Feeding alternative diet to Pellets?

[Rabbit Warren Man]

I have been feeding my free range rabbits sprouted field Pea and Wheat mix, along with free choice Timothy and Alfalfa hay, whole oats and some black sunflower oil seeds. I have small mineral and salt blocks by the water.
My rabbits are in beautiful condition.
Because my rabbits are together all the time the Doe’s determine the kit bearing cycle. I will have young ones coming out of the holes end of February.
I add diatomaceous earth food grade to the bedding and feed. I have dust bath boxes for them with diatomaceous earth soil ash and sand as well.
Feed a lot of fruit tree and other tree limbs.
Anyone else feed this way?

 

[Rabbit Warren Man]

I have been feeding my free range rabbits sprouted field Pea and Wheat mix, along with free choice Timothy and Alfalfa hay, whole oats and some black sunflower oil seeds. I have small mineral and salt blocks by the water.
My rabbits are in beautiful condition.
Because my rabbits are together all the time the Doe’s determine the kit bearing cycle. I will have young ones coming out of the holes end of February.
I add diatomaceous earth food grade to the bedding and feed. I have dust bath boxes for them with diatomaceous earth soil ash and sand as well.
Feed a lot of fruit tree and other tree limbs.
Anyone else feed this way?

 

[LoveMyBarnyard]

I would like to do something like this. We just got our first few breeders two weeks ago. So new to all of this. I am a quarter way through reading "Beyond The Pellet" by Boyd Craven Jr and Rick Worden. We live south of Austin in Central Texas and I am hoping to find folks here who can share what nstive grasses would work well since Timothy is not easy to grow here. Our goal is to slowly provide more and more from our garden and from fodder etc.

 

[Rabbit Warren Man]

I would like to do something like this. We just got our first few breeders two weeks ago. So new to all of this. I am a quarter way through reading "Beyond The Pellet" by Boyd Craven Jr and Rick Worden. We live south of Austin in Central Texas and I am hoping to find folks here who can share what nstive grasses would work well since Timothy is not easy to grow here. Our goal is to slowly provide more and more from our garden and from fodder etc.

find the native grasses that your bunnies enjoy, a rule of thumb is any horse hay is good for Rabbits. Look for organic grains and field peas . Soak some of the grains and get them to sprout the available nutrients for your bunnies explodes!

 

[LoveMyBarnyard]

find the native grasses that your bunnies enjoy, a rule of thumb is any horse hay is good for Rabbits. Look for organic grains and field peas . Soak some of the grains and get them to sprout the available nutrients for your bunnies explodes!

Thanks Rabbit Warren Man!

Maybe the local feed store will know more about the native grasses I have here. We have a lot of acres filled with native grasses. I just have no idea which ones specifically are good for horses. We had horses on the property some years ago and they certainly were happy grazing here.

I have grown field peas as a cover crop before, it was a seed mix of oats and field peas. We didn't let them get very big before tilling it in. Do the rabbits eat the whole plant? Or are we supposed to grow it out to actually have pea pods or just feed them the younger fresh leaves and stems and not wait for the pods? The oat grass also came in pretty successfully. I guess that's part of what I am having trouble getting my head around is the fresh vs dried. I guess anything they can eat fresh we can cut and dry?

When you say to soak the grains, do you just get them to sprout or do you grow them out as young grass in trays like you do for fodder?

 

[Rabbit Warren Man]

Thanks Rabbit Warren Man!

Maybe the local feed store will know more about the native grasses I have here. We have a lot of acres filled with native grasses. I just have no idea which ones specifically are good for horses. We had horses on the property some years ago and they certainly were happy grazing here.

I have grown field peas as a cover crop before, it was a seed mix of oats and field peas. We didn't let them get very big before tilling it in. Do the rabbits eat the whole plant? Or are we supposed to grow it out to actually have pea pods or just feed them the younger fresh leaves and stems and not wait for the pods? The oat grass also came in pretty successfully. I guess that's part of what I am having trouble getting my head around is the fresh vs dried. I guess anything they can eat fresh we can cut and dry?

When you say to soak the grains, do you just get them to sprout or do you grow them out as young grass in trays like you do for fodder?

If you had live stock like horses grazing on your place the grass will be suitable for bunnies.
Also talk to your hay dealers that bale hay for horses.
When I sprout wheat and pea mix I soak 4 yogurt containers of dry mix in a 5 gallon pail of water for 24 hours. Then I transfer to another 5 gallon pail that has small holes in the bottom so the water can drain but the feed stays.
I rinse with cold water and cover the top with a wet towel. I rinse once per day after always putting the towel on top. I also shake the mix to ensure good air throughout the mix. I start feeding 3 day. I have to sets of pails so I always have feed. I feed the same amount as if I was feeding pellets.
Yes you could put in a tray and let it grow into fodder.
All parts of the field peas plant are edible. Field peas are 23% protein.

 

[Rabbit Warren Man]

Two not to lol

 

[LoveMyBarnyard]

You said you have dust bath boxes "with diatomaceous earth soil ash and sand as well"

Is that in equal parts?

I get the feeling we are not likely to harm our rabbits by harvesting the fresh grasses here. It seems the biggest question would be do they have the "right" amount of nutrients... I guess I will search for horse people next!

You are a goldmine, thank you so much!

 

[Rabbit Warren Man]

Two not to lol

Thanks Rabbit Warren Man!

Maybe the local feed store will know more about the native grasses I have here. We have a lot of acres filled with native grasses. I just have no idea which ones specifically are good for horses. We had horses on the property some years ago and they certainly were happy grazing here.

I have grown field peas as a cover crop before, it was a seed mix of oats and field peas. We didn't let them get very big before tilling it in. Do the rabbits eat the whole plant? Or are we supposed to grow it out to actually have pea pods or just feed them the younger fresh leaves and stems and not wait for the pods? The oat grass also came in pretty successfully. I guess that's part of what I am having trouble getting my head around is the fresh vs dried. I guess anything they can eat fresh we can cut and dry?

When you say to soak the grains, do you just get them to sprout or do you grow them out as young grass in trays like you do for fodder?

Your rabbits can live their entire lives eating grasses and nothing else. The only thing I add is a small mineral block and a small blue salt block.
The only thing with feeding grass or hay only is your kits will grow slower. But when you add whole oats dry. Field Peas soaked.
I also give my rabbits fruit tree branches with or without leaves as well as other types of tree branches they help wear teeth but also contain Tannins which are beneficial to your rabbit’s.
I try to feed as close to free as possible and rabbits are an animal you can do it with.
Like horses go slowly when introducing new foods. I stay away from any vegetables that can cause bloat.
Nice speaking to you.

 

[Rabbit Warren Man]

You said you have dust bath boxes "with diatomaceous earth soil ash and sand as well"

Is that in equal parts?

I get the feeling we are not likely to harm our rabbits by harvesting the fresh grasses here. It seems the biggest question would be do they have the "right" amount of nutrients... I guess I will search for horse people next!

You are a goldmine, thank you so much!

Dust bath yes some dry soil, wood ash, diatomaceous earth and sand. I use about 3 or four cups of diatomaceous earth food grade and the rest just go by ear no special volumes. I use rubber maid tubs with a hole cut into them and a lid is a must. It will keep your heard free of mites and ticks

 

[LoveMyBarnyard]

Great information. Thanks so much for your post.

 

[Rabbit Warren Man]

Great information. Thanks so much for your post.

Anytime, we are all here to help one another!!

 

[LoveMyBarnyard]

Anytime, we are all here to help one another!!

You inspired me: I just signed up to be a Rabbit Talk Supporter.

 

[anuttyfarm]

I had an issue with feeding grass from my yard. I had a whole litter die from feeding grass with worms on the grass. The vet confirmed they were hook worms buy fecal exam. The vet said to feed only pellets to prevent this from happening again. I don't feed my rabbits alfalfa. Alfalfa has to much calcium. If you see white in the corner of the cage they urinate in; it means they are getting to much calcium in there diet. I do feed lettuce, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, whole grain bread, beet tops, as well as other vegetables I grow in containers. I feed them other taller weeds like sorrel. It seems the worms don't climb up the stalks above 6 inches. I would suggest if you feed grasses that are on the ground make sure you worm them often.

 

[Rabbit Warren Man]

I had an issue with feeding grass from my yard. I had a whole litter die from feeding grass with worms on the grass. The vet confirmed they were hook worms buy fecal exam. The vet said to feed only pellets to prevent this from happening again. I don't feed my rabbits alfalfa. Alfalfa has to much calcium. If you see white in the corner of the cage they urinate in; it means they are getting to much calcium in there diet. I do feed lettuce, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, whole grain bread, beet tops, as well as other vegetables I grow in containers. I feed them other taller weeds like sorrel. It seems the worms don't climb up the stalks above 6 inches. I would suggest if you feed grasses that are on the ground make sure you worm them often.

Unfortunate that your litter got worms and didn’t make it.
When I feed my sprouted pea and wheat mix I sprinkle diatomaceous earth food grade on them when they are still slightly damp. The diatomaceous earth kills internal parasites and I use it as a preventative measure. It also has many other health benefits for your rabbits.
I have never had a problem with internal or external parasites on my bunnies. I cut fresh green grass daily for my bunnies. Pellets are expensive and vary from supplier to supplier. Vets also recommend kibble for your dogs which is another junk food for pets. The vets are trained in nutrition by the folks who make the junk food.

 

[HTAcres]

Where I live in west Texas, I have had good luck with tree hay, especially willow and mulberry. I don't have a lot of grass but that works as well. I am not yet feeding for free but I'm working on it!

 

[Rabbit Warren Man]

Where I live in west Texas, I have had good luck with tree hay, especially willow and mulberry. I don't have a lot of grass but that works as well. I am not yet feeding for free but I'm working on it!

I feed a lot of leaves and branches as well. They love them. Nice to people diversifying their feed.

 

[Fernie]

We are getting all of our livestock off the commercial feeds. The plan is to drop the feed cost so we can lower our costs. We plan to grow much of the feed for our livestock as well as ourselves.

The book mentioned is a great resource for those trying to get off commercial feeds.

 

[Rabbit Warren Man]

That’s awesome to hear and you’re rabbits will be much happier for it.

 

[LoveMyBarnyard]

Where I live in west Texas, I have had good luck with tree hay, especially willow and mulberry. I don't have a lot of grass but that works as well. I am not yet feeding for free but I'm working on it!

Wow, that's cool. I just looked up tree hay to see what you are talking about. That sounds like a great option for us. We're wondering, when you cut the branches during the warm seasons to store as hay, do the leaves fall off as it dries or does it just stay attached and you feed the whole dried "hay" branch to the rabbits? Or does it depend on the type of tree? We don't have good conditions for willow like you do but we do have a lot of mulberry trees. We also have red oaks and wild Mexican plums, and wild persimmons along with an orchard with apples, pears, figs, and black berry bushes, Asian persimmons, pecans, plums and peaches. We also have a lit of wild blackberries growing all over the property (they call them dew berries around here.)

If you or anyone else has experience with any of these trees or any other tips on "making" / storing tree hay I would be grateful to learn more!

Cheers