Force Moulting

[NatureBunsRabbitry]

Hi all! I have recently been reading that calf manna will induce moulting in rabbits, but can't find anywhere that says how much to feed for this. Do I just feed according to the general guidelines on the back of the bag? I have a chocolate otter jr mini rex doe that is over her weight limit and has to be shown as a senior but still has her junior coat. I have until November 17 to get her through a moult. Her normal diet consists of prairie hay, Manna Pro, BOSS, and then I started giving her the calf manna last evening. I gave her 1tsp. Should I give her more than 1tsp at a time or just leave it at that?

 

[skysthelimit]

Giving more BOSS should increase molt as well.
Not sure about the Calf Manna, I don't feed it because it contains corn.

 

[NatureBunsRabbitry]

How much BOSS would you recommend to induce molt? She is currently getting around 1tsp. I eyeball it so somedays she might get less and somedays might be more.

 

[ollitos]

Interesting. I was feeding BOSS on a regular basis to all my rabbits. Out of the 10 or so... only two molted.

 

[NatureBunsRabbitry]

Interesting. I was feeding BOSS on a regular basis to all my rabbits. Out of the 10 or so... only two molted.

I have been too and none of mine have molted. It really makes me wonder how much you have to feed for them to molt. How much do you feed?

 

[OneAcreFarm]

I believe you need to give 1-2Tblsp to help speed up a molt, but you have to ease into it gradually if they are not used to eating Calf Manna. BOSS you can just give them 1-2Tblsp right away....

 

[NatureBunsRabbitry]

I believe you need to give 1-2Tblsp to help speed up a molt, but you have to ease into it gradually if they are not used to eating Calf Manna. BOSS you can just give them 1-2Tblsp right away....

Thank you! I'll increase the BOSS and slowly increase the calf manna. What are the guidelines for easing into the cm?

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

Boss will not make a rabbit molt. Calf mannia is 30 percent protein. I be careful with that. Not only will the rabbit molt but it also give it very soft poops. Of which you dont want.

 

[skysthelimit]

Extra protein will make a rabbit molt, so I've been told.

 

[NatureBunsRabbitry]

Boss will not make a rabbit molt. Calf mannia is 30 percent protein. I be careful with that. Not only will the rabbit molt but it also give it very soft poops. Of which you dont want.

Is there a way to offset the soft poops while feeding increased amounts of cm? She's such an awesome little doe, I know she'll do well if I can get her to this show. If she doesn't molt out by show time, I'll breed her over the winter and try again in the spring.

 

[skysthelimit]

Oats

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

Is there a way to offset the soft poops while feeding increased amounts of cm?

The old fashion oats.. The large flakes you get from the gorcery store.

 

[Smith's Rabbits]

I believe that BOSS can force a molt if given in a larger quantity. And I have proof it works better then calf manna at speeding up the process of a molt. I had a chocolate mini rex buck who escaped and was out in the rain for a night then basked in the sun the next day till I caught him that evening. His fur got so gross hard and discolored, when he started to molt it was like it just caught. no amount of brushing was helping and I missed showing him at three shows because of it. Then I started feeding calf manna. Did 1TBSP for him every day for two months. Nothing. Switched to BOSS (he had always gotten 1tsp of BOSS, all my bunnies do) but I upped it to 2TBSP for a week. The difference was remarkable. I kept him at 1TBSP for a while after that till he finally finished the moult, almost a year after starting it, but only 3 weeks after starting the BOSS. I feel like it really helps the Mini rex coats, and man do they love it!

 

[OneAcreFarm]

It is the increase in protein that speeds up the molt...and I use BOSS to do this as well. And I did say this about the Calf Manna....

I believe you need to give 1-2Tblsp to help speed up a molt, but you have to ease into it gradually if they are not used to eating Calf Manna.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

I think it also depends on the rabbit...my Holland molts whenever I try to add Calf Mana to his pellets. None of my others do though.