Introduce different feed

mystang89 · Dec 21, 2012

So I took the leap into making my own fodder for the rabbits. I'm also feeding them hay and I'm going to be getting a salt block as well. My question is as the title says, how do I introduce the fodder in a little bit at a time for the rabbits? If my math is right, the rabbits need about 6.1 oz of fodder per day + the hay. I don't know how to split 6.1 oz of fodder up into the correct smaller portions so that nothing bad happens.

Also, I don't want to feed them more than what they get now so I don't want to keep both the full amount of fodder and the full amount of pellets plus hay at the same time.

I'm sure I'm over thinking this so if anyone has a few suggestions I would appreciate them.

MamaSheepdog · Dec 21, 2012

I would start slowly with the fodder unless they are used to eating fresh greens. If they are used to greens I would go ahead and feed them the full ration split between morning and evening feedings.

Assuming they are not accustomed to fresh feed, give them their hay first and wait about half an hour or so before giving them the fodder. If the fodder is 4" high, I would tear off a chunk of the root mass that is about the diameter of a Quarter- if it is 8" tall, about the size of a Nickel. Feed them morning and evening.

Give them a little bit more each day as long as their stool stays firm. You will notice that the more fresh feed they get, the larger their poop will become.

It probably wont take more than a week or two to work them up to the six ounces of fodder, so I wouldn't really worry about reducing their pellets. They will likely eat less of them on their own. But if it is a big concern, I would weigh the serving of fodder and reduce their pellets by an equal amount.

Keep us updated on how the bunrabs like the new feed and how the transition goes.

MaggieJ · Dec 21, 2012

:yeahthat:

tm_bunnyloft · Dec 21, 2012

Can't wait to hear how it goes. I want to grow fodder for treats but it just isnt in the cards right now.

mystang89 · Dec 22, 2012

Well, so far I've tried to follow MSD's advise to the "T". I gave them some hay first. Since I didn't have anything to put the hay in at the time I just went ahead and put it on their floor.....I WILL find something to put the hay in. It is a lot of waste. There is a post someone on this fine forum that is still active I've been looking at so I will take some ideas from there. Still, they seemed to like the hay so I was happy. I started with the fodder last night. That is when they are the hungriest so I figured they would take to it pretty well. The little piece of fodder I put in there for each one of them didn't last any time at all! It was gone before I could put the pellets in there. That was with each rabbit.

I also have a nursing doe as well. She's a wonderful doe and great mommy. Her nine 1 1/2 week old kits are already jumping out of the nesting box that has a 5 1/2" lip on it. I figure they just use each other as a ladder and hop out so I went ahead and turned it on its side. Anyway, that little story was so you would understand when I say that the kits were out this morning when I put some of the fodder in there for her. Poor mommy Maizy...she got maybe a bite of it. The kits were ALL over that. She had to use the gorilla tactics a "hit and run". If she stayed trying to eat the fodder too long they would go for her ****. If she didn't go for the fodder the kits were on it like white on rice. It was actually really funny to see yet you still felt sorry for her.

I let my rabbits out of their cages during the day. Males on one day and females on another. They don't have access to fresh greens but they seem to really like dried leaves and pine needles. For a while I had some 1 year asparagus that I let grow out during the year so it was about 4' high when I cut it. I gave a little of that to them each day. I guess these are the reasons they seem to take to it so well. I don't really know.

Needless to say all of the rabbits absolutely LOVE the winter wheat. Thanks for the suggestions on it and for the help trying to transition them.