Barley and Oats.....

[Secuono]

Why didn't anyone tell me Barley looks just like oats???
My rabbits hate that thin crap.
Which is more nutritious? Because one has to go. But this bag of Barely is going to the sheep/horses. Already mixed the others because I thought they mislabeled it!

 

[MaggieJ]

Your bunnies may prefer wheat (as do mine) but you may want to get a small quantity from a bulk food store to try before buying a sackful. Sometimes rabbits will be picky until they get used to a new food. You could try persisting with the barley and letting their natural appetites lead them into trying it.

 

[Secuono]

There is no wheat in the stores. They have had oats for months, certain rabbits will eat around it no matter what.

 

[MaggieJ]

Have you tried other feed stores? Here they don't all carry the same things.

 

[akane]

Oats and barley do look the same when flattened. I generally get oats in whole form. They'll eat the barley happily if it's all they've got besides hay. Mine are only getting concentrates (grains or pellets) every 4 days so they dig right in and inhale the barley with the rest. We feed them enough it lasts about 2 days so everyone gets enough and then they get a break where they have to eat hay which is much cheaper and whatever greens. Then they are thrilled to get concentrates again. Nothing has been going to waste this way instead of the digging through for the most desirable pieces.

Ask the feedstore if they can order wheat besides bran. Many should be able to.

 

[trinityoaks]

Mine eat both barley and oats (along with wheat). The grain mix I feed them is 6 parts oats, one part each of barley and wheat. I try to get whole grain whenever I can, but sometimes I can get only crimped.

 

[akane]

Watch the fat on the oats. It can be up to 7% when rabbit feed is only 2-3%.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

My grain mix is 2 parts oats to one part each of BOSS, wheat, barley, and beet pulp. I measure by weight, not volume. Example: 4lbs oats, 1lb each of other ingredients, for a total of 8lbs. I am considering adding one part pellets to the mix, but haven't done so yet.

 

[trinityoaks]

I use the proportions (by volume) specified by the late Oren Reynolds, as outlined in the Storey book. He included 1 part kaffir corn (a type of sorghum), but I have never been able to find it. He also included one part sunflower seed (which I use only in cold weather), and one part terramycin cubes, which I skip because I don't believe in routinely medicating healthy rabbits.

My rabbits get about 1/2 cup of this mixture per day, plus free-choice alfalfa hay (currently I can find only alfalfa cubes). I also give fresh, bunny-safe greens as available, and occasionally a small apple as a treat (no more than once a week).