Natural Feeding and litter size

Joe n TN · Apr 27, 2013

Rabbits are on an 18% protein feed and now that it is the spring they are getting half the pellets they do in the winter, hay every other day and a large "salad" of forage daily. The list of what they get fresh from the yard and garden is too vast to list but it does include more than a few herbs and all quality stuffs.

Here's my question. With them getting a little less protein now will it effect my litter sizes? Should I back the does off of some of the forage and increase their pellet intake once they are bred?

They love the forage and prefer it to pellets, but I want to maintain an 8 kit average. I love the decrease in the feed bill, but again, do not want to decrease my litter sizes. Thanks,

Joe

squidpop · Apr 29, 2013

I would speculate that litter size has more to do with fertility- how virile the male is- the age of the doe and things like that- not the calories and protein in the feed. My theory is - if you want big litters try to get the breeding pair to do it as many times as possible within a 24 hour period --so there's more sperm going into the doe. I do think the feed might have an effect on how big and healthy the kits are though, and how many survive.

MaggieJ · Apr 29, 2013

I don't think it will affect litter size. Rabbits on natural feed tend to grow more slowly though.

Secuono · Apr 29, 2013

They will grow slower, but not drop kit numbers unless something else is going on.

Frosted Rabbits · Apr 29, 2013

The numbers in the litter will depend almost entirely on the does fertility. Fertility is affected by her genentics and nutrtion-- As long as the doe is getting everything she needs to support a large litter, her ovaries will release higher numbers of ova. If her fresh forages include higher proteins, you will not need to worry about that-- fresh alfalfa is fine-- or even permit high quality alfalfa /clover on a daily basis-- If you have access to pond-- gather small duckweed- "Lemna Minor"- the dry matter protein level in THAT miniscule plant is 98%!!! It is real easy to grow the duckweed, as well...