Oxbow vs American Pet Diner & another question

[bunnyfriend]

 I normally feed Oxbow’s Essentials adult rabbit. I know some people here feed APD. So I’m just curious, for people who feed either of those two brands, what’s your reasoning (non money related)? Oh also wondering about each brand’s papaya tablets too. I just want to make sure I’m feeding the bunnies the best possible. 

I also have a second question for those of you who have more than one rabbit (bonded), how do you make sure each bunny eats the amount of pellets that they should?

[mocha200]

This is the recomended Guaranteed Analysis that rabbit pellets should have.

Fiber 18% minimum (20 -25% best)
Fat 1 – 2% max,
Protein 12 – 14% max (long-haired breeds,angoras, need higher)
Calcium 1% max
Oil 3% max

Company                                   Fiber         Protein     Calcium          Fat

Oxbow
    Bunny Basics T                       25%            14%        0.35%              2%

American Pet Diner
      Timmy                                   22%           14.5%       .5%                 2%
                             

As you can tell by this chart American Pet Diner has less fiber then Oxbow, so the fiber is better in Oxbow. The protein in American pet diner has a little to much. The Calcium in both is good, and the Fat is the same in both. I hope this helped!
 

[bunnyfriend]

Ah thank you! This is really helpful! What was getting to me was how APD was saying that theirs has yucca so pee odor would be less offensive, but more fiber and less protein is more important to me.

[Sarita]

They are actually very comparable in my opinion. The differences in the analysis are insignificant really. Oxbow is just more readily available than APD.

I cannot really answer about the bonded pair question because my current bonded pair don’t eat much pellets so I don’t worry about them getting an equal amount.

[bunnyfriend]

Do you feed APD?

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I feed Oxbow but the ingredients do look similar

Oxbow

Timothy Grass Meal, Soybean Hulls, Wheat Middlings, Soybean Meal, Cane Molasses, Sodium Bentonite, Soybean Oil, Salt, Lignin Sulfonate, Limestone, Yeast Culture (dehydrated), Vitamin E Supplement, Choline Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Selenium Yeast, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Copper Proteinate, Riboflavin Supplement, Manganese Proteinate, Biotin, Manganous Oxide, Thiamine Mononitrate, Magnesium Sulfate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Cobalt Carbonate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Calcium Iodate

APD

Sun Cured Timothy Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Whole Pressed Safflower Seed Meal, Dehulled soybean Meal, Canola Meal, Yeast Culture (Diamond V “XP”), Salt, Sodium Lignosulfonate, Mono-Sodium Phosphate, Mold Inhibitor (Propionic Acid, Acetic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Benzoic Acid, Ammonium Hydroxide), Yeast Cell Wall Extract, Vitamin E Supplement, Flavoring, Magnesium Oxide, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Mixed tocopherils, Rosemary Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Lecithin, Silicon Dioxide (carrier for liquid antioxidants), Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Choline Chloride, Niacin Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite (source of Vitamin K activity), Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyidoxine Hydrochloride, K-Biotin, Folic Acid, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Ethylene Diamine Dihydroiodide, Cobalt Sulfate, Sodium Selenite.

[Bunnehs]

APD has Safflower seed meall.. what is that?? Is it good for bunnies or just another no-no? 😮

[Stickerbunny]

I just give my bonded pair their food and they both eat it off the same plate. They are pretty good at sharing, though I don’t think there is any way to be sure they get exactly the right amount. But, they get plenty of veggies too, so I am not worried about their nutrients.

[bunnyfriend]

Kokaneeandkahlua: Thank you! That is helpful

Stickerbunny: Haha that’s what I’m realizing. I put their food in separate bowls and somehow they end up eating from each one at the same time. But mine get a lot of veggies too so I guess they’ll be okay haha.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I feed Oxbow. I can’t get APD here.

[LoveChaCha]

Since I’ve switched from Kaytee to American Pet Diner, Chacha doesn’t go as crazy for her pellets. I’m guessing that the Kaytee is full of er.. fillers and stuff. I’m glad that Chacha has better pellets

[Stickerbunny]

Yeah I tried the separate plate thing… but they weren’t interested, so I just was like “fine, saves me dishes” and let them have just one larger plate to share. I’m pretty sure Stickers eats more of the pellets than Powder, since he never finished his pellets when solo, but Powder eats more of the salads than Stickers so I think it evens out!

[bunnyfriend]

Haha rabbits are so stubborn (to both Stickerbunny and Lovechacha). Mine go crazy for their Oxbow, I hate hate hate the smell though.

[LoveChaCha]

Posted By bunnyfriend on 12/02/2011 05:23 PM
Haha rabbits are so stubborn (to both Stickerbunny and Lovechacha). Mine go crazy for their Oxbow, I hate hate hate the smell though.

 

Oh yes, she is indeed

She refuses to touch red leaf or green leaf lettuce. I believe she doesn’t think the lettuce is crunchy enough for her. She also dislikes carrots.. as well as banana

[bunnyfriend]

No carrots?? Are you sure Chacha is a rabbit? Yeah Wilbur won’t even try lettuce or bok choy and a lot of other veggies I tried. So far she only will eat kale, spinach, collard greens, parsley, and of course “sweets”. Totoro eats everything on the other hand.

[Cupcake4Life]

Safflower Meal is used as a protein supplement in rabbit food. It is also high in fiber. I would think it would be better for long-haired bunnies due to it’s protein content.

[Sarita]

ShadowBun4 – we ask that members do not respond to old posts – this post is over 2 years old – I am going to lock this.

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