When your cavy is at least 6 months old, feed about 1/8 cup of Timothy-based guinea pig pellets per day, along with a generous amount of hay (premium, quality hay should make up 80% of your cavy's diet). Don't forget to include fresh veggies as part

<hr><details style="line-height: 2;"><summary>How much of the Guinea Pig food pellets should I feed my cavy?</summary>When your cavy is at least 6 months old, feed about 1/8 cup of Timothy-based guinea pig pellets per day, along with a generous amount of hay (premium, quality hay should make up 80% of your cavy&apos;s diet). Don&apos;t forget to include fresh veggies as part of their diet too. It&apos;s essential to consult with your exotic vet for the best plan for you and your animal.</details><hr><details style="line-height: 2;"><summary>Where can I enter my guinea pig&apos;s birthday in my account?</summary>We aren&apos;t able to store pet birthdays in customer accounts. We hope to add this feature in the near future!</details><hr>

Guinea Pigs

My rabbit is older. Do I need to do anything special?We’ve got a great free ebook all about Elderbuns right here. What hay should I feed my new baby bunny?Your new bun should get plenty of alfalfa for at least their first six or seven months of life.

My rabbit is older. Do I need to do anything special? We&#x2019;ve got a great free ebook all about Elderbuns right here.<hr data-start="354" data-end="357">What hay should I feed my new baby bunny? Your new bun should get plenty of alfalfa for at least their first six or seven months of life. During this time, it isn&#x2019;t necessary to add in other types of hay, as little ones need the extra protein and nutrients that alfalfa provides.Between seven months and a year, you can start mixing in orchard, timothy, and oat hays while gradually decreasing alfalfa. This helps with the transition to a predominantly 2nd cut Timothy diet, or whatever hay works best for you and your bun.As far as pellets are concerned, young rabbits do need alfalfa-based pellets. Once they reach about seven months, they can transition to adult pellets that are timothy-based.At about 12 weeks of age, you can slowly begin introducing vegetables into your bun&#x2019;s diet, one at a time, to make sure everything agrees with them.<hr data-start="1218" data-end="1221">Should rabbits eat alfalfa? Pets over a year of age should only be fed alfalfa as an occasional treat, as it&#x2019;s very nutrient-rich. Some buns may have a harder time transitioning away from alfalfa since it tends to be very appealing.You can try mixing alfalfa with 2nd cut Timothy hay and gradually reduce the alfalfa over time. If your rabbit needs something softer, 3rd cut Timothy can be a helpful option. We also recommend a timothy hay-based pellet for adult rabbits.When in doubt, your exotic veterinarian is always the best resource since they know your pet&#x2019;s specific needs.<hr data-start="1816" data-end="1819">Where can I enter my rabbit&#x2019;s birthday in my account? We aren&#x2019;t able to store pet birthdays in customer accounts at this time, though we hope to add this feature in the future. Our Birthday cake product page has a spot to add your little one&apos;s birth or Gotcha date.<hr data-start="2005" data-end="2008">What should I do if my rabbit is showing signs of GI stasis? GI stasis is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that requires urgent attention.Signs to watch for include not eating or refusing food, low energy or unusual stillness, and small, misshapen, or no droppings.If you notice any of these signs, contact an exotic or emergency veterinarian immediately.A veterinarian can check for blockages, provide fluids and pain relief, and support feeding if needed.If you&#x2019;re unable to get to a vet right away, you can take a few supportive steps. Keep your rabbit warm and comfortable, monitor their condition closely, and encourage eating such as leafy greens or pellets if they&#x2019;re willing.These measures are only temporary and are not a substitute for veterinary care.Helpful resources: <a data-start="2831" data-end="2883" rel="noopener" target="_new" href="https://rabbit.org/health/rabbit-health-emergencies/">https://rabbit.org/health/rabbit-health-emergencies/</a> <a data-start="2886" data-end="2920" rel="noopener" target="_new" href="https://rabbit.org/care/gi-stasis/">https://rabbit.org/care/gi-stasis/</a>If this concern is related to a delayed or incorrect hay order, please reach out to us and we&#x2019;ll work quickly to help.

Rabbits

Our recommendation is 3-4 months from the time of purchase, for optimal freshness. Think about it like this; pellets are like the broccoli of a meal, and the botanicals, seeds, etc. are the desert. The hens might want the latter more but need to eat

<hr><details style="line-height: 2;"><summary>How long can I store and use your feed?&#xA0;</summary>Our recommendation is 3-4 months from the time of purchase, for optimal freshness.</details><hr><details style="line-height: 2;"><summary>Why won&apos;t my chickens eat the pellets?</summary>Think about it like this; pellets are like the broccoli of a meal, and the botanicals, seeds, etc. are the desert. The hens might want the latter more but need to eat the former, as it contains all of the healthy ingredients. They will eat it... you just have to be patient.</details><hr><details style="line-height: 2;"><summary>Niacin percentage in the Chicken Layer Feed? Is there enough niacin for ducks?</summary>Yes, absolutely. Ducks need a lot, some kinds of other poultry need less, but the levels we use are safe for them all. There&#x2019;s about 120 mg per pound, but that information by itself is not super useful without a little background.Learn more about the niacin levels in our layer feed <a href="https://help.smallpetselect.com/en-US/niacin-levels-in-our-layer-feed-395401">here</a>.</details><hr><details style="line-height: 2;"><summary>Can you sprout or ferment our feed?</summary>The short answer is yes, you can. However, before making any changes to your flock&apos;s diet, we recommend you contact your exotic vet first. Your vet knows your animals better than anyone.Fermenting takes 3-4 days, and you can use either our Sustainable Scratch or Garden Goodness Layer Feed. You must serve the fermented grains or feed to your flock within 24 hours, or it goes sour.For more detailed information and recipes, check out our <a href="http://smallpetselect.com/pros-and-cons-of-fermenting-chicken-feed">blog&#xA0;</a>on this topic.</details><hr><details style="line-height: 2;"><summary>Are there any pro and prebiotics in the starter feed?</summary>Yes, absolutely. &#xA0;There are prebiotics, probiotics, natural enzymes to get their digestive systems going right, and even beneficial bacteria. &#xA0;Another nice addition is yucca root, which absorbs ammonia from their poop to keep their respiratory systems healthy.</details><hr><details style="line-height: 2;"><summary>What is the chick starter size?</summary>It&#x2019;s 1/8&#x201D; pellets cut very short - a size that we have developed with our customers over many years. &#xA0;Some people like to crush it a little bit for the first couple of days for tiny chicks, but it is perfect for them for most of their babyhood and it is not dusty. Chicks like tiny bits, but they don&#x2019;t like dust and dust is wasteful.Do you need to make it into a mash?You certainly can, but you don&#x2019;t need to. &#xA0;A wet mash is a traditional way to deal with the dust since the chicks don&#x2019;t like dust. &#xA0;The way most mills make chick starter is to make regular larger pellets and then crush them, or just to chop up the grains, and both those techniques make dust. &#xA0; These little &#x201C;chick bits&#x201D; are just right. But you can certainly wet it if you want to. &#xA0;They like it both ways.</details><hr><details style="line-height: 2;"><summary>Isn&#x2019;t fish meal a controversial ingredient?</summary>Our fish meal is sustainably caught. We source ours from wild-caught fish in Oregon, Washington, and Alaska where the waters are clean. Our fish meal is organic and is preserved with natural vitamin E and rosemary oil, not ethoxyquin.Fish meal is controversial if:<ul><li style="line-height: 1.5;">it is not sustainably caught&#xA0;</li><li style="line-height: 1.5;">it is from farmed fish that are fed low-quality feed</li><li style="line-height: 1.5;">it is from fish in a polluted&#xA0;</li><li style="line-height: 1.5;">there is a bad additive to the meal if it is not organic</li></ul></details><hr><details style="line-height: 2;"><summary>Is the wheat you use in the Layer Feed free of glyphosate (Roundup&#xAE;)?</summary>Absolutely no glyphosate!This is not even feed grade wheat, which usually has some damage. &#xA0;It is wheat bought from a Pacific Northwest farmer that raises it for human food. &#xA0;We buy it right from his farm. &#xA0;&#xA0;That&#x2019;s one reason our feed is so awesome &#x2013; good materials.</details><hr><details style="line-height: 2;"><summary>What&#x2019;s the difference between feed and scratch, and why do I need both?</summary>Feed is most of a chicken&#x2019;s diet. It&#x2019;s generally made up of cracked corn and other types of grains.Scratch is tasty, but not really healthy, so it should be treated as a one-off. And although scratch should be considered a treat, it totally encourages chickens to scratch through from grains, naturally turning litter and helping to maintain super clean conditions.A wonderful &quot;egg-ucational&quot; source is Fresh Eggs Daily and our Chicken Blogs, enjoy!</details><hr><details style="line-height: 2;"><summary>When do I switch feeds from starter to grower to layer?</summary>Starter: Chicks (1-8 weeks) need starter feed, which contains about 20% protein, and because they&#x2019;re growing at lightning speed, they need it.&#xA0;Grower: Because their growth rate has slowed dramatically, adolescents (8-18ish weeks) need grower feed, which doesn&#x2019;t contain as much protein as starter (about 18%).Layer: At 18-ish weeks, you have an adult chicken and their need for protein decreases again, layer contains about 15%-18% depending on the product chosen.&#xA0;Keep in mind that chickens develop at different paces (kind of like humans do) so watch for signs that they&#x2019;re ready to move on to the next stage of feed. And when you feel they&#x2019;re ready, go for it.</details><hr><details style="line-height: 2;"><summary>Why do my chickens need oyster shell if there is calcium in the feed?</summary>If your hens are layers, they&#x2019;re going to need a boost of calcium. Most hens will start to lay when they&#x2019;re 20-21 weeks, and oyster shell should be given around 18 weeks to prepare them for the egg-laying journey.Oyster shell helps make eggshells hard and hens need diets high in calcium to produce them. If laying hens don&#x2019;t get enough calcium, their bodies will start draining it from their bones. Laying hens could stop laying if they aren&#x2019;t receiving enough calcium. To continue egg production, it&#x2019;s super important that they receive it.</details><hr><details style="line-height: 2;"><summary>How much grit and oyster shell should chickens have?</summary>Both should always be available.Grit can&#x2019;t be dissolved; it stays in the gizzard, and it&#x2019;s used to grind food because chickens don&#x2019;t have teeth.&#xA0;Oyster shell dissolves in the gut. The chickens will self-regulate. Oyster shell should be offered freely. Chickens will know to take it as and when they need it.&#xA0;</details><hr> Have more general questions about your feathered friends? Check out these <a href="https://help.smallpetselect.com/en-US/general-questions-396057">questions</a>.

Chickens

Reach out to our Customer Support team via email

Talk To A Fellow Pet Pawrent!
Customer Support available:
Monday-Friday 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM EST

Small Pet Select Wholesale Store

Export / Distributor

Back to Store

Small Pet Select Amazon 

YouTube

Main Website

Small Pet Select

Pet Species

Frequently Asked Questions

Small Pet Select - Awarded Small Pet Food Product of the Year 2023 by Pet Innovation Awards!

Small Pet Select - Named a Best Petcare Brand by Newsweek and Statista 2022

Warehouse Locations

Customer Service Hours

Cruelty-free shopping

Partner Programs & Opportunities

Donation Requests

Meet "Timothy" (AI Agent)

Behind the Brand

Our Story

Meet Our Vet - Dr. Brem

Meet our Chicken Guru - Lisa Steele

Saskia- Our Guinea Pig Guru

Our Team

About Us

Return Policy

Picky Pet Promise - Satisfaction Guarantee

Shipping Policy – Fast & Furriest Shipping!

Shipping Fulfillment and Updates: Weather, Holidays, and Carrier Impacts

Expedited Shipping Options and Special Handling Requests

Shipping Restrictions & PO Box Information

Policy Exceptions

Refunds, Replacements, and Store Credit

Privacy & Trackers Concern

Privacy & Email Use

Speedy Shipping Secrets: Getting Your Bunny Jewelry Bling & Pet Supplies Faster!

Shipping, Policies and Guarantees

Auto-Ship Terms, Conditions & Cancelation Policy

Auto-Ship & Save FAQs

How to Manage or Edit Your Auto-Ship Subscription

How to Update Your Shipping Address for Auto-Ship

Can I Use a Promo Code with Auto-Ship?

How Does Auto-Ship & Save Work?

Recharge Concierge SMS – Opting In, Opting Out, and Troubleshooting

Auto-Ship & Save

Wholesale FAQ

Wholesale

Rewards Program

Rewards Program FAQ

Birthday Rewards

Reward Point Redemption Cheat Sheet

How do I apply my Rewards discount at checkout?

Rewards & Discounts FAQ

Veterinary Disclaimer

Safety Disclaimer

Small Pet Select Pine Pellets for litter boxes: why they are safer than wood stove pellets or other companies' pine pellets?