Having a roughage like this important, so is alfalfa to potent for rats? I know they ay not to feed it to guineas but i was wondering if it was ok for rats, because i know they aren't as sensitive.
2007-03-19 06:56:29 · 6 answers · asked by Doe 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
i ask because alfalfa cubes and hay are very available to me since I work in a barn and ride horses. But timothy I canonly seem to find at the pet store and they charge up to 10$ for 6 cubes :) I can buy a whole square bale for that and have hay for a year :)
2007-03-19 07:06:16 · update #1
Your assumption is correct Doe, alfalfa is too potent for rats. Alfalfa is want's called a "hot feed", too much of a good thing.
Too much protein, too much vitamin A for rats, and contrary to popular belief, rats are unable to properly digest alfalfa. That's why experienced rat-keepers avoid the commercial rat foods, because they're loaded with alfalfa pellets.
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=rats+can%27t+digest+alfalfa&ei=UTF-8&fr=ks-ans&ico-yahoo-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAqFmYLsucJ9Ju1A_wytuo5cazKIX%2FSIG%3D111gjvvgj%2F*-http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAjrR1DDgyctRMOV346dKZz4azKIX%2FSIG%3D11ia1qo58%2F**http%253a%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%253aSearch&p=rats+can%27t+digest+alfalfa
Rats will do just fine with the soft timothy hay sold for small animals in pet stores. Rats don't use hay as a digestive roughage like guinea pigs and rabbits do, rats would prefer to use the hay to make nests.
spazrats
"my life has gone to the rats"
2007-03-20 19:24:02 · answer #1 · answered by spazrats 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Rabbit feed is made from compacted alfalfa, which rats cannot digest. So just be careful not to feed your rat concentrated alfalfa (such as pellets) which is bad for them and can cause blockages of the digestional tract, however ironically, Alfalfa hay for Rats is an outstanding feed for them. Alfalfa contains more crude protein, digestible energy, and calcium levels than any other forage. Rats need this good fiber content from alfalfa hay for normal digestive functioning... Strange how a little compaction can make all the difference!
2007-03-19 09:29:53 · answer #2 · answered by Sarah C- Equine Help 101 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Alfalfa runs your critter hot. Your pet may develop skin problems with this food. A little might be OK, but it still runs hot.
Timothy goes through there system better and will not have the effects constant alfalfa has to run hot.
If one of our horses eats to much alfalfa, and he will given the opportunity he will go down and will not get up. Timothy he can eat till the cows come home....
Guinea pigs have a high fat content. Feeding only alfalfa could cause bowl problems in them....everything in moderation....
2007-03-19 07:03:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Alfalfa tends to have a higher protein, calcium, and carbohydrate count than other grasses and legumes. Therefore it is best fed to carrying and lactating animals. Instead, try to find a fine cut or double cut good quality grass hay. A little alfalfa here and there shouldn't do any harm though : )
2007-03-19 09:00:26 · answer #4 · answered by Horsetrainer89 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ah!! Rats are great pets. The Alfalpha blocks that they make for rabbits are just fine for rats. Or you can use a well-balanced pellet diet designed for rats that will accomplish the same thing.
2007-03-19 07:03:14 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
My rats eat both so I would say it is safe(then again, they eat anything!) You should be ok. :)
2007-03-19 07:50:37 · answer #6 · answered by Sara M 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋