Gutload....

[crocky]

I have read lots of info on gut loading. Currently I use chick feed along with a large mix of greens, fruits and veggies. I use the chick feed as the basic gut load mainly because i feed a ton of feeders, i have about over 10k in dubias that I feed in addition to my crickets and superworms. They eat a lot
I know I can make my own but not sure it would be financially beneficial for me as it would be buying quantities of something that could be used as a gutload....if i make my own, another thing i run into is having so much and the shelf life of it. So of course I will always add, fruits and veggies but is there something i can use as a dry mix that is recommended.

Anyone else use chick feed? Actually right now I am using egg layer chicken feed as the protein is a little less than in chick feed. Some one mentioned wheat bran that is fed to horses BUT I am no sure that has any good stuff in it like vitamins etc... Like the chick fed has.

I could also buy commercial gutload but I think that may be pretty pricey. I go through a lot of it.


Any suggestions for anything I could use as a dry gutload in addition to the fruits and veggie is use.


Ok, not sure if what I even said made sense

 

[Chameleonmaster]

Oatmeal is the only dry gutload I use then fruits,veggies, and commercial gutloads.

 

[crocky]

Thanks, that was kind of what I was looking for as far as suggestions of commercial products i could buy in bulk that would be good to use long with fruits and veggies. I like some of the gutload I can make myself and some of the blogs I have seen and will probably do some of that on a smaller scale but I was looking something that I could buy that would be good as well.

Not sure why I had to make my post so long, I tend to ramble sometimes

 

[crocky]

Anyone else use a base that is a commercial product that you can get in larger quantities?

 

[Hoj]

I cant speak much about commercially breeding feeders but I know that I keep large quanities of many different feeders and I have found it beificial to raise the main colony of inexpensive feed and then I sppereate the feeders I intend to use in the next 24-48hrs and give them a much better and expensive self prepared gutload ( sandrachameleon's recipe )

 

[crocky]

I thought about that and have read her blogs which are very informative, but I am trying to figure out the room for extra bins to separate them into additional bins. I feed dragons as well so I would love to just feed my feeders all at once instead of having to separate out feeders the day before. So until I do I am giving everyone fruits and veggies along with the chick starter feed but wanted something different.

 

[SSimsswiSS]

IMHO, look for chick feed that is hormone and antibiotic free. With avian flu and other poultry related illness, many if not all chick feeds have hormones/antibiotics added.

 

[stalincat]

Repashy Bug Burger all the way! Sorry, I don't know what's your definition of pricey=) I find it quite cost efficient

or veggie goo ice cubes? I personally don't like them, but loads of folk do.

 

[crocky]

IMHO, look for chick feed that is hormone and antibiotic free. With avian flu and other poultry related illness, many if not all chick feeds have hormones/antibiotics added.

Thanks, I currently use chick feed that is hormone and antibiotic free.

Repashy Bug Burger all the way! Sorry, I don't know what's your definition of pricey=) I find it quite cost efficient

or veggie goo ice cubes? I personally don't like them, but loads of folk do.

Well I don't really have a price limit but at the amount I feed I would go through bug burger pretty quick and it could be costly if that was the main thing I fed. I do however use that and repashy gutload in addition to my other stuff.

I can get a 50lb bag of chick feed for about $20.00 which give sme plenty of money left to add fruits and veggies.

No biggie really, I was just curious if there was anyone else feeding large quanities and what the base product was.

 

[sandrachameleon]

chicken feed isnt a good choice, IMHO neither are oats.
certainly not for bugs you intend to feed to your chameleons in the coming days.

there are many cheap choices that are better choices, such as alfalfa

 

[crocky]

chicken feed isnt a good choice, IMHO neither are oats.
certainly not for bugs you intend to feed to your chameleons in the coming days.

there are many cheap choices that are better choices, such as alfalfa

Thanks Sandra! I certainly value your opinion. That is what I am looking for something of better nutritional value. Also for anyone reading this, I supplement with repashy dry gutload, bug burger, fruits and veggies. So this is mainly the base product.

Any other thoughts on other options.

What about the wheat bran ( I thinks that is what someone mentioned to me....stuff folks feed to horses?)

I also don't mind doing a mix of a few but just looking for ideas.

 

[sandrachameleon]

so do I understand that this is stuff your feeding to duba that arent going to get eaten by the chameleons, at least not anytime soon. Because you separate out those for a few days (or more) to gutload well before feeding off?

I like to gutload well all the time, and think thats best, but if you have thousands of bugs you're just looking to maintain cheap, right? so
Maybe a mix of crushed barley, alfalfa, and even the chicken feed if its hormone and steriod free, with yam, carrot, dandelion, clover and other inexpensive stuff for hydration. And just give them better or other stuff now and then to round it out.
Dont give dubia too much bran - I've heard it can cause die-off. This might apply to too much of any grain.

 

[crocky]

Thanks, well right now I actually don't separate the ones I feed out. So everyone gets pretty much the same thing. I need to figure out room to do that for my dragons and my Cham and at the same time keep it as simple as possible. The chick starter I have used is hormone and antibiotic free. So at the moment all the bugs get a mixture of fruits and veggies a little bug burger, then for dry I use a little of the repashy gutload and whatever base I can get in larger quanities. And yes I was looking for something easier on the pocketbook but also beneficial ( not sure those two go together though). right now I am feeding about 10 to 15 thousand Dubia, 600 or so supers and about 500 crickets. So really it is the Dubia mainly in larger numbers. I have other worms as well but I took your advice in my worm thread about feeding them along with the pre made chow they come with.

Hmmm, maybe I just need to separate some out to fed every 24 hrs or so, seems it might make things simpler.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Hmmm, maybe I just need to separate some out to fed every 24 hrs or so, seems it might make things simpler.

Probably make it cheaper too and probably better for your pets as well

 

[deadhd5]

Sandra, where do you find alfalfa? I can't find the stuff anywhere! I know I am looking in the wrong place or for the wrong stuff, so any direction would help relieve me of this frustration! haha

 

[tkilgour]

Alfalfa can be found at any feed store. If they have supplies and feed for livestock you are sure to find alfalfa. You can also order it.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Sandra, where do you find alfalfa? I can't find the stuff anywhere! I know I am looking in the wrong place or for the wrong stuff, so any direction would help relieve me of this frustration! haha

Cheapest places will be those that sell bulk feed for horses, sheep, goats etc. either in compressed blocks or as "hay" bales.
You should also be able to buy it loose in bags, meant as bedding for rabbits and guniea pigs, wherever they sell small rodent pet supplies. Sometimes a pellets for feeding rodents - but these often have additives that you may or may not want and will be more expensive that straight alfalfa
lots of online places sell it too.