Am I feeding correctly?

[Dan N TN]

Hello, I'm new here and new to the rabbit "thing" and I have a few questions.
I keep a 5lb feeder full of pellet feed and then I suppliment fresh grass (clover, fescue, orchard grasses)almost everyday. After several weeks of weighing the pellet feed I've found that the days that I feed the fresh grass my 3 rabbits (2 does and a buck) only average eating about 1 oz of pellet feed a day but, take in just a little more than 3 oz when I do not feed it. Does this seem correct?

When I feed the grass I fill a 2 gallon bucket stuffed full and divide that between the 3 of them. There is VERY little waste each morning when I go back. They do not look under or over weight and they are active and energetic when I arrive. Is this to much "green" for them?

I set aside square bales that contain alot of sage in them for bedding in the barn and chicken coop but, I've found that the rabbits devour this "lower" quality hay when I fed it to them one day. I did not feed enough of it to notice any increase in their pellet intake. Does anyone else feed sage to their rabbits?

This will be my last question. For those that know what "poke or Polk" weed is.... will it harm a rabbit if I feed it to them?

 

[MaggieJ]

It is normal for rabbits eating a lot of greens to eat less pellets. Naturally, most of them prefer fresh forage to dried. As long as you introduce the greens gradually there will be no problems. The thing to avoid is any sudden change, which can be dangerous.

I'm not sure what you mean by sage in the hay. Do you mean garden sage as in the link below?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvia_officinalis

Many rabbits enjoy this but it should not be fed to pregnant or nursing does.

I've heard of poke, but I don't know it. I may be too far north for it.

 

[Secuono]

I believe I've read that Pokeweed is poisonous, none of my critters touch the stuff.

Sage is on the safe list, so go ahead and feed that.

There is no such thing as too much grass, unless it is a new item to them or you want very fast growth. And as long as they aren't loosing weight, keep up the grasses. =)

Rabbits that get grass and/or hay, usually end up eating less pellets. Mainly because who would eat bland pellets over natural, better tasting yummy food!

 

[MaggieJ]

Sage is on many Safe Plants lists, but it is not on mine. I do feed it to dry does, especially if they need a boost after the kits are weaned. BUT please note that it can cause a nursing doe to lose her milk and it may also cause a pregnant doe to abort. Sage (Salvia officinalis)is a very useful plant but it should not be fed indiscriminately to rabbits.

 

[ohiogoatgirl]

if this is what you mean by poke then i do not think rabbits can eat it
http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/weedgui ... asp?id=270
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokeweed

i know that other then the very young leaves it is poisonous. there is some here but cows and goats dont eat it cause it grows in some of the feilds and it never gets touched (as in eaten) by any animals that i have seen. i dont think i've ever seen any damage to any of the plants that looked like it was from an animal eating it.
as kids me and my sisters made "juice" from the berries and used it in mud pies, etc. and mom used to about want to kill us for dying our socks with the berry juice. hahaha. it does work as a dye but it washes out after a few times and its fades really quick in the sunlight.

 

[Dan N TN]

Thank you for the help. Yes, Ohiogoatgirl that is exactly what I was refering to as "poke weed"

MaggieJ, I should have clarified what I meant when I said sage. I meant sage grass. Our cattle and goats eat it but, it's not what I would feed them strictly as hay so I just use the worst bales for bedding.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[MaggieJ]

This is exactly why we need to use Latin names when trying to establish the identity and safety of plants for the rabbits. I don't think we have sage grass 'way up here... I've never heard it mentioned.

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

Pokeweed is very toxic-- However, for those that like to make jellies-- Poke Jelly is safe-- cooking the berries down neutralizes the toxins. Grandma always told us to never eat anything- berry wise- without her permission!!! It was from her that I learned that elderberries and poison ivy often are found in the same place---

 

[olivialowrie]

Is it okay to combine greens with pellets? :bunnyhop:

 

[MaggieJ]

Yes, you certainly can combine greens with pellets. Just introduce the greens gradually so that the rabbits' GI systems have time to adjust. And, of course, be very sure of the identity and safety of any plant you feed.