Natural supplement for nursing does?

[SarahMelisse]

I (hopefully) have does with litters coming up next week and am looking for some natural supplements for nursing does. I live in an area that isn't too big on rabbits and my feed store only carries one type of rabbit feed. I currently have everyone on a 16% protein feed and orchard grass hay. Since buying the regularly suggested "fancy pellets" is out of the question, are there any plants or grocery items that would work well?

 

[caroline]

In addition to free choice pellets and hay,
I give my does with litters a handful of whole oats
and a handful of BOSS [black oil sunflower seeds]
these increase to 2+ handfuls [depending upon size of the litter]
when the kits start coming out to join momma @ the feeder
I have recently started giving the does a daily stalk of dried nettles
from about day 3 until the kits are 3-4 weeks old and eating with momma.

 

[MaggieJ]

This time of year, there are lots of nutritious free weeds that can be fed to all your rabbits. If they are not accustomed to greens, you must start very slowly, just a few leaves and then gradually increase. See the SAFE PLANTS sticky in the Natural Feeding for Rabbits forum for ideas.
safe-plants-for-rabbits-list-t55.html

Dandelion greens are excellent as are the leaves of Common Plantain (Plantago major), another very common lawn weed.

Oats - either whole oats or kitchen oatmeal (such as Quaker Old Fashioned) are a good supplement. Black Oil Sunflower Seeds (BOSS) are also good, althuogh I feed these sparingly because they are very rich.

 

[SarahMelisse]

Thank you ladies. I have been giving them dandelions as treats. The dandelions are popping up everywhere in our field so that should be pretty easy.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

MaggieJ, is it the leaves or all of the dandelion that can be fed? What about thistles?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Parsley is supposed to stimulate the appetite- perhaps you could start feeding that in the last week prior to kindling to see if it keeps them from going off their feed.

 

[MaggieJ]

The whole dandelion plant is safe: leaves, root, flowers and stems.

I've heard that certain thistles can be fed but I've never tried it. Too prickly for me!

 

[AnnClaire]

You might also want to have a bottle of fruit flavored calcium tums and offer one the week of kindling. Also, if the weather is warming up, I would strongly suggest that you offer a mineral block in each bunny's cage. Natural feeds don't contain the minerals that are included in the pellets, and if you have any question about the quality or completeness of the pellets, then definitely offer the mineral blocks (red not white) Also, I would suggest that offering a variety of weeds and winter grasses to all the bunnies will provide them with a wider range of vitimins, nutrients, and minerals. As indicated, go slow when introducing a new item, but they will appreciate the additions.