need to find a new feed brand

[akane]

I didn't say it was the same. I said it was better to use sunflower and oats and if you notice I am in Iowa. I go to those shows. I talk to those people. I find 16% only brands of feed around here and others who feed in the 12% range. My rabbits and the ones I've seen are solid muscle year round on 12-16% with usually oats but a few that know about them BOSS as supplements. The 2% protein isn't what's doing it if there's a difference. Maybe it's the ability to feed a different quantity without them getting fat because they are burning it off (not all nutrients would be used evenly) or even a difference in type of feed since most I know feed good quality alfalfa at least weekly while down south alfalfa is hard to find. I know on my horses alfalfa will put on sleek coat and muscle while feed of a similar protein level will not. I always got asked at shows what I was giving them to make them look so good and it was just good alfalfa hay from our field and we didn't even give feed. My experience and my animal nutrition classes in college say it's not the tiny protein difference.

The only reason the breeders of large commercial type breeds have told me to use 18% is the juniors don't make weight fast enough without that push which doesn't concern me. Growing at a more normal pace leads to a longer, healthier lifespan with more potential production time anyway so pushing the ones you plan to keep as breeders is generally a bad idea when raising meat or show animals of any species based on meat or muscle type.

If you are so insistent though hulled sunflower seeds have 20% protein. It's the shell that brings it down around 14 or something like that.

 

[SatinsRule]

Finding alfalfa in the south isn't nearly as hard as keeping it without having it mold over down here. I worked part-time for a horse farmer while I was in college and he tried buying and using alfalfa for his quarter horses one summer. It wound up being fed to his cattle because it became too mouldy for the horses in a very short period of time. Bermuda and lespedeza (sp) are more common because they tend to grow faster (not at all uncommon to get 2-3 good cuts out of a single field in a summer) and dry faster and more thoroughly (which ultimately makes it more sensible to store down here). Also, in the case of bermuda grass, it grows continually year after year without replanting.

I'm not saying that no one down here grows or feeds alfalfa, either. Just saying it's not as common because it presents some real challenges in this region in terms of growing and storage.

 

[hoodat]

I never use anything but 16% but then, I'm not showing rbbits either. Even when my doe was nursing 13 kits the problem was more keeping her from getting fat than putting on weight.
More protein than a rabbit can handle can be bad for the kidneys.

 

[skysthelimit]

I haven't used anything other than 16%, I had timothy/alfalfa mix hay in the beginning. Just started with the BOSS oats thing.

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

See if you can get Buckeye rabbit feed-- being a neighboring state, they may have a supplier out that way---

 

[fuzzy9]

We have an enclosed rabbitry, and keep it above freezing, so my rabbits are not in the harsh cold that we can get around here. I asked because I have a couple does that tend to get a bit on the thin side when nursing. I have not had luck with supplements like BOSS or oats at all. Not because they won't eat them, the problem that I always run into, is the does love them so much, that they literally wait for their rations each day, and don't eat their pellets. They eat their daily hay, which is only fiber because all I have is a grassy hay, I can't find a decent alfalfa around here that isn't dusty as heck, or all stems. So they fill up on grassy hay, and wait for their supplements, skipping the pellets. They ended up more thin on supplements, than before I started them on supplements. It's been a slow process getting them back, I cut off all supplements, cut their hay down, and got them back on pellets. Normally, I would cull a doe that wasn't cooperating, or fitting in to what we do around here, but it wasn't just one that I had these supplement issues with. That's why I'm wondering if the 18% would be beneficial for these does?

 

[AnnClaire]

Geri, try giving supplements every other day or even only once a week for a while. You are dealing with obstinancy here, and you need to make the point that they will eat what they are given and that treats such as oats and BOSS can and will be withheld ... sometimes I have to do that with water crocks when a doe gets to tipping it every day. They can and will learn to not tip crocks and such. Now, there are times when an upset happens and the crock gets tipped accidently, and then I refill as soon as I see it.

 

[skysthelimit]

See if you can get Buckeye rabbit feed-- being a neighboring state, they may have a supplier out that way---

Let me warn you though, Buckeye does contain corn. And although it doesn't bother me greatly, I never buy large quantities of it to store.

 

[SterlingSatin]

all good input. thanks guys! i can't find pfaus anywhere, so i think thats not an option. i'm scared to do anything with corn, heard so many bad things. sounds like i'll be on KENT. i'll probably supplement, but its not a big deal. i'm feeding really nice alfalfa hay (stuff is as common as weeds around here, i'm surprised its so hard to find for some others) right now so and i'll probably mix some BOSS and oats too.

not to hijack the thread, but i bought a 50 lb bag of whole oats the other day, to start them on, and not many of the rabbits seem to like it... it smells fine, and some of my does will eat it, but i'm surprised others don't. i used to feed rolled oats everyday and they ALL loved that. the rabbits that do eat the oats, pick the hull off and eat the seed inside. guess their just picky...

 

[AnnClaire]

SS, yes, the groats are hulled and the rolled oats are not ... spoilt rotten happens, so withhold for a few days and they will get over having to hull their oats :lol:

 

[garden lady]

I have fed mainly Purina Show and MannaPro, plus my latest experiment with Country Acres. All are 16% feeds. I am now back on MannaPro.

Even prior to supplementing, my does did fine on 16%- it was Purina Show at the time. Now I supplement with 1/4 cup oats/barley/wheat/Boss/beet pulp daily for dry does, bumping it to 1/3 cup when they kindle, and when the kits are first out of the nest it goes up to 1/2 cup so the kits can eat it, too. By the time they are weaned, between the doe and the kits (depending on litter size) they get 1 cup to share.

I also feed bermuda grass hay and alfalfa, but mostly bermuda. Alfalfa about twice a week or so. They are also getting some weeds now, but still not very much.

I guess this is my answer. The kits come out and they can eat oats, barley, BOSS and beet pulp and you at this time were feed pellets too. It sounds good, but right now Lulu would eat the whole half cup and the kits would get nothing. I almost feel like I have to worry like if she was a horse and eating too much grain. Is that a real worry other than being fat?

 

[Miss M]

I haven't used anything but 16%. Started out with Country Acres, now I use Purina Complete. My only real complaint is the fines, but I really don't know how they compare to other feeds -- they may be really good. I have no idea. My rabbits have done well on them.

I'm about to switch feed, because I'd like to cut my costs.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

right now Lulu would eat the whole half cup and the kits would get nothing.

Make an enclosed feeding area that only the kits can access. I have creep feeders now, but I used to use cat litter jugs to prevent greedy does from eating all of the supplements. I still use them as shelter for the kits when I remove the nest box. Some does will try to flip the jugs around to access the feed, so I zip tie it to the wire.