ABOUT OUR FOOD
RATS
AN INTERESTING MIX
VARIETY
Pellets, even if they are nutritionally decent, are not very interesting.
By feeding a mix with a variety of different smells, flavors and textures, you give your rats a much more entertaining and satisfying meal.
BASE (Low Processed Grains)
This is about ~70% of our mix.
All other ingredients together make up the remainder of the volume.Our mix is based on the Shunamite Diet. This method of a making a dry mix was modeled by Alison Campbell, and is described in detail in her book: The Scuttling Gourmet.
We do however, use weight to measure out our mixes, for practical reasons. The base proportions are based on Jemma Fettes's Isa-Mixes.
We have tried to add many different ingredients into our base blend, to make it fun and interesting!
OTHER INGREDIENTS
High Processed Grains & Cereals
The addition of some cereals, processed and puffed grains gives variety and a selection of easier to access and digest nutrients.
Protein Content
Some of our mixes are vegetarian, and in that case, the main protein source is soy.
Currently we use two types of soy products: Dried Soy Mince and Micronized (flaked while under hot steam) Soy Beans.
Other high protein ingredients are lentils, peas, legumes and hemp seeds and quinoa.
Some mixes include animal sourced protein, and in those cases variety of the following ingredients are used:
Chicken, Meal Worms and Dehydrated Egg Bread.
Fruits, Vegetables, Seeds & Nuts
A selection of fruits, vegetables, berries and seeds makes up the smallest part of our mix.
However their presence is still important for adding some high energy content, along with vitamins and different textures.
However their presence is still important for adding some high energy content, along with vitamins and different textures.
HOW DO I FEED EVERKIN FOOD TO MY RATS?
Our mixes are balanced as a whole, so it is important to avoid topping upon more food until all of the portion has been eaten by your rats. This should prevent any selective eating.
It is also required that rats have constant access to dry mix, so your rats food supply should be checked (at least) twice daily.
Constant access to fresh water is also a requirement!
DO I NEED SUPPLEMENTS?
Yes!
Muesli-Mixes that are largely based on grains and cereals are going to be naturally low on Vitamin D (D3 in particular), Vitamin B12, Copper and Calcium. This is just the nature of the ingredients involved.
Iron is also one to watch, however a little less likely to be lacking.
This means that the dry mix should be supplemented with another source of vitamins. Otherwise your rats will suffer from vitamin deficiency. This can make them very sick.
We recommend a combination of fresh food and Multivitamins as an addition of feeding any of our Food-Mixes.
Fresh Food can be served 2-3 times per week, and one of those servings should contain a high protein food, preferably of an animal source.
Leafy greens and vegetables are both healthy and usually appreciated by rat.
For suggestions on fresh food to give, see this page!
BUT WHAT IF I ALSO GIVE PELLETS?
You may still need to supplement with vitamins. This would depend on if the pellets you give are enriched, and how big part of the rats diet the pellets are.
You could decrease the days you feed vitamins, or stop altogether, as long as you also still feed fresh food as well.
This is of course situational, and we cannot provide a one-fits-all instruction.
Check the vitamin additives in the pellets you are using, and make sure there is no under- or over consumption of any fat-soluble vitamins.
SO WHAT ABOUT PROTEIN? AREN'T RATS OMNIVORES?
Yes, rats are omnivores, which means they can eat both plant-based and animals-based foods.
Several of our mixes are vegetarian. This is absolutely possible as long as research is done about your rats nutritional needs.
The important thing to keep in mind when feeding a vegetarian diet is that some amino acids are more difficult to gain via plant-based ingredients.
There are however a few vegetarian foods that does contain the essential amino acids that a rat needs. Therefore we have a combination of all these ingredients in various forms in all our rat mixes.
This includes:
Soy, Hemp, Quinoa & Buckwheat.
However, variation is always a good thing!
Therefore we recommend that rats are fed animal based protein once a week if you as an owner are comfortable with it.
Boiled Egg, Lean Fish and Chicken are great additions. Meal Worms, Meat Baby Food or Dog Kibble are other options.
EVERKIN FOOD FOR OTHER RODENTS
MICE
Mice have a similar diet to Rats, and could technically eat our Rat Food (if a high protein fresh food is added or served on the side).
However, we do have a special blend for Mice that consists of smaller pieces, more small sized ingredients and a higher protein value.
As with Rats, Mice need their diet supplemented with Multi-Vitamins and Fresh Food when fed a grain based diet.
HAMSTERS
We have one mix for Syrian (Gold) Hamsters, and one for Dwarf Hamsters.
Both mixes have reduced sugar (compared to other rodent food), and the Dwarf Mix has the least.
The protein and fiber content is increased.
Hamsters need their diet supplemented with Multi-Vitamins and/or Fresh Food when fed a grain based diet.
GUINEA PIGS
Guinea Pigs are herbivores. This separates them from their other rodent friends.
A Piggie's diet should be around 80% Hay. This is important and they should ALWAYS have access to it.
The remainder of the Guinea Pig's diet can be a mix of a nutritious pellet, fresh leafy greens and high fiber vegetables.
Guinea Pigs needs to have Vitamin C supplemented.
They cannot make their own Vitamin C, so unless this is acquired via food and/or supplements they can become ill and contract scurvy.
We recommend using a combination of vitamin supplements and Vitamin C rich vegetables.
BunnyNature has a great range for Piggies, including a transitional food to help the change from high sugar, grain based pellets to a straw food based diet.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS?
If you have any questions about our food, or suggestions for a branded food that you would like us to add to our store, please do not hesitate to contact us: everkincritters@outlook.com
In the mean time, we wish all the rodents out there a very happy, munchy & crunchy meal-time!