how much should I feed these guys

[drumma]

I thought I saw a website somewhere that stated how many ounces per pound I should feed but I can't seem to locate it now.

I'm not sure how much I should be feeding them. I'm using a commercial pellet with 16% protein(if that helps). The bag says 3-6 Oz for bucks and 4-8 Oz for does.

I found another site that says 1/2 cup for every 6lbs and I measured a 1/2 cup of these pellets and they weighed about 2.5 Oz.

The buck is 5 lbs and the 2 does are 3.75 lbs. I don't know their ages either(The guy I got them from didn't know, which I thought was a little odd). Based on these weights I would have to say that they are pretty young still. And a few sites that I've read say that young rabbits should be free fed pellets. What exactly does that mean? Should I just fill the feeder up as full as I can and keep topping it up when they run out?

I'm confused, there seems to a lot of variation on this on the web.

 

[eco2pia]

If you think they are still growing (under 8 months or so) you should let them eat as much as they want. As they stop growing some of them will naturally eat less, some will keep snorkling it down...this is where you adjust their pellet intake.

Pregnant does or does with kits to nurse still get as much as they want. Does without any babies and bucks usually should have less, but it is an inexact science, you give them enough to keep them from getting too skinny or too fat, and that will depend on your breed, and their individual metabolism. You want to not see any ribs or bones sticking out, but you should be able to feel them some--not super prominent, but there...like a dog or cat, no rolls, but not really ribby either.

 

[drumma]

Yeah, they are definitely under 8 months. I suspect they are between 8-12 weeks. So I can just fill up their feeders and let them have at it?

 

[ottersatin]

I free-feed them till they reach Senior Weight or appear to be getting too pudgy.
I want your rabbits in firm flesh but not overly fat.
I adjust their feed ration when they reach senior weight.
Does with kits will get a bit more, but I like them to appear
a bit hungry at feeding time. I feed and water at the same time
every morning. At that time I Hay and check nestboxes if they need it.
You will arrive at your own system as you get more and more into
this rabbit fiasco!
Ottersatin. ldtimer:

 

[ladysown]

I personally find it works well to give them about 1-1.5 cup each (I raise harlequins). Many people I talk with also measure feed for growers. a ROUGH scale is 1/3 cup for dwarf (nd, polish etc), 1/2 cup for hollands,mini rex etc, and 3/4-1 cup for meats. you need to figure out per bunnies. Some will need more, others will need less.

for juniors I tend to go max measurement for their weight group. And overall I find they do as well or better than kits that are free fed.