Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've been feeding my mice chicken feed(for laying chickens) since I got them a couple months ago, and they seem to be doing fine on it, but do you think that it has enough protein for them? I think that it has 16% protein, or something close to that. I had some mice last year that I fed catfood, but their fur became oily looking. That's why I use the chicken food now, I already have it around, and its only $15 for a 50 pound bag.
So, does it have enough protein? Would they have larger litters if they got more protein? So far, each mouse has had one litter(their first litters) and the average litter size is 14 pups.Anyway, let me know what you think, thanks.
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"Let us step out into the night and pursue that mighty temptress, adventure." (Albus Dumbledore)

My menagerie
2.1 Ball Pythons 1.0 Amazon Tree Boa 1.0 Corn Snake 1.0 Dumeril's Boa 1.2 Bearded Dragons(and 11 eggs!) 2.1 Crested Geckos 1.2 Sudan Plated Lizards 0.0.4 Eastern Painted Turtles 1.1.5 Eastern Box Turtles 1.1 Eastern Red-spotted Newts 1.0 Northern Mockingbird 0.3 Chickens 2.0 Cats 1.1 Ferrets 1.4.28 mice 0.0.34 London Shubunkin goldfish

Chicken feed tends to have a lot of corn in it.

I have read that corn contains large amounts of fungi that are harmful to rodents, and the reptiles that we feed them to (and us humans as well).

For protien, I have been feeding my rats sunflower seeds.

SnakeyLakey

Mice need 20-22% protien. Chicken feed is for chickens.

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Shannon in Reno
2.3 dogs
1.0 cat
Bunch O fancy rats and mice
50 something chickens
1.0 Black rat snake
2.0 Albino corn snakes
0.1 Chissel tooth kangaroo rat
0.1 Rosy Boa
0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa
1.0 Amazing Boyfriend

I have found that they really like finch mix wild bird food that has a lot of millet and I mix in sunflower and safflower seeds. the finch mix is about 1.00 a lb the sunflower is 1.00 lb and the safflower is like .50 a lb? good diet though

...and a good lab block is usually around $.40-.50 a lb so why bother with bird seed?

>>...and a good lab block is usually around $.40-.50 a lb so why bother with bird seed?

I think the seed helps. Maybe not if you have a huge breeding colony. But I have found with my smaller one. The rats, mice and ASF. ALl like a little seed. I also give my asf some crickets. They really seem to like crickets and also carrots.
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www.hybridhaven.net

why the great debate over what other feed to feed rodents dog food is for dogs cat food is for cats etc purina sells mazuri brand rodent feed any purina dealer can get it and it's the same price or cheaper as a good brand of dog food plus no dyes. no animal byproducts and the rodents don,t have to be train not to howl at sirens