I think it is time to separate the subjects and different "natural" feeding philosophies, and make a seperate thread about how to feed rabbits when you are not able to buy anything at all.
I have done some research into this idea, and want to say that my foundation for this topic is in a book by wartime authors , Claude Goodchild and Alan Thompson 1941 [or so] printed by Penguin press,
this is a quote from the book,
: ‘At no time in our history has this country been placed in such a critical position for the future supplies of all foods. The production of rabbit flesh is the most economical means of bridging our present meat difficulty.’
[They added:] ‘All waste or surplus from vegetables is good food, also any leftovers from the breakfast, dinner, tea and supper table. Tea leaves, coffee grounds, bones, kipper skins and other fish waste, fat, rinds of cheese, bread, porridge, apple peels, cooked potatoes and the peelings.
‘In fact, there is no known waste from human edible food which is harmful in moderation. Do not be content with using your own scraps; get others to save for you. There are plenty of people too busily occupied, or maybe some too lazy and unpatriotic to exert themselves and undertake any work of national importance.’
[They suggest,] - that a kitchen-waste diet should be supplemented with up to five ounces of cooked, mashed potatoes a day.
I have used this book as a guide from my childhood, and expanded on the information there in contained.
SO-- lets assume that there is a emergency and no supplies can be shipped in to our area. -and further assume that meat is a necessary, or at least valued commodity.
What would you do to help feed your self and community ?
How would you feed your rabbits to obtain this meat as a constant supply?
Rabbits need Protein , energy, and fiber, as well as vitamins and minerals.
--so here is my sample of a diet that I know works, - in my area of Utah US
Kale, mid summer to mid winter
Chicory , early spring to late fall
weeds, April to november.
Root crops,[kept in a cellar , pit, or clamp]
sugar beet, mid winter to the following fall
Carrot, late summer to early summer
potato, september to may
Turnip, late summer to mid winter,
Swede [rutabaga] fall to late summer.
Jerusalem artichoke root, from fall to mid spring
Jerusalem artichoke tops , mid summer to early fall
fresh grass, tree leaves spring to fall
tree branches ,all year [long stem fiber, and minor nutrition ]
Hay ,gathered, and dried in summer for use all year
corn stalks [for long stem fiber and minor nutrition] dried in late summer and fall, stored for use all year
kitchen scraps, as available
dried [baked and crushed] bones as a supplement for all of us as available
In hard times fat will not be available to feed animals, it is too valuable for human nutrition.
so energy needs will have to be met by supplying carbohydrates, and sugar from greens, and root crops
It is all important to have a source of long-stem fiber available to your rabbits at all times...
so-- lets discuss this...
I have done some research into this idea, and want to say that my foundation for this topic is in a book by wartime authors , Claude Goodchild and Alan Thompson 1941 [or so] printed by Penguin press,
this is a quote from the book,
: ‘At no time in our history has this country been placed in such a critical position for the future supplies of all foods. The production of rabbit flesh is the most economical means of bridging our present meat difficulty.’
[They added:] ‘All waste or surplus from vegetables is good food, also any leftovers from the breakfast, dinner, tea and supper table. Tea leaves, coffee grounds, bones, kipper skins and other fish waste, fat, rinds of cheese, bread, porridge, apple peels, cooked potatoes and the peelings.
‘In fact, there is no known waste from human edible food which is harmful in moderation. Do not be content with using your own scraps; get others to save for you. There are plenty of people too busily occupied, or maybe some too lazy and unpatriotic to exert themselves and undertake any work of national importance.’
[They suggest,] - that a kitchen-waste diet should be supplemented with up to five ounces of cooked, mashed potatoes a day.
I have used this book as a guide from my childhood, and expanded on the information there in contained.
SO-- lets assume that there is a emergency and no supplies can be shipped in to our area. -and further assume that meat is a necessary, or at least valued commodity.
What would you do to help feed your self and community ?
How would you feed your rabbits to obtain this meat as a constant supply?
Rabbits need Protein , energy, and fiber, as well as vitamins and minerals.
--so here is my sample of a diet that I know works, - in my area of Utah US
Kale, mid summer to mid winter
Chicory , early spring to late fall
weeds, April to november.
Root crops,[kept in a cellar , pit, or clamp]
sugar beet, mid winter to the following fall
Carrot, late summer to early summer
potato, september to may
Turnip, late summer to mid winter,
Swede [rutabaga] fall to late summer.
Jerusalem artichoke root, from fall to mid spring
Jerusalem artichoke tops , mid summer to early fall
fresh grass, tree leaves spring to fall
tree branches ,all year [long stem fiber, and minor nutrition ]
Hay ,gathered, and dried in summer for use all year
corn stalks [for long stem fiber and minor nutrition] dried in late summer and fall, stored for use all year
kitchen scraps, as available
dried [baked and crushed] bones as a supplement for all of us as available
In hard times fat will not be available to feed animals, it is too valuable for human nutrition.
so energy needs will have to be met by supplying carbohydrates, and sugar from greens, and root crops
It is all important to have a source of long-stem fiber available to your rabbits at all times...
so-- lets discuss this...