) than steel cut, in which the whole groat is roughly chopped. Quick oats are already too processed.
Why does the Red River box say, "May contain Barley, Mustard, Oat, Sesame seed, Soybean and Triticale?"
That's a commonly used liability statement to indicate it was packaged in a facility which does. There may be soy crumbs in there at best
How long does it store in the fridge?
2 days before a threshold level of bacteria is reached, and then it must go in the freezer. Ice cube trays are helpful for freezing small servings..
How can I cut down the prep time?
Store batches of the food in the freezer (or outside, in winter).
Soak and cook your beans and rices in large batches, and freeze
Can I feed this to all my rats?
Growing rats need a higher protein See Advanced Mash techniques
Older rats can use a bit of extra protein, as their bodies don't absorb it well,but in kidney disease you want to dilute the protein down by 1/2-1/3, and possibly increase the fat [in conjunction with a phosphorus-blocker and veterinary advice]. You may also need to leave out the Greens Supplement in advanced cases, as the high potassium and protein can be fatal at this stage See Advanced Mash techniques
Not necessarily. Lab blocks have a function --mainly in the lab-- but should not comprise all of your rat's diet. What % to use depends on your needs and intentions. I still feed Harlan to keep them occupied while I work long hours, and simply for variety if they've had the wet diet many days in a row. Studies have shown that feeding the same thing every day causes bowel inflammation and even allergies.
Why "steel cut" oats? Do rolled or quick oats hurt the rats?
No, rolled oats won't hurt your rats, but they are heat treated in the rolling process & lower in nutrients (ex. 2g less of protein/serving) than steel cut, in which the whole groat is roughly chopped. Quick oats are already too processed.
Why does the Red River box say, "May contain Barley, Mustard, Oat, Sesame seed, Soybean and Triticale?"
That's a commonly used liability statement to indicate it was packaged in a facility which does. There may be soy crumbs in there at best
How long does it store in the fridge?
2 days before a threshold level of bacteria is reached, and then it must go in the freezer. Ice cube trays are helpful for freezing small servings..
How can I cut down the prep time?
Store batches of the food in the freezer (or outside, in winter).
Soak and cook your beans and rices in large batches, and freeze
Can I feed this to all my rats?
Growing rats need a higher protein See Advanced Mash techniques
Older rats can use a bit of extra protein, as their bodies don't absorb it well,but in kidney disease you want to dilute the protein down by 1/2-1/3, and possibly increase the fat [in conjunction with a phosphorus-blocker and veterinary advice]. You may also need to leave out the Greens Supplement in advanced cases, as the high potassium and protein can be fatal at this stage See Advanced Mash techniques