Oxbow rabbit pellets and another cheap option?

Awaiting Abyss · Jul 22, 2014

For now I'm feeding my 2 and 3 month old rabbits (I have a pair) Oxbow Young Rabbit pellets because I get them for half price.

Is Oxbow a decent quality pellet food? I've compared ingredients and I've narrowed it down to using either Oxbow or Zupreem (from my work), but I'm sure we can probably order other brands if there is a better brand.

Also, I'm sure I won't be working where I work forever, so I'd like to know if there is a cheaper option available that is also good quality.

Miss M · Jul 22, 2014

Okay, the particulars:

Ingredients

Alfalfa Meal, Soybean Hulls, Wheat Middlings, Soybean Oil, Salt, Cane Molasses, Lignin Sulfonate, Limestone, Yeast Culture (dehydrated), Vitamin E Supplement, Choline Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Selenium Yeast, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Copper Proteinate, Riboflavin Supplement, Manganese Proteinate, Biotin, Manganous Oxide, Thiamine Mononitrate, Magnesium Sulfate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Cobalt Carbonate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Calcium Iodate

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein (min) 15.00%
Crude Fat (min) 2.50%
Crude Fiber (min) 22.00%
Crude Fiber (max) 25.00%
Moisture (max) 10.00%
Calcium (min) 0.50%
Calcium (max) 1.00%
Phosphorus (min) 0.25%
Copper (min) 30 ppm
Vitamin A (min) 19,000 IU/kg
Vitamin D (min) 900 IU/kg
Vitamin E (min) 190 IU/kg

Most rabbit feed, especially for growing rabbits, is 16% - 18% protein. This does not mean you cannot grow them out on 15%, just that you'll want to pay attention to how well they are doing. They may do fine, they may take a smidge longer to grow out, they may eat more food (than a higher %), or they may not do well on it at all. But that's possible with any feed, even a higher-protein feed.

I bolded the first several ingredients, as that's the majority makeup of the feed. The first thing that struck me was how high on the list SALT was, and then immediately followed by molasses. I have never seen salt listed fifth, or anywhere near it! Then I realized that Oxbow very likely has their first three ingredients at even higher percentages than most.

Looks good quality to me.

You'll just want to watch how they do on it.

akane · Jul 22, 2014

Oxbow is fine for pet rabbits. It is not designed for breeders. It is also way expensive compared to what breeders use. Zupreem nature's promise timothy naturals (first one I could find under that brand) is much like oxbow. Ok for pets, too low in protein for breeding, and way overpriced. You can get better feed for ~$12/50lb bag from a feed store instead of $12/5lb bag from the pet store and the quality is actually better not worse. Kent, purina, manna pro, pen pals... See what's in your area.

grumpy · Jul 22, 2014

akane":3sx6hwz6 said:
Oxbow is fine for pet rabbits. It is not designed for breeders. It is also way expensive compared to what breeders use. Zupreem nature's promise timothy naturals (first one I could find under that brand) is much like oxbow. Ok for pets, too low in protein for breeding, and way overpriced. You can get better feed for ~$12/50lb bag from a feed store instead of $12/5lb bag from the pet store and the quality is actually better not worse. Kent, purina, manna pro, pen pals... See what's in your area.

Probably a lot fresher as well. Those 5# bags set on the shelves for who
knows how long. Feed from a feed dealer is cycled fairly fast.

Marinea · Jul 22, 2014

First things first...love the ferrets! Too cute.

Being in South Carolina, I know you've got feed stores near you. Ask about their rabbit pellets and take a look at the ingredient list. You will likely end up spending around $15 or so for 50 pounds of feed. Also, take a look at your nearest Tractor Supply Co. Mine usually has Manna Pro or Producer's Pride brands, for about the same cost. I have used both and had no issues.

One last note- take a look around your place. If it's anything like mine, you've got kudzu. It makes a good rabbit green food. And I love knowing the danged stuff is good for something.

Miss M · Jul 23, 2014

akane":3uzbr78n said:
Oxbow is fine for pet rabbits. It is not designed for breeders. It is also way expensive compared to what breeders use. Zupreem nature's promise timothy naturals (first one I could find under that brand) is much like oxbow. Ok for pets, too low in protein for breeding, and way overpriced. You can get better feed for ~$12/50lb bag from a feed store instead of $12/5lb bag from the pet store and the quality is actually better not worse. Kent, purina, manna pro, pen pals... See what's in your area.

I knew there was something bugging me!

I went into a Petco recently, to buy a new bunny brush. While in there, I looked at the food. I have never seen the like of rabbit food snobbery, such as I saw there. :shock: One of them even advertised itself as "Alfalfa Free!" Uhhhhh... what's wrong with alfalfa?

The highest protein % I could find was 14.5%, and I was looking for 18% (for a lionhead :roll: ). They had all sorts of special rabbit diets... oh, my word... it was crazy!

But anyway, I had forgotten Oxbow is one of those pet brands. Nothing wrong with them, as long as your rabbits are just pets.

Pet rabbit food is designed for rabbits that are probably spayed or neutered, and won't be used for breeding. Could you use it for breeding rabbits? Yes, but your results might not be too great. The feed isn't optimized for a rabbit that will be pregnant and lactating, or growing like a furry little weed. It's optimized for a house bunny, really. Try to go with a feed store rabbit feed, instead.

Awaiting Abyss · Jul 23, 2014

I'll see if I can order any of those brands from my work. We can order things that aren't on the shelves.

As for the Oxbow and how long it stays on the shelf- Its an item that sells regularly and we often check the dates of all things on our shelves that has an expiration date.

The Purina that I have samples of is very similar to the Oxbow I have. Its 1% higher in protein but lower in fiber. I'd also prefer to not support Purina if I can. I'll check into some of the other brands mentioned and see if my work can order them.

I can go to a feed store, but I'd rather order through my work if I can since its convenient and I get the low price.

I don't have any kudzu around my house or anywhere near that I know of. I only ever see it beside the roads and I'm not sure if its legal to go pick it.

Wheels · Jul 23, 2014

I know you can find Manna Pro in 25# bags for roughly $10. That may be something you can order through work. Manna Pro also produces a line of feed for wal*Mart called Small World. The ingredients are similar but not identical and the small world pellets are larger in size. I've used it in a pinch and found it was acceptable. A little more pricey than getting feed store feed but not bad at all.

Awaiting Abyss · Jul 23, 2014

I looked at Small World and it seemed (if I remember correctly) to be mostly grain based, and I thought rabbits needed less grains and more grass hay in pellet food?

Wheels · Jul 23, 2014

about the only thing on the Small world that made me go Hmmm - was the term 'roughage products' It's an alfalfa based pellet with an ingredient list similar to the oxbow.... now there are times when I feed Manna Pro I will find corn bits in the pellets - this is from the feed mills cleaning the equipment with corn and not flushing everything out before starting a new batch of feed. It has never been so much that I thought it would be exceptionally harmful to my rabbits - just annoying.

Oxbow rabbit pellets and another cheap option?

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