Feeding recommendations for my 4 week old babies

[Dahlas]

Well my babies are now 4 weeks old and I would just like to make sure that I am feeding them properly.......So maybe someone could give me a guideline of what they should be getting......and when.

Right now they get baby cereal, soy formula, lab blocks, lots of veggies and some fruit everyday........I give them some puppy chow every second or third day.......they have had egg two or three times......they get a few cheerios occasionally.

I give them the soy formula and baby cereal and some fruit for breakfast.......they get veggies (mixed...some fresh and raw, some cooked from frozen) lab blocks and a bit more soy formula at supper ......sometimes a bit of puppy chow.

I want them to be healthy and not get fat......they get out for two plays a day....The long one is in the evening...at least 2hrs.....longer if I have more time.......

 

[jorats]

Everyone has their own opinion on what's best to feed babies.
Personally, my young ones get the same as the adults, high quality lab block and fresh veggies.

 

[Dahlas]

So you wouldn't give them anymore soy formula or baby cereal?
How about some fruit?

I give them lab blocks 2018 and a big dish of mixed veggies fresh or cooked every night......Do you think that veggies and lab blocks twice a day would be better and cut out all the other stuff soon

I know that with puppies and kittens it is better to keep them lean (not skinny) is that the same for ratties?

 

[jorats]

It's exactly the same with ratties. They really should be lean, not rounded and fat.
If those were my little guys, I'd be giving them unlimited blocks. Not too much fruit yet, it can play a number on their gut.

 

[Dahlas]

Okay thanks........they haven't had a lot...some banana....and a few pieces watermelon, cantaloupe......

That is what I will do...I want them to be healthy....not chubby.

 

[user 78]

Things like soy and baby cereal should be saved for special treats, sickies, and oldies. They'll really pack on the extra pounds in fairly short order. So it's good when you need to pop some weight back onto them, but not so good for a staple diet.

I'm a big fan of fruits, though. Make sure to introduce it slowly, though, or it can sure get nasty, as Jo mentioned.

 

[Godmother]

yes, I started giving the cereal and soy much less often after a while, so that they would be eating mostly blocks & veggies by about six weeks. You've got the nice 2018 blocks, which should give them lots of protein.

Whatever you are doing seems to be fine, though, because they are the liveliest and healthiest-looking babies you could ever imagine! Lovely thick and shiny fur, sweet dispositions, energy to burn... you & Piper can be very proud!

 

[Dahlas]

Thank you Godmother...we are !!!!

 

[Dahlas]

Thanks for the help.....I want to do a great job raising these little guys. :love7:

 

[Dahlas]

Well I cut the kids back on cereal and soy formula....Just a little in the morning and increased veggies in the evening.....Today poop is a mess....soft and stinky......So I was thinking I must have given to many veggies...right?
So tonight they are going to get lab blocks......they had a few mixed veggies for breakfast but I thought it would be better to decrease the amount for a while........
So tomorrow they will get mostly lab blocks only.......does that sound okay?
What would you do if you saw really soft stinky poop...besides plug your nose :lol:
Thay are all still very active, playful etc....doesn't seem to be bothering any of them.....well maybe Nellie was a bit quiet at playtime but I don't think she had an upset tummy just sleepy.........

 

[user 78]

You really do have to introduce veggies slowly. Maybe measure it out in teaspoons. They should have lab blocks available at all times, though. If they're not eating the blocks and just chowing down on the veggies, that can cause their poop to be a bit messy and stinky as well. If I misunderstood and you meant just nixing the veggies for a night or two, that would be fine. Wait until their poop gets back to normal then try a much smaller portion for them.

 

[Godmother]

My big girls get soft and stinky poops if I give them too much lettuce or kale. They love it, but I give each rat only one small piece. Peas don't seem to have the same effect.

I just looked at my post from yesterday and realized I had the times all wrong. I started cutting back on baby cereal (i.e., not daily) only after they were about 2-3 months old. My goal was to have them living mostly on lab blocks and veg by 4 months old, which is the recommended time for them to be able to live on Oxbow.

All the babies were so active that they didn't gain weight. The danger period was when they became less active on the wheel, which happened after about six months. I don't know whether that was because they had been spayed by then or whether they would have slowed down a bit anyway. But I had to make sure that hubby didn't give too many treats, and I had to cut back on the baby cereal and other extras.

This seems to have worked out well with my last set of fosters, who are (at six months) lean mean wheel-running machines! Now that they are getting spayed, we'll see if the effect lasts. If it works for them, then I will put myself on a diet of 2014 and veggies! :lol:

 

[Dahlas]

Thanks......yes I am just going to stop veggies for a day or two and then introduce them again a bit slower slowly......A spoon full at a time.
The boys are soon going into their own cage, that will be enough for them to deal with without having soft poopy.......I have been keeping unlimited amounts of lab blocks in the cage but veggies where a big hit and so they probably ate too many........

 

[Dahlas]

Godmother let me know how your new diet works........lab blocks and veggies.........I would probably still eat to many lab blocks..... :lol: