Classic Feed and some big changes.....

[tm_bunnyloft]

I have been feeding my Bunz oats, Boss, flax seed and Timothy hay. Enteritis and wool block are things I want to avoid. Alfalfa is a big contributor to wool block.

Then I realized that if I want to sell the kits as pets I need to switch them to pellets. But what pellets??? I haven't been really thrilled with any of the pellets I have tried.

I went to TSC and found "Classic Rabbit Pellets". It is 13% protein and one of the top ingredients is flax seed, which I feed to my rabbits already. Flax seed is great for helping avoid wool block, as it is high in slipper oil. And NO CORN!!! It doesn't have any corn listed on the label. Yay!!!

The "classic Rabbit Pellets" come in a small bag for $3.99 and a 10 pound bag for $5.99. When you compare the cost to other brands that come in 45 and 50 pound bags it is a little expensive. I don't mind the price if the bunz do good on it, and being as it comes in small bags it is convenient for pet buyers.

I started the kits on it three days ago and no signs of enteritis at all. They are getting Timothy hay, Classic pellets, and I am still giving them a small bowl of oats and seeds every day. They usually run for the hay first but since starting the pellets they are gobbling them up first. Then the hay. And the oats are left for them to munch throughout the rest of the day.

After this cold spell of weather I am going to start the adult rabbits on it as well. Because it is lower Protein I will continue to supplement with Nyjer and flax seed which both have a higher oil content and higher protein.

I am really hoping that this works for me and the future owners of my pet kits.

I have done a full 180 in the Rabbit World. Started out raising meat mutts for my Husband in the country. And now I am raising show rabbits and pets in the city. WOW what a difference. But I am loving it. It is so fun introducing new rabbit owners to their first rabbit and seeing the joy on their face over the little bunny that I produced. I love it!!!!

 

[skysthelimit]

So I can feed the Nyjer seeds?

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

So I can feed the Nyjer seeds?

Yes, but be careful for the little ones.. They are higher in fats than the other boss and they cost more too.

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

If you have a Rural King you can but Nyjer in bulk for .89 cents a pound. I use about 5 pounds each of boss and Nyjer with 50 pounds of oats, and then a teaspoon of flax seed on top. I also do not feed alfalfa any more, Just timothy.

The Nyjer is a bit better than BOSS for preventing wool block and that is why I use it.

I will be likely switching all of my rabbits to the pellets above and then giving them the grains in a separate dish to prevent digging.
But then I am adding alfalfa back into my rabbits diet.

 

[Bad Habit]

It is so fun introducing new rabbit owners to their first rabbit and seeing the joy on their face over the little bunny that I produced.

I love it. I also love getting the thank you emails a week or two after they got the bunny, thanking me for all the information I provided, and for raising such a sweet friendly rabbit. It's so awesome to get those, makes dealing with the bad/snarky people worth it.

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

I wont deal with people with a bad attitude. I have no reason to. If they can not be decent with me they are welcome to take their money and leave my home. I am only raising and selling rabbits for my enjoyment, not income. So if I do not like a potential buyer they will not get a bunny from me.

I also have a two page care sheet and sales policy That each buyer must read and sign for my records.

 

[skysthelimit]

If you have a Rural King you can but Nyjer in bulk for .89 cents a pound. I use about 5 pounds each of boss and Nyjer with 50 pounds of oats, and then a teaspoon of flax seed on top. I also do not feed alfalfa any more, Just timothy.

The Nyjer is a bit better than BOSS for preventing wool block and that is why I use it.

I will be likely switching all of my rabbits to the pellets above and then giving them the grains in a separate dish to prevent digging.
But then I am adding alfalfa back into my rabbits diet.

No such thing around here. Lucky to have a TSC 25 miles away.

That is all you are feeding? I am not sure if my show crew would be able to keep weight on with just oats, some BOSS and Timothy hay.

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

I believe that the flax seed and Nyjer, being 35% protein and higher in fat and oil help to keep the weight on them.
Those seeds are also good for a nice shinny healthy coat.

I am replacing the oats with the pellet though and then cutting back the seeds to a teaspoon of each a day. I hope that the adult bunz do well on this pellet. That would make things easy. I just worry about reintroducing alfalfa to their diet. Stupid wool block!!!!

 

[skysthelimit]

8lb of Nyjer is $12. 50lbs of oats is $18.99
I will have to price this out and see. It has to get me 280lbs of feed for $100 or less, with the same ratio of vit and minerals as pellets to be cost effective.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I just worry about reintroducing alfalfa to their diet. Stupid wool block!!!!

My understanding is that the issue with alfalfa and wool block is that the leaves and/or stems get caught on the wool mat in the stomach and the alfalfa ferments. I doubt that would occur with pellets.

 

[MaggieJ]

I've been feeding alfalfa hay for several years without problems. Mind you, my rabbits have the usual short fur. I can see where it might be an issue for long-haired breeds.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

I went to TSC and found "Classic Rabbit Pellets". It is 13% protein and one of the top ingredients is flax seed, which I feed to my rabbits already. Flax seed is great for helping avoid wool block, as it is high in slipper oil. And NO CORN!!! It doesn't have any corn listed on the label. Yay!!!

That does not sound like NEARLY enough protein for a wool breed especially....

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

My thoughts exactly too...It is the wool breeds that need the higher protien because of them growing there furs. But i am no expert on this subject. But i had them in the past. I also understand that the cheaper brand of pellets dont have alfalafa meal in the first ingredients and also have tallow in the list somewhere. The cheaper brand i will not use for no animal. Go with the medium one. Like 16 percent or 17,, Just feed less.

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

Alfalfa is a huge contributor even in pellet form. The rabbit eats the alfalfa/ pellet and then they groom themselves. Alfalfa in any form is sticky in the stomach and hair tends to stick to it in the stomach. That forms a mass and more and more hair sticks to it, growing the mass bigger and bigger. Until you have a blockage. And yes it also ferments in the stomach when there is a wool blockage including alfalfa. Feeding flax seed which contains an oil with a high slipper factor, will also help to break down the alfalfa and loosen the alfalfa/hair mass, so that as you feed timothy it will catch and pull loose hairs. Feeding Timothy hay helps to pull hair from the mass of alfalfa and hair. This will eventually clear up an existing wool problem and help to prevent one from starting.

This does not mean that if your rabbit has a severe wool block that it will cure the rabbit, nor that I am an expert in any way, shape, or form. It is just what I have come up with in researching the problem and compiling that information. I would like to add English Angora's to my herd but want to be prepared with as much information as possible before I purchase.

Sorry, I get a little carried away sometimes.

Here is what I know about the feed....

Ingredients: wheat middlings, soybean hulls, dehydrated alfalfa meal, meet molasses, dehulled soy bean meal, flaxseed, salt, lignin sulfonate, calcium carbonate, sholine chloride, DL: methionine, soybean oil, vitamin E supplement, sodium selenite, ferrous sulfate, magnesium oxide, vitamin b12 supplement, niacin supplement, maganese sulfate, calcium pantothenate, zinc oxide, thiamine mononitrate, copper sulfate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, rolled oats, biotin, vitamine a supplement, cobalt caronate, zinc sulfate, riboflavin supplement, ethylenediamine dihydriodide, menadione sodium bisulfite complex, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid.

guaranteed Analysis: crude protein 13%, crude fat 3%, crude fiber 18-22%, calcium .4-.9%, phosphorus .6%, salt .4-.9%, vitamin A 6000 IU/lb, Vitamin D 2000 IU/lb, Vitamin E 200 IU/lb, Omega 6 fatty acid 1.0%.

Please excuse any misspellings as I just typed that out myself from the label. LOL

The big difference that I see is 3% lower protien, which I will make up with seeds which are 35% protein, and the lower alfalfa content which I personally like.