How much Feed??

[JOhn B]

I am looking to this feeder Siftomatic® Metal Rabbit Feeders, 2¾

There are many sizes to choose from. What would be an appropriate size for a single rabbit? Also, for grow cages, should I get a wider feeder so all kits can feed at the same time?

 

[sweeethearts_2002]

I am looking to this feeder Siftomatic® Metal Rabbit Feeders, 2¾

There are many sizes to choose from. What would be an appropriate size for a single rabbit? Also, for grow cages, should I get a wider feeder so all kits can feed at the same time?

One single rabbit needs 1 cup like literally measure 1 cup of food per day. You can adjust this according to what they're eating every day. If they leave a little feed a little less if they seem to be scarring it just add a bit more. This doesn't include the hay and other leaftly greens and chewing woods etc this is just their pellet mix. I hope this helps. I use a small jelly jar that measures 1 cup and I was brand new starting out and bought the large size feeding boxes for rabbits and was filling once a week and they were eating at their leisure.


If you're rabbits are meat only that could be okay, but show quality rabbits it isn't. If rabbits get too heavy they don't have very good breeding ratios. I'm not an expert just sharing what I've learned. On YT I watch The Rabbitry Center , Bobby I'd amazing and I watch Slightly Rednecked , both very informative.

 

[JOhn B]

One single rabbit needs 1 cup like literally measure 1 cup of food per day. You can adjust this according to what they're eating every day. If they leave a little feed a little less if they seem to be scarring it just add a bit more. This doesn't include the hay and other leaftly greens and chewing woods etc this is just their pellet mix. I hope this helps. I use a small jelly jar that measures 1 cup and I was brand new starting out and bought the large size feeding boxes for rabbits and was filling once a week and they were eating at their leisure.


If you're rabbits are meat only that could be okay, but show quality rabbits it isn't. If rabbits get too heavy they don't have very good breeding ratios. I'm not an expert just sharing what I've learned. On YT I watch The Rabbitry Center , Bobby I'd amazing and I watch Slightly Rednecked , both very informative.

Thanks @sweeethearts_2002 . I plan on breeding for meat right now. Maybe sell a few to cover feed cost.

 

[Preitler]

It really depends on what you feed, I feed fresh forage and they eat about their body size twice a day, (what they waste included), minimum.

I use pellets just at treat level, to get them back into their hutches. It would be pretty pointless putting a lot of work into raising my own meat on commercial feed, too much bad thigs happening there.

 

[sweeethearts_2002]

Thanks @sweeethearts_2002 . I plan on breeding for meat right now. Maybe sell a few to cover feed cost.

If you feed 1c per rabbit per day they'd still be very healthy rabbits.. you can even split the feeding into 2x per day. Half cup morning half cup evening.

 

[RabbitsOfTheCreek]

Since I have Netherlands, they get as much food as fits in their bowls, and they get fed sometimes after I get home from school on school days or sometime from noon to 4 PM on the weekends

 

[sweeethearts_2002]

Since I have Netherlands, they get as much food as fits in their bowls, and they get fed sometimes after I get home from school on school days or sometime from noon to 4 PM on the weekends

I was doing that as well and was getting very lazy heavy rabbits.

 

[ladysown]

how much you feed depends on the protein level in the pellets you are feeding. 13 vs 16 vs 18%.
It also depends on the fodder, hay, grains, treats etc that you feed them.
Some people feed extras, others do not.
It's a bit of a experience gained game. Culling your rabbits regularly gives you needed information.

For instance.
on 16% my meat rabbits consistently needed 1 cup pellets, bucks and does alike.
On 17% the nursing does need 1 cup, resting does 3/4 cup, bucks 2/3-3/4 cup. When feeding lots of greens I can get away with feeding less, or they leave pellets behind and I just top up to what I would normally give them next feeding.

I just took in three meat rabbits that were being fed 1 cup of 13% pellets and they are thin and smaller than they should be for their age. I butchered one of the three and there was ZERO fat on him, like NONE. There should have been at least some fat but nothing.

My project holland lop/meat rabbit crosses need a maximum 2/3 cup of feed. Any more than that and I get fat rabbits. My youngest buck from that cross eats only 1/2 cup pellets.

Translating that down to my dwarf breeds.
used to be 1/2 cup
Now they only get 1/4-1/3 cup depending the size of the rabbit (and their activity level).

Protein percentage in your pellets I find means more than anything else you feed.

 

[JOhn B]

how much you feed depends on the protein level in the pellets you are feeding. 13 vs 16 vs 18%.
It also depends on the fodder, hay, grains, treats etc that you feed them.
Some people feed extras, others do not.
It's a bit of a experience gained game. Culling your rabbits regularly gives you needed information.

For instance.
on 16% my meat rabbits consistently needed 1 cup pellets, bucks and does alike.
On 17% the nursing does need 1 cup, resting does 3/4 cup, bucks 2/3-3/4 cup. When feeding lots of greens I can get away with feeding less, or they leave pellets behind and I just top up to what I would normally give them next feeding.

I just took in three meat rabbits that were being fed 1 cup of 13% pellets and they are thin and smaller than they should be for their age. I butchered one of the three and there was ZERO fat on him, like NONE. There should have been at least some fat but nothing.

My project holland lop/meat rabbit crosses need a maximum 2/3 cup of feed. Any more than that and I get fat rabbits. My youngest buck from that cross eats only 1/2 cup pellets.

Translating that down to my dwarf breeds.
used to be 1/2 cup
Now they only get 1/4-1/3 cup depending the size of the rabbit (and their activity level).

Protein percentage in your pellets I find means more than anything else you feed.

I guess I will start with a cup per day (using 16%, since it's really hard to find 18% at any of the local feed stores). If there is any left over feed by the next feeding, I will adjust. Once dispatched, I will adjust.

 

[ladysown]

Once dispatched, I will adjust.

That is absolutely the best way to do it. That way you get to know what your particular rabbits need as well. Just so you know, there is value is slightly underfeeding your young does. From 4-6 months. it teaches them to utilize the feed they receive more thriftily (I read a really good study on it and have lost the link), so when they raise kits, they raise them better.

 

[JOhn B]

That is absolutely the best way to do it. That way you get to know what your particular rabbits need as well. Just so you know, there is value is slightly underfeeding your young does. From 4-6 months. it teaches them to utilize the feed they receive more thriftily (I read a really good study on it and have lost the link), so when they raise kits, they raise them better.

Interesting

 

[sweeethearts_2002]

I guess I will start with a cup per day (using 16%, since it's really hard to find 18% at any of the local feed stores). If there is any left over feed by the next feeding, I will adjust. Once dispatched, I will adjust.

If you want a bit more to it just toss in some extra rolled oats and they'll be good I mixed mine in with my feed ..black oil sunflower seeds too are great. It'll help add whats not in the feed already snd balance them out.

 

[JOhn B]

If you want a bit more to it just toss in some extra rolled oats and they'll be good I mixed mine in with my feed ..black oil sunflower seeds too are great. It'll help add whats not in the feed already snd balance them out.

Thanks for the recommendation. I may try that.

 

[Cindy in SD]

That is absolutely the best way to do it. That way you get to know what your particular rabbits need as well. Just so you know, there is value is slightly underfeeding your young does. From 4-6 months. it teaches them to utilize the feed they receive more thriftily (I read a really good study on it and have lost the link), so when they raise kits, they raise them better.

What do you mean by "raise them (the kits) better"?

 

[ladysown]

They utilize their feed better, making it easier for them to use the feed they receive to care for their kits.