Couldn't decide whether to put this in meat or natural feed so came here instead.
Yesterday the first of our 2 fall litters was at 12 weeks. Weighed the 8 kits and they averaged 5 pounds, which I know some folks expect to reach in 8 weeks, but it's the best we've done yet. We always weigh at 12 weeks but often wait another week or 2 to get the weight to about 5 pounds. So we've kept 2 does from the litter (which means that the does we kept from earlier litters need to go--these are better rabbits from a better litter). Checked the 3 "does" we'd kept and found that one had been visited by the sex change fairy. Glad that was the one that was caged alone--the 2 that are still does were caged together because they were littermates.
But I'm wondering what accounts for this litter doing so well. Could it be a) time of year b) age of doe--do rabbits, like goats, produce more milk each lactation until they reach peak production? c) feed
The timing of our litters worked well for us this year. Had the most early in the growing season when there was lots of fast growing forage, then the fall litters when there were root crops and cover crops from the garden. We've never fed pellets nor alfalfa (which is often the basis of rabbit diet). In addition to forage, they get grass/clover hay year round and willow, fresh or dried. Nursing does and growing kits get whole grain--wheat or oats, and BOSS in really cold weather or for nursing does. This year we fed more kale than ever before and also some forage chicory that we planted. Otherwise I think the feeding has been similar, but there is always quite a bit of variety and some change over the course of the seasons. Every cage has a chunk of the salt block we buy for the goats.
Have also noticed lately when checking backbones that the adults (none pregnant or nursing now) are all maintaining a good weight on just hay and dried willow and small amount of green stuff. That surprised us. I figure they'll need more when the cold settles in and they'll get some fodder starting in a few days when the first tray is ready. But these mutts seem to stay healthier and happier on this diet than the NZWs we started with. I'm pleased to have all breeding stock now that was raised on this diet and hoping this litter wasn't a fluke but an indication that we're moving in a good direction.
Yesterday the first of our 2 fall litters was at 12 weeks. Weighed the 8 kits and they averaged 5 pounds, which I know some folks expect to reach in 8 weeks, but it's the best we've done yet. We always weigh at 12 weeks but often wait another week or 2 to get the weight to about 5 pounds. So we've kept 2 does from the litter (which means that the does we kept from earlier litters need to go--these are better rabbits from a better litter). Checked the 3 "does" we'd kept and found that one had been visited by the sex change fairy. Glad that was the one that was caged alone--the 2 that are still does were caged together because they were littermates.
But I'm wondering what accounts for this litter doing so well. Could it be a) time of year b) age of doe--do rabbits, like goats, produce more milk each lactation until they reach peak production? c) feed
The timing of our litters worked well for us this year. Had the most early in the growing season when there was lots of fast growing forage, then the fall litters when there were root crops and cover crops from the garden. We've never fed pellets nor alfalfa (which is often the basis of rabbit diet). In addition to forage, they get grass/clover hay year round and willow, fresh or dried. Nursing does and growing kits get whole grain--wheat or oats, and BOSS in really cold weather or for nursing does. This year we fed more kale than ever before and also some forage chicory that we planted. Otherwise I think the feeding has been similar, but there is always quite a bit of variety and some change over the course of the seasons. Every cage has a chunk of the salt block we buy for the goats.
Have also noticed lately when checking backbones that the adults (none pregnant or nursing now) are all maintaining a good weight on just hay and dried willow and small amount of green stuff. That surprised us. I figure they'll need more when the cold settles in and they'll get some fodder starting in a few days when the first tray is ready. But these mutts seem to stay healthier and happier on this diet than the NZWs we started with. I'm pleased to have all breeding stock now that was raised on this diet and hoping this litter wasn't a fluke but an indication that we're moving in a good direction.
