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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum DIET & CARE found new bun feed

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    • new1bunny
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        Hello everyone, you should know by now that where I live it’s hard to get bunny stuff, even feed/pellets. but I ran across this today. I was in Harvey’s grocery store and found this. I don’t remmber how much they wanted for it, but it had one other thing besides pellets in it, and was loaded with vitimans. anyone know of this stuff here.

        bunny pellets


      • Tate
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          Do not trust any Hartz products, they are AWFUL! You can buy Oxbow online, which is infinitely better.


        • Sarita
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            I’ll be honest – Hartz is probably some of the worst rabbit food on the market. Do they carry Kaytee? Preferably the Kaytee Timothy Complete.


          • LizzieKnittyBun
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              I’d be careful switching around food like this. Pellets need to be introduced veeeeeeeeery slowly so as not to cause to digestive issues. It’s usually recommended that you introduce new pellets in tiny amounts with the pellets the rabbit was already eating, and gradually increase the amount over two weeks until the old pellets have been completely replaced.

              Most of us use Oxbow Timothy-based pellets (called Oxbow-T). I would call around to various pet stores to see if any of them carry it. For instance, our neighborhood Petsmart carries it. But you have to make sure it’s the kind made for rabbits, because Oxbow also makes pellets for guinea pigs and other small furries.

              If you absolutely cannot find it in your area, there are a lot of websites out there that sell it with a very reasonable shipping fee. The neat thing about ordering online is that you can buy pellets, hay, and litter at the same time, and many places offer a flat shipping rate.


            • LBJ10
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                Petsmart also carries Mazuri, which is a good food. We would get it for our chinchillas (the chinchilla formula, of course) and it was great. The only reason we don’t buy it for our buns is because Oxbow is readily available here since it is produced about 20 minutes away. We also get punch cards. Buy so many bags and get one free. They have them for Oxbow hay too. Hehe, I like getting free stuff.


              • Beka27
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                  Online prices are usually cheaper too. A 5 pound bag in stores is $12. A 10 pound bag online is only $15. The Dr Foster and Smith site has a flat shopping rate of 6 bucks regardless of weight, so you can order a lot at once and stock up.


                • mossling
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                    hartz is an absolutely horrible brand. i would never let any of their products near any of my animals. did you know their flea meds have been know to cause neurological problems, and even death, in dogs and cats? i’d feed generic store brands before hartz. you said it’s loaded with vitamins, but is it overloaded? are they vitamins your bun actually needs? i’m still learning about rabbit nutrition, myself, so i don’t know. it’s common with dog and cat food, though, for brands to load up a food with extra stuff that sounds great, but is unneccisary or even harmful.

                    if you can’t find better locally (and i know what it’s like living in a small town), and can’t order online, i’d keep with what you’re already feeding. walmart brand pet food is usually really crappy, but from what i can tell, the rabbit food isn’t half bad. i would have fed it, if i hadn’t found a better food with a cheaper price, at a feed store.


                  • Kokaneeandkahlua
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                      Too bad!! That probably looks like a great find!! Pet companies are PRO at that-making stuff look better than it is. I agree Hartz is not so good. In fact-that’s a tip off. If a company lists nutrients/vitamins etc-often it’s because they are trying to ‘dress up’ a crummy food. Like Science Diet for dog food or yogurt drops-it’s just false advertising really.
                      Anyways-some good tips on ordering online.

                      Also don’t rule out asking your petstore to order for you! Most will get whatever they can get if you want it I’d agree with Oxbow for sure, but also Kaytee and Martins are good too


                    • new1bunny
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                        Posted By LizzieKnittyBun on 05/11/2011 04:53 PM
                        I’d be careful switching around food like this. Pellets need to be introduced veeeeeeeeery slowly so as not to cause to digestive issues. It’s usually recommended that you introduce new pellets in tiny amounts with the pellets the rabbit was already eating, and gradually increase the amount over two weeks until the old pellets have been completely replaced.

                        Most of us use Oxbow Timothy-based pellets (called Oxbow-T). I would call around to various pet stores to see if any of them carry it. For instance, our neighborhood Petsmart carries it. But you have to make sure it’s the kind made for rabbits, because Oxbow also makes pellets for guinea pigs and other small furries.

                        If you absolutely cannot find it in your area, there are a lot of websites out there that sell it with a very reasonable shipping fee. The neat thing about ordering online is that you can buy pellets, hay, and litter at the same time, and many places offer a flat shipping rate.

                         

                        I did not buy it, I just took a pic for you all to tell me if it was any good or not. She is on her same diet. I know that when it comes to flea’s and ticks that hartz really sucks. products do not work as they say they do.


                      • RabbitPam
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                          It’s really hard to sort out the good brands from the lousy ones when you’re in the store. I know – just yesterday I was in a tiny pet shop I liked (and drove miles to get to) to pick up the few items I know she stocks, and she was out of all but one. She had shelves of all these new products, but I had never heard of any of them and didn’t want to spend $ on something I didn’t know about yet.

                          One way to try to get what you know is good is to do a little research online ahead of time. First, I think Oxbow has a distribution list on their website. Years ago they only sold to veterinarians, so I was able to look up my region and find a vet that sold their pellets about 15 miles from where I lived. I went there, got 2 bags, and they promised to keep it in stock. Now they are selling to pet stores at a hugely inflated price but at least you can get them. Beka, I didn’t know about the flat rate with Dr. B…. That’s what always stops me from ordering, the cost of shipping, so that’s good news.

                          Another thing you can try is doing the online research backwards, ie. go to the site of the store you are shopping in (Harvey’s in this case) and read what they sell. Then you can look up the nutrition of the products and compare, or just ask us like you just did. Once you know what you want to buy, you can even call ahead and ask if it’s in stock. If not, ask them to place an order and you’ll be by when it arrives. Some managers are even open to placing orders for a new product if they can guarantee a customer will be coming by to purchase it regularly. (Wish I had called ahead yesterday, but I knew I was half way there before I went so took a chance.)


                        • Beka27
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                            Posted By RabbitPam on 05/12/2011 05:15 AM

                            Beka, I didn’t know about the flat rate with Dr. B…. That’s what always stops me from ordering, the cost of shipping, so that’s good news.
                             

                            And believe it or not, the flat rate includes the big 25 or 50 pound boxes of Oxbow hay.

                             


                          • mossling
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                              sorry for the quick hijack, but it’s been mentioned a couple of times. is the kaytee rabbit food really any good? i ask because their rat food is horrible. it contains a preservative that is a known carcinogen and has been band from human consumption. with the extraordinarily high rate of mammary tumors in rats, they don’t need any extra help from their food!


                            • Sarita
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                                Well, it’s better than Hartz but not as good as APD or Oxbow. It is also more readily available or had been but now that Oxbow is in Petsmart and is expanding their market, it’s easier to get Oxbow which is more recommended.


                              • LoveChaCha
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                                  Posted By mossling on 05/12/2011 06:22 AM
                                  sorry for the quick hijack, but it’s been mentioned a couple of times. is the kaytee rabbit food really any good? i ask because their rat food is horrible. it contains a preservative that is a known carcinogen and has been band from human consumption. with the extraordinarily high rate of mammary tumors in rats, they don’t need any extra help from their food!

                                   

                                  and what ingredient would that be? 


                                • Sarita
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                                    Ethoxyquin


                                  • mossling
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                                      it’s ethoxyquin. and thanks to your quote, i realized there was a big fat typo in my post. ethoxyquin is BANNED from human consumption, it does not play the tuba.


                                    • Sarita
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                                        I don’t see that listed on the Timothy Complete ingredient list:

                                        http://www.kaytee.com/products/timothy-complete-rabbit.php


                                      • Lintini
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                                          Lol I cracked up Mossling, it does not play the tuba!!!!

                                          The shipping at dr foster and smiths is 5.99$ still I believe? Hartz does have really bad products; I really don’t understand why they still sell it.


                                        • LoveChaCha
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                                            Thanks Sarita


                                          • Sam and Lady's Human
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                                              Posted By mossling on 05/12/2011 12:30 PM
                                              it’s ethoxyquin. and thanks to your quote, i realized there was a big fat typo in my post. ethoxyquin is BANNED from human consumption, it does not play the tuba.

                                              Ahahaha I totally lol’d 

                                               


                                            • KatnipCrzy
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                                                ethoxyquin used to be in Kaytee Timothy Complete- when I first researched foods for Cotton about 3 years ago- it was an ingredient then. So maybe they removed that
                                                preservative from their foods.


                                              • BinkyBunny
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                                                  Posted By Beka27 on 05/11/2011 05:47 PM
                                                  Online prices are usually cheaper too. A 5 pound bag in stores is $12. A 10 pound bag online is only $15. The Dr Foster and Smith site has a flat shopping rate of 6 bucks regardless of weight, so you can order a lot at once and stock up.

                                                  But here’s the catch–it’s sort of a dog and pony show technique — This is what  drives me crazy about some of these flat rate shipping rates: while they can keep their rates low on some products — others they hike up. For example, the price of the Oxbow pellets at that online store is more expensive than some of the smaller online businesses by $3 to $4 dollars. So if you buy 3 to get more bang for your shipping buck, you are paying $9 -$12 dollars more for the product alone PLUS 5.99 in shipping.  Ends up costing about the same if not more.   If you stock up and buy more than five to get the free shipping, it’s paid for with the padding in the product.  Any losses would be made up with the people who thought they were getting a good deal with only buying a few.  It’s not the case for all products, but selected “repeat” type products are typically hiked.     

                                                  Sorry all– I need to get off my shipping soap box. (I’ve been getting a bit whacky this week).   We’re just having a hard time competing lately, and we thought of doing this flat rate too, but in order to do that we would have to hike up prices on some popular items too. Who knows what we will end up having to do though.  

                                                  New1bunny — did you get a chance to ask your vet what pellet she recommended.  Since she has a bunny of her own, she probably does have a suggestion and can tell you were she gets hers.  If for whatever reason, you did not ask her, you can always call. She may be able to suggest some place local that is within driving distance.  

                                                   

                                                   


                                                • Tate
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                                                    Well BB, I can definitely say that you will have my business for the next 10-12 years (if not more!!!). My guys are in LOVE with the oat hay you have and will not touch any store bought brand now… Haha! Plus you have so many cute toys! I think the shipping price is so reasonable. It’s worth it for the quality products you guys have.


                                                  • Monkeybun
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                                                      Agreed with Tate! I only buy pellets and bunny toys from you And treat hay. They do adore your oat and orchard.


                                                    • Beka27
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                                                        BB, I’ll have to research online prices from other sites too. When I started ordering there, my husband was laid off and all factors considered it was the most economical I could find while still purchasing quality food. But, I can edit my recommendation if you feel this is promoting a business.

                                                        I mentioned this because I think that in this case particularly, a flat shipping rate might be beneficial for the member so she can also order other bunny supplies that might not be readily available in her area.


                                                      • BinkyBunny
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                                                          Posted By Beka27 on 05/13/2011 05:23 AM
                                                          BB, I’ll have to research online prices from other sites too. When I started ordering there, my husband was laid off and all factors considered it was the most economical I could find while still purchasing quality food. But, I can edit my recommendation if you feel this is promoting a business.

                                                          I mentioned this because I think that in this case particularly, a flat shipping rate might be beneficial for the member so she can also order other bunny supplies that might not be readily available in her area.

                                                          I’m sorry Beka, I didn’t mean to make you feel bad.  It’s fine, as we are discussing it within the context of the thread and of course you are a long term member (not to mention a leader!),  and so because of that it’s within the rules.  I have just been getting hyper-focused on it  lately because more companies are doing this –  and coming from the business side, I know how it really works.   So I will stop freakin’ out —don’t mind the grumbling gal over there in the corner. 

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                                                      Forum DIET & CARE found new bun feed