newbie Q: how much grain for pregnant does?

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JoannaCW

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I just got my first breeders for the meat rabbitry I hope to start--one Silver Fox buck, two New Zealand does--a week ago. They were pellet-raised but I am switching them to natural food--right now they get some pellets, some oats, all the hay (mostly grass) that they'll eat and plenty of apple and willow twigs; once the green stuff grows a bit more they'll be getting that.

I've been reading Maggie's posts on natural feeding on the Homesteading Today forum and some from this forum. I gather from that that bucks and dry does can get by on just hay (some of it legume hay) and greens during the warm season, but that lactating does and growing kits need grain as well. What about pregnant does? I presume it changes over the course of the pregnancy?

Right now I suspect our rabbits are on the heavy side. I can feel the buck's ribs if I prod a bit. The does arrived later and are still not good about holding still to have their ribs felt. Yesterday we had what looked like successful matings but I realize I won't know for sure until at least 2-3 weeks into the possible pregnancy... and if they're not pregnant and I feed them more rich food they'll be even fatter and so less likely to conceive...

Any advice greatly appreciated.
 
You don't need to increase a pregnant does food until the last week of pregnancy, unless they look to be loosing muscle tone and body condition.

I gather from that that bucks and dry does can get by on just hay (some of it legume hay) and greens during the warm season
True, they also require a salt and mineral block.
but that lactating does and growing kits need grain as well. What about pregnant does? I presume it changes over the course of the pregnancy?
Kits and late pregnancy and nursing does should ideally be getting 18% protein to optimize growth, milk quality and so they can maintain condition while lactating.

Giving free choice legume hay or fresh legumes (or other plants high in protein) and supplementing with grains to meet their fat needs should keep them in good form - the amount of grains really depends on your rabbits metabolisms.

Some does will need more and some need less but I would slowly get them up to a 1/4 cup of grains and increase or decrease as needed.
 
Thank you!

<<True, they also require a salt and mineral block.>> Does that need to be specially formulated for rabbits, or could I cut small pieces off my Cargill mineralized salt block that's labeled for cattle, swine and horses and that currently serves my goats?
 
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