Rons Royal Remedy Ranch

Ron’s Remedy Ranch West Cavy (Guinea Pig) Feed

My cavies are fed two kinds of Cavy Pellets. A Guinea Pig feed called Furry Friends made by a local company named Kruze and Guinea Pig Lab Diet made by Purina. I do not trust feed companies due to low demand for cavy feed and errors in processing the feed. Also a local feed company reduces cost to offset the higher cost of Purina Guinea Pig Lab Diet. Because the Purina Lab Diet is designed to be fed to laboratory animals as a complete feed, I trust the consistency and the quality of this feed. I mix the two different feeds by layering two 50 lb. feed bags, about 25 lbs. in alternating layers in a 30 gallon Galvanized trash can.
 
In addition, since I breed for showing and want top flesh and coat condition, I add safflower seed and flax seed, one cup each along with one cup of Calf Manna.
 
I also make my own sweet feed, Rolled Barley and Molasses. (The Sweet mixture recipe can be found below). The reason I use the sweet feed is that I think it helps the pregnant sows ward off pregnancy toxemia, a common problem in herd Guinea Pigs. I also sprinkle a capful of “Vitamin C” Crystals over the sweet feed mixture. The vitamin C crystals stick to the barley/molasses mixture. I purchase the vitamin C Crystals, 1000 mg, from a local specialty food store “Trader Joe’s”. This way I know the vitamin C is fresh and not sitting on a shelf at feed stores and feed companies for a long time. I know that this is an expensive feed regiment but this is what I use presently (2011).
 
My cavies also get hay cubes (part alfalfa/timothy). Cavies are grass animals and grass hay will benefit them greatly. If you can obtain a good quality grass hay so much the better. I use the hay cubes because I do not want to deal with the messy hay that gets all over the place in my animal area. I find that hay benefits the cavies, especially the newborn young that will start eating soon after birth.
 
 One of the following is also given from time to time, Carrots, Romaine Lettuce, sliced Oranges, Peppers, Water Mellon, and Parsley. Cavies are definitely creatures of habit and many times will not eat foods that are given to them that they are not used to. I like to get them accustomed to eating the above fresh food, since I like to give it to them when traveling to shows and at shows. It also helps them in my opinion when my cavies go to new homes and they have to adjust to a new-pellet feed.
 

Having said a mouth full about feeding. My feelings are that cavies get genetically programmed to their feed. They will thrive on the feed that their bodies are able to handle.

Ron’s Remedy Ranch West Rabbit Himalayan Feed

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My basic feed is Purina Show Rabbit Feed. Although it is a completely balanced feed I do feed them supplements. Himalayans have a unique fur; short and silky in texture with a slight guard hair feel.
 
I add Safflower seeds and Flax seed to the rabbit pellets. They are rather oily seeds in nature and I feel it helps the himmie coat.
 
I also add Calf Manna because I think it firms up the Himalayans flesh condition.
In addition I feed them my own sweet feed mixture made with Rolled Barley and Dark Molasses (see below).
Hay cubes, of part Timothy hay and part Alfalfa hay are also given at times, especially to young kits.
With Himalayans I like to use creep feeders for out of the nest box young bunnies. It helps to prevent the doe from getting too fat and it allows you to free feed your young Himmies. The creep feeder I use is made by Bass Equipment.
 
I use three different feed scoops. All regular kitchen measuring scoops.
Scoops are 1/4, 1/3 and 1/2.
 
I feed 1/3 or 1/4 cup of feed per day as a maintenance feed depending on the size of himmie.
When the himmie is pregnant I feed her ½ cup after the first week of pregnancy and when nursing her kits.
 

Ron’s Remedy Ranch West Sweet Feed

My sweet feed is Rolled Barley and Mothers Dark Molasses.

 

I use a 5 gallon bucket as a mixing bucket.  I put 3 scoops of barley using a regular feed scoop into the bucket.  Than I drizzle about 1/2 cup of the molasses over the Rolled Barley and I mix with a large strong metal serving spoon.  Then another three scoop layer of Barley and mix again.  I do this until the 5 gallon bucket is full. This is my Sweet Feed mixture.

 

It is added to my regular pellet feed by taking a 16 oz plastic cup, scooping it from the Sweet Feed bucket into a 30 gallon galvanized metal trash can.  I place 25lbs of pellet feed on top.  Than another 16 oz plastic cup of Sweet Feed on top of the 25 lbs of pellets in the metal trash can.  Then add another 25 lbs of pellets on top of that.  Alternate until the Metal trash can is filled.

Ron’s Remedy Ranch Dove Food

Ring Neck doves can be fed a Wild Bird Food Mix.  I like the ones with small black sunflower seeds in them. I add Safflower seed to the feed; my Ring Necks love them like Candy.

 

Bird Grit is also important, using the one with crushed oyster shell in it.

 

Fresh clean water is a must daily.   What I do is fill a gallon water jug with water then I add a few drops of House Hold Bleach to it.  DO NOT USE THE NEW BLEACH FORMULATIONS.  The old standard bleach is to be used.  The new formulations can kill the birds. 

Ron Smelt Feeding/Product Costs (not including taxes)