Grain and other supplements- how much is too much?

MamaSheepdog · Feb 4, 2012

I noticed that some of my nursing does are on the thin side, and want to up their supplements, but am afraid to overdo it.

This is my feeding protocol for the general herd:

P.M Feeding:

1 cup pellets, 3/4 cup for those that have a.m. leftovers (about 4 animals)

A.M. Feeding:

Bermuda/oat hay

2 TBSP rolled oats
In rotation, in addition to the above, two selections:
1 tsp BOSS
1 tsp barley
1 TBSP large sunflower seeds
1 TBSP calfmanna
1 Horse cookie
* Wheat berries (purchased, but not yet fed)

Producing does:

P.M.:

1 1/2 cups pellets, adjusted up or down to assure some leftovers in the a.m.

A.M:

Bermuda/oat hay
Pellets

2 TBSP rolled oats
1 TBSP calfmanna

In rotation, in addition to the above, two selections:
1 tsp BOSS
1 tsp barley
1 TBSP large sunflower seeds

Nest check treat:
1 Horse cookie

OneAcreFarm · Feb 5, 2012

Sis, I free feed my nursing does, and also offer supplements. I only have one that seems a bit thin now...she will be getting a bit of an extended break before her next litter.

MamaSheepdog · Feb 5, 2012

I'm basically free feeding them pellets as it is- I like just a little leftover in the a.m. because the supplements go in the same feeder, and once they scarf down the nummies, I add more pellets. I'm tempted to give them 4 TBSP of oats, and/or more BOSS. Correction on the amount of BOSS I'm giving- my little scoop says it is 11 cc's (closer to 2 tsp maybe?)...

trinityoaks · Feb 5, 2012

I can't really say about the grain supplementation, because I don't feed pellets (I grain-feed). However, I free-feed my does from the last week of their pregnancy until they wean.

MamaSheepdog · Feb 5, 2012

Trinity, how much grain do you feed, and what types? I assume you are offering hay as well? Your input would still give me a good baseline.

trinityoaks · Feb 6, 2012

MamaSheepdog":39oq8g7t said:
Trinity, how much grain do you feed, and what types? I assume you are offering hay as well? Your input would still give me a good baseline.

My grain mix is 6 parts oats, 1 part barley, and 1 part wheat (in winter I add 1 part BOSS). I try to get whole grains whenever possible (they keep much longer with proper storage, plus I can sprout them as well). I normally feed my rabbits about 1 small tuna-can full per day (I think that works out to about 3/4 cup). If they don't clean it all up by the next feeding, I decrease that amount accordingly. As I said, nursing does and pregnant does (last week) get free feed, as do my juniors. I free-feed alfalfa hay, as well (although now it's alfalfa hay cubes because I can't find hay here, at least not at this time of year). I also give them each a salt/mineral block, since they wouldn't get salt and minerals otherwise.