Natural Mouse Diet

[katt]

By Candice (candiceboggs)

The Natural Mouse Diet

A combination of the Shunamite diet for rats and a from nature-sourced ingredient diet I have carefully formulated specifically for mice.

ALL ORGANIC INGREDIENTS*

*Exception of Nutritional Yeast Flakes (Brewer's Yeast, supplement, optional)

3 Cups Thick Rolled Oats

3 Cups Rolled Barley

1/2 Cup Brown/Wild Rice

1/2 Cup Pumpkin Seeds

1 Cup Wheat Kernels (Red or whatever you can find, wheat berries or groats are good too for variety)

1/2 Cup Millet

1/2 Cup Golden Flax Seeds (Golden are more nutritious.)

1/4 Cup Brewer's Yeast (Nutritional Supplement)

1/4 Cup Amaranth (old-world grain)

1/4 Cup Buckwheat (old-world grain)

1/4 Cup Quinoa (old world grain)

1/4 Raw Cashew Pieces (or other inexpensive organic nuts, crushed)


Most of these ingredients can be purchased from bulk bins at natural food stores such as Whole Foods Market, or other local stores. Whenever possible obtain organic ingredients. I have not yet found a source of organic Brewer's Yeast (Nutritional Yeast Flakes) but this is an optional supplement.

It is imperative that in addition to a mix diet mice receive about 1 Tbsp. per mouse, or less (if they do not eat that much within a half hour) of fresh fruits and/or vegetables per day. Do not use spinach.

Vegetables: Broccoli, kale, cauliflower, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, and the like are wonderful. Carrots should only be fed as a VERY rare treat as they are extremely high in sugar. Raw potato is okay but all skin should be completely removed (peeled) and all eyes as it is highly poisonous. Beans and any other legume (lentils, peas, peanuts) should NEVER be fed as they are poisonous unless cooked. Dandelion greens (if not treated with pesticides) are a mouse favorite.

Fruits: Bananas should be fed just as rarely as carrots due to the same sugar factor. Organic strawberries are best because of high amounts of pesticides in non-organic strawberries. Apples are a favorite of my mice, as are grapes, and any melons.

Citrus fruits such as oranges, lemon, lime, grapefruit, etc. should NOT be fed.

Protein: Pregnant and lactating females require more protein, as do young mice. For adult mice a treat of 1-2 live crickets per mouse each week is a wonderful supplement and they enjoy hunting them. Mealworms are not as nutritious and very fattening, but are a good treat if fed exceedingly rarely.

Hard and soft-boiled organic egg also make a wonderful source of protein and a great treat for our mousey friends. Dried bread (free of spices and preferably soy) and shredded wheat cereal are great fun and low-fat treats for overweight mice.

The key with any diet is that a mix is for picking at (with the exception of an overeater, who receives anywhere from 1 tsp to 1 Tbsp per day), and isn't nutritionally complete without fresh foods on the side.

I choose to feed a from-nature diet because every single "complete" lab block out there contains soy (which has been shown to cause tumors in rats and mice), and all store-bought lab blocks (instead of special order) contain alfalfa meal, something our rodents receive no nutrition from whatsoever. Not to mention the grainery floor sweepings, hulls, shells, and corn.

Any questions please send me a PM

Candice Boggs

[Deleted]

Just thought I'd add/correct some information of your natural mouse diet.

Spinach isn't bad for them, it's a good source of iron, but excessive amounts inhibit calcium absorbtion. I have had many, many mice over the years, spinach is one of their favourite foods & they do well with it in their diet. Amounts recommended are 1 teaspoon per mouse a week.
Carrots & banana are also good for them. Apples contain more sugar than carrots, & banana is good for young animals & breeding females. Mice readily eat carrots, & if sugar is an is an issue, you can steam it.

Raw legumes are not poisonous raw, but many of them prevent the absorbtion, bind up or cancel out certain vitamins or minerals, resulting in definiecies.
Also, soy prevents cancers, but it does cause problems with the thyroid, which can result in weight gain.

Cheers.

[katt]

Thank you.

[ferretlove67]

are you looking locally for the source for organic yeast flakes by chance vs. online? Tried looking at frontier? I know several yeast companies, some better than others as far as how organic or natural they are. I know a few bulk places, you might be interested to give a shot? Father in law brews wine so this is how I know. If you are keeping it local, it makes it harder. I would often get in 50 lbs and sell off the extra. yeah that is a lot. Opening the packages would often leave me with enough good yeast in my system via my nose and dust LOL!!!! I tend to open things like x-mas gifts

[goingpostal]

Aha! I thought there was a diet for rodents here, I bought oats and millet but couldn't remember what all was good for them, there is a bulk foods store that sells most of this and it is organic.

[ferretlove67]

yep, I mix it with a "not to general public" version of the harland teklad. It is incredibly nearly impossible to get without being a distributor, BUT there are ways....Which is more organic, no soy (not a fan). Always believe what you put in is what is taken in eventually. I think the blocks help supplement this diet, all of which are available and great for lactating, pregnant or breeding mice, including nutritional organic yeast in the bulk bins. I make it by the pails. Works like a charm. No corn ( so no worries about aflotoxin poisoning from mold) , no soy and no alfalfa. It is the way I prefer to do it at a mix of approx 1/4 to 1/3 blocks and the rest is mixed in and that is the way we do it. Happy healthy silky mice that absolutely love it! We also add in eggs with some other veggies and fruits balanced visa an excel spreadsheet for the optimal diet once a week. Healthy parents, healthy babies = healthy food source for healthy kits/ferrets

[satinsmommy]

Would this diet work for rats as well? I like the ingredient list much better than the ones on the Shunamite rat diets i've seen.

[Deleted]

I'm hoping to get my rats onto a shunamite rat mix soon, have ordered a book that's been recommended to me by several breeders and rescues for rats on the subject, but it hasn't come. Could anyone on here point me in the direction of any articles or good websites for it maybe?

[satinsmommy]

i just googled it.

www.fancy-rats.co.uk/information/guides.php?subject=shunamite
www.shunamiterats.co.uk/shunamite.shtml
www.shunamiterats.co.uk/principlesdiet.shtml

[Deleted]

I did the same thing and found pretty much the same stuff you did... I was hoping to find more specific information about why these percentages of foods have been chosen, which minerals and vitamins they need at different life stages for what reasons etc. Nevermind, I'll just have to wait for my book to come.

[Sherry]

Sorry guys- I'm pretty much useless on what to feed these guys

[katt]

Here you go! Natural Diet for Rats:

www.naturalrodent.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=naturaldiet&action=display&thread=13

[katt]

Mousie enjoying a healthy snack. Scrambled eggs (whole egg, including shell added in at the end) with veggie scraps. (He didn't get the whole pan haha, it was split between all of my breeding groups). The occasional scrambled egg is a great way to give them a little protein, the shell is a good source of calcium for them to nibble on, esp for nursing moms.

[Awaiting Abyss]

I don't see any animal protein on the list. Mice need animal protein (usually fed in the form of a dog or cat kibble since feeding them actual meat would be too much) and insects.

Also, be very careful feeding grapes, melons and vegetables and fruits in general. Too much causes wet poop, which will kill mice. I stay way from fruits and veggies to be safe, plus most mice don't eat it anyway since its not really part of their natural diet.

[Deleted]

I just have to mention that Grapes, raisins, rhubarb and walnuts are poisonous to mice, and lettuce can cause them to have diarrhoea.