Diet & Nutrition
Little Heroes Foraging Mix
This foraging mix is handcrafted here at the Rattery. I have put together this mix using basic principals of the Shunamite Diet (with alterations made using US-found ingredients). It contains all items in the list below for the Grain's Recipe - but with additional nutritious goodies (such as lentil pasta, hemp seeds, unsweetened banana chips, Dandelions and dehydrated veg/fruit).
76.47% of the ingredients in this mix are made using human-grade ingredients!
We do sell this mix for local pickup ($6.76 per pound, packaged in a resealable bag), as we know it can be inconvenient to hunt down all the ingredients and measure out appropriate portions for the casual pet owner. You can also find this on our affiliate Etsy site, here, however the price per pound is higher (to account for fees and shipping). Contact us for more information.
An independent laboratory has run a Guaranteed Analysis on our Foraging Mix and has yielded the following results:
Protein (crude): 16.6%
Fat (acid hydrolysis): 6.80%
Fiber (crude): 4.47%
Our diet is even used and recommended by a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine! You can read their testimonial, here:
"I highly recommend Little Heroes Rat Foraging Mix for rats of all types and life stages over 2 weeks old. As a veterinarian, rat enthusiast, and rat breeder, I've tried several high-quality diets for my ratties, and HERO's mix is by far my favorite due to its unwavering superior quality and palatability.
My rats absolutely love it -- they recognize the sound of the bag opening and they enthusiastically wallpaper to their cage doors with their bodies as I bring the goodies to them -- and they thrive on it as well, easily maintaining ideal body condition and coast quality. Little Heroes Rat Foraging Mix is also excellent for rat kittens as they wean onto solid foods. The variety of small pieces gives them a wide choice, easily handled by tiny paws, and this helps introduce them to good, healthy foods that they may encounter in the future.
Overall, Little Heroes Rat Foraging Mix is an excellent, high quality diet that your ratties of all ages will love!"
-- Sara M., DVM
76.47% of the ingredients in this mix are made using human-grade ingredients!
We do sell this mix for local pickup ($6.76 per pound, packaged in a resealable bag), as we know it can be inconvenient to hunt down all the ingredients and measure out appropriate portions for the casual pet owner. You can also find this on our affiliate Etsy site, here, however the price per pound is higher (to account for fees and shipping). Contact us for more information.
An independent laboratory has run a Guaranteed Analysis on our Foraging Mix and has yielded the following results:
Protein (crude): 16.6%
Fat (acid hydrolysis): 6.80%
Fiber (crude): 4.47%
Our diet is even used and recommended by a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine! You can read their testimonial, here:
"I highly recommend Little Heroes Rat Foraging Mix for rats of all types and life stages over 2 weeks old. As a veterinarian, rat enthusiast, and rat breeder, I've tried several high-quality diets for my ratties, and HERO's mix is by far my favorite due to its unwavering superior quality and palatability.
My rats absolutely love it -- they recognize the sound of the bag opening and they enthusiastically wallpaper to their cage doors with their bodies as I bring the goodies to them -- and they thrive on it as well, easily maintaining ideal body condition and coast quality. Little Heroes Rat Foraging Mix is also excellent for rat kittens as they wean onto solid foods. The variety of small pieces gives them a wide choice, easily handled by tiny paws, and this helps introduce them to good, healthy foods that they may encounter in the future.
Overall, Little Heroes Rat Foraging Mix is an excellent, high quality diet that your ratties of all ages will love!"
-- Sara M., DVM
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Grain's Recipe (dry)
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Basic Grain’s Recipe
This food mix option is easier to accomplish for the casual pet owner, and is healthy as well.
3 Parts: Flaked barley (do not use pearled barley! It is too hard and can break teeth!)
½ Part: Oat Groats (steel cut oats)
1/2 Part: Sunflower Seeds (in shells)
¼ Part: Calf Mana (from your local feed store or online retailer, such as here)
Or as an alternative to the Calf Mana: A bird pellet non fruit flavor for medium birds (i.e. Zupreem, Harrison’s, Kay Tee Exact, Roudybush, or the bird pellet from Excello).
¼ Part: Raw Peanuts (in the shell)
¼ Part: Senior Dog Food of high quality. Only natural ingredients (i.e. Innova, Taste of the Wild, Chicken Soup for Dogs, Wellness, Pinnacle). Do not feed low quality foods as these can and will cause tumor growth (i.e. Old Roy, Science Diet, Iams, Alpo – or essentially any food that you can buy from a grocery store or Walmart). We currently use Wellness.
1/4 Part: Vegetable Pasta (easiest found in Spiral form)
Optional: A pinch of raw pumpkin seeds make a great daily treat (about 4 seeds per rat). This is an excellent healthy snack (which also has some research linking it to natural internal parasite - worm - prevention and remedy).
*** It is important to note; if you do not intend to feed fruit/veg/etc regularly as part of their regular diet - you should include 50% block diet to your feeding mix (for the vitamins/minerals).***
Borrowed with permission and minimally modified from: Camarattery
Cooked Mix (wet)
Cooked Mix Rat Food
(We feed this to our nursing mums/rittens 2-3 times per week. The rest of our mischief gets this tasty treat 1-2 times per week).
2-Cups: Rolled Oats
2-Cups: Millet
¾ Cup: Brown Rice
¾ Cup: Quinoa
¾ Cup: Couscous
¾ Cup: Pearled Barley
¾ Cup: Split Peas
1-Cup: Raisins
4-Tbsp: Cinnamon Powder
3-Tsp: Spirulina Powder
3-Tsp: Barley Grass Powder
2-Tsp: Dill Weed
¾ Cup: Sunflower Seeds (no shells)
½ Cup: Dried Cranberries
¾ Cup: Wheat Berries
A pinch or two of Garlic Powder (added after cooking)
The ingredients can be found locally as follows:
(We feed this to our nursing mums/rittens 2-3 times per week. The rest of our mischief gets this tasty treat 1-2 times per week).
2-Cups: Rolled Oats
2-Cups: Millet
¾ Cup: Brown Rice
¾ Cup: Quinoa
¾ Cup: Couscous
¾ Cup: Pearled Barley
¾ Cup: Split Peas
1-Cup: Raisins
4-Tbsp: Cinnamon Powder
3-Tsp: Spirulina Powder
3-Tsp: Barley Grass Powder
2-Tsp: Dill Weed
¾ Cup: Sunflower Seeds (no shells)
½ Cup: Dried Cranberries
¾ Cup: Wheat Berries
A pinch or two of Garlic Powder (added after cooking)
The ingredients can be found locally as follows:
- Rolled Oats, Millet, Brown Rice, Quinoa, & Israeli Couscous can be purchased from Chamberlin’s Natural Foods: 7600 Dr. Philips Blvd. Orlando, FL.
- Pearled Barley & Raisins can be purchased from Lotte Plaza Market: 3191 W. Colonial Dr. Orlando, FL.
- Dill Weed, Spirulina Powder, Barley Grass Powder can be purchased from Leaves & Roots: 9476 E. Colonial Dr. Orlando, FL.
- Sunflower Seeds (no shells/unsalted), Dried Cranberries & Wheat Berries can be purchased on Amazon.
- A variety of dried, unsweetened fruits can be purchased from your local health market (i.e. Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Sprouts, etc). They can also be obtained, in bulk, at your local Costco, Sam's Club or even Walmart.
Borrowed with permission and minimally modified from: Camarattery
Herbs
Self Medicating With Herbs
(We offer an ever-slightly-changing bowl of herbs for our rats to free feed off of as they need, at all times).
We recommend collecting some or all of these (dried) herbs and putting them in a dish to free feed. The rats will pick what they want and need from the mix.
Chickweed: containing vitamins B6, B12 and C.
Dandelion: excellent source of vitamin A, C, K, D and B complex; they contain 20% protein- twice that of spinach; and are a good source of minerals, including trace minerals.
Dill: has also been shown to inhibit the growth of several bacteria which cause infectious diarrhea, also kills parasites.
Milk Thistle: is an antioxidant and liver cleanser.
Plantain: anti inflammatory, antibacterial, aids in digestion and helps respiratory ailments.
Garlic Powder: anti parasite, immune builder, detoxifying, powerful natural antibiotic.
Barley Grass: barley grass powder contains eleven times the calcium of cow's milk, five times the iron of spinach, four times the vitamin B1 of whole wheat flour, seven times the vitamin C found in oranges, and is a good source of vitamin B12. Possess many times the nutritional potency of green vegetables. Contains vegetable protein and high in minerals.
Spirulina: studies have shown that Spirulina protected birds from infection with the antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli. Its a powerful immune builder. High in protein. Stimulates birds to breed and helps in feather growth.
Parsley: It contains more vitamin C than any other standard culinary vegetable, approximately three times as much as oranges and about the same as blackcurrants. The iron content is exceptional (twice as much as spinach) and the plant is a good source of manganese, calcium and potassium. It also contains flavonoids that act as antioxidants. Parsley is also rich in vitamin A, well-known for its effects on vision, plus can mitigate risks of atherosclerosis and diabetes. Raw parsley cleanses the blood, dissolves sticky deposits in veins, maintains elasticity of blood vessels, facilitates removal of moderately sized kidney and gallstones, treats deafness and ear infections, and benefits the sexual system.
Cinnamon: is great for blood circulation and for anti blood clotting. It’s great for the libido. It stops the growth of bacteria and fungi. Kills candida which causes respiratory distress and cancer. In addition to its unique essential oils, cinnamon is an excellent source of the trace mineral manganese and a very good source of dietary fiber, iron and calcium. Smells heavenly too and this causes increase in brain function! This also functions to mask the scent of the overall mixture (this is for your benefit!)
Oregano: Studies have shown that both of these compounds can inhibit the growth of bacteria, virus and fungi which is the main causes of many illnesses such as respiratory problems.
Peppermint: is an excellent source of vitamin C and vitamin A. Peppermint is a very good source of magnesium, folate, dietary fiber, calcium, iron, and vitamin B2. Aids in digestion, helps headache and prevents cancer.
Basil: also exhibits anti-inflammatory properties, anti-fungal properties. Basil is a source for Vitamin K, iron, calcium, vitamin A, manganese, magnesium, vitamin C, and potassium. It is good for the heart, because it helps to prevent build-up in the arteries and fights free radicals. The magnesium helps blood vessels to relax which increases blood circulation.
Another dry green mix I use contains Eucalyptus, Dandelion, Oat straw, Plantain, red clover, Echinacea, Milk thistle, Pau D'Arco, elderberry, Yarrow, Olive leaf, Thyme leaf, Lavender, Wheat grass, garlic, Spirulina, Astragulus, Barberry, Chickweed, & Kelp.
***Most of these (human-grade) can be obtained at Leaves & Roots: 9476 E. Colonial Dr. Orlando, FL. ***
Borrowed with permission and minimally modified from: Camarattery
(We offer an ever-slightly-changing bowl of herbs for our rats to free feed off of as they need, at all times).
We recommend collecting some or all of these (dried) herbs and putting them in a dish to free feed. The rats will pick what they want and need from the mix.
Chickweed: containing vitamins B6, B12 and C.
Dandelion: excellent source of vitamin A, C, K, D and B complex; they contain 20% protein- twice that of spinach; and are a good source of minerals, including trace minerals.
Dill: has also been shown to inhibit the growth of several bacteria which cause infectious diarrhea, also kills parasites.
Milk Thistle: is an antioxidant and liver cleanser.
Plantain: anti inflammatory, antibacterial, aids in digestion and helps respiratory ailments.
Garlic Powder: anti parasite, immune builder, detoxifying, powerful natural antibiotic.
Barley Grass: barley grass powder contains eleven times the calcium of cow's milk, five times the iron of spinach, four times the vitamin B1 of whole wheat flour, seven times the vitamin C found in oranges, and is a good source of vitamin B12. Possess many times the nutritional potency of green vegetables. Contains vegetable protein and high in minerals.
Spirulina: studies have shown that Spirulina protected birds from infection with the antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli. Its a powerful immune builder. High in protein. Stimulates birds to breed and helps in feather growth.
Parsley: It contains more vitamin C than any other standard culinary vegetable, approximately three times as much as oranges and about the same as blackcurrants. The iron content is exceptional (twice as much as spinach) and the plant is a good source of manganese, calcium and potassium. It also contains flavonoids that act as antioxidants. Parsley is also rich in vitamin A, well-known for its effects on vision, plus can mitigate risks of atherosclerosis and diabetes. Raw parsley cleanses the blood, dissolves sticky deposits in veins, maintains elasticity of blood vessels, facilitates removal of moderately sized kidney and gallstones, treats deafness and ear infections, and benefits the sexual system.
Cinnamon: is great for blood circulation and for anti blood clotting. It’s great for the libido. It stops the growth of bacteria and fungi. Kills candida which causes respiratory distress and cancer. In addition to its unique essential oils, cinnamon is an excellent source of the trace mineral manganese and a very good source of dietary fiber, iron and calcium. Smells heavenly too and this causes increase in brain function! This also functions to mask the scent of the overall mixture (this is for your benefit!)
Oregano: Studies have shown that both of these compounds can inhibit the growth of bacteria, virus and fungi which is the main causes of many illnesses such as respiratory problems.
Peppermint: is an excellent source of vitamin C and vitamin A. Peppermint is a very good source of magnesium, folate, dietary fiber, calcium, iron, and vitamin B2. Aids in digestion, helps headache and prevents cancer.
Basil: also exhibits anti-inflammatory properties, anti-fungal properties. Basil is a source for Vitamin K, iron, calcium, vitamin A, manganese, magnesium, vitamin C, and potassium. It is good for the heart, because it helps to prevent build-up in the arteries and fights free radicals. The magnesium helps blood vessels to relax which increases blood circulation.
Another dry green mix I use contains Eucalyptus, Dandelion, Oat straw, Plantain, red clover, Echinacea, Milk thistle, Pau D'Arco, elderberry, Yarrow, Olive leaf, Thyme leaf, Lavender, Wheat grass, garlic, Spirulina, Astragulus, Barberry, Chickweed, & Kelp.
***Most of these (human-grade) can be obtained at Leaves & Roots: 9476 E. Colonial Dr. Orlando, FL. ***
Borrowed with permission and minimally modified from: Camarattery
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Vegetables & Fruit
There is a wide variety of vegetables and fruit that are safe for rats. Humans and rats have coexisted (whether we liked it or not) for decades... this is because we prefer similar habitats, living enviornments and diets!
A good rule of thumb is to feed along the following ratios:
50% leafy veg (10-15% of which can be herbs)
20% colorful veg
10% legumes
10% others
10% fruit (avoid citrus for male rats)
You can do your own research if you have personal household staples and want to see if you can share those. There are a myriad of health benefits; and you can find more information from a source we love, here, on Isamu Rats webpage (a well-respected breeder in the UK).
What we find easiest (and best) for us here, is to go on a big shopping day (since we are providing for so many rats at varying life stages and with an equally colorful variety of needs) about once every 2-4 weeks. We will choose our mixture based on local availability alongside nutritional goals. We will then wash everything well, chop it all up, mix it together and individually package it into portion sizes that work for us. Label them with ingredients and the date - pop into the freezer = freezer veg pops! Rats LOVE them! We will typically chop up 2 separate mixtures so we can offer variety throughout the month. Its best to tap the block of frozen veg with a mallet (not super hard) before dropping into their dishes - this way one rat doesn't try to take off with the whole block. Don't leave this in their cage longer than a few hours - as these items will spoil after some time. You can see our process below:
A good rule of thumb is to feed along the following ratios:
50% leafy veg (10-15% of which can be herbs)
20% colorful veg
10% legumes
10% others
10% fruit (avoid citrus for male rats)
You can do your own research if you have personal household staples and want to see if you can share those. There are a myriad of health benefits; and you can find more information from a source we love, here, on Isamu Rats webpage (a well-respected breeder in the UK).
What we find easiest (and best) for us here, is to go on a big shopping day (since we are providing for so many rats at varying life stages and with an equally colorful variety of needs) about once every 2-4 weeks. We will choose our mixture based on local availability alongside nutritional goals. We will then wash everything well, chop it all up, mix it together and individually package it into portion sizes that work for us. Label them with ingredients and the date - pop into the freezer = freezer veg pops! Rats LOVE them! We will typically chop up 2 separate mixtures so we can offer variety throughout the month. Its best to tap the block of frozen veg with a mallet (not super hard) before dropping into their dishes - this way one rat doesn't try to take off with the whole block. Don't leave this in their cage longer than a few hours - as these items will spoil after some time. You can see our process below:
Odds & Ends
I use the multi-level Dehydro food dehydrator so that I can dry out large batches of fruit or whatnot at one time. I have it set up in my garage, because dehydrating food takes *hours* and it is not a silent machne. It's very useful, however! I can also make fruit leather for my kids, so its a win win over here.
Base Diet: An Informed Comparison
2021
I spent quite a bit of time comparing the various base block diets to the mix I have made here. I wanted to offer this information, so you can be as informed as possible. Keep in mind; that the recommended value for protein in particular is suggested to be between 12% and 20%. Any higher, and it is likely to cause protein itch and scabbing (most noticeable on Harley and Hairless rats). This is information I have compiled in 2021 and I present for your own education.
Little Heroes Rat Foraging Mix
Protein (crude): 16.6%
Fat (acid hydrolysis): 6.80%
Fiber (crude): 4.47%
Fat (acid hydrolysis): 6.80%
Fiber (crude): 4.47%
Mazuri Lab Blocks
Protein: 23%
Fat: 6.5%
Fiber: 4.5%
Moisture: 12%
Fat: 6.5%
Fiber: 4.5%
Moisture: 12%
Oxbow Lab Blocks
Protein: 15%
Fat: 4%
Fiber: 2%
Moisture: 10%
Fat: 4%
Fiber: 2%
Moisture: 10%
Teklad Lab Blocks
Protein: 24.3%
Fat: 4.7%
Fiber: 4.0%
Moisture: ?
Fat: 4.7%
Fiber: 4.0%
Moisture: ?
©Little Heroes Rattery 2021-2022