Pasturing a few rabbits and I have questions!

[GBov]

So my mum LOVES older rabbits rather than fryers but my cage space is so limited that I am going to try to pasture four of last months litter.

So, my questions are.......

How do I transition them onto pasture? They are on hay and alfalfa based pellets right now.

How many times a day will I have to move the tractor if all they are eating is grass?

I have a cage made with two by four inch welded wire that I will give a second layer of chicken wire to walls and top to keep them in while they are small and a resting platform to give them a break from standing on the ground, if they want it, that is.

A roof and waterbottle and hay rack will complete the package.

Oh yeh, when on pasture, will they need hay?

These four are culls from my harlequin project so I don't care how fast they grow or even what weight they make by age 5 months or so. What I really want to find out is the taste and how hard or easy it will be to use this method to get older rabbits for me mum.

 

[Secuono]

They don't need hay.
Start giving them a handful of greens. Everyday, add a little more if no poop problems arise. Keep adding more until they can eat a good size pile of it w/o issues. Then put them out on grass.
You move it at least once a day. If they eat the grass down, move it. Some of mine I move 4-6 times a day, but always everyone moves at least once each day. That's to keep everything clean and limit poop buildup.

 

[GBov]

They don't need hay.
Start giving them a handful of greens. Everyday, add a little more if no poop problems arise. Keep adding more until they can eat a good size pile of it w/o issues. Then put them out on grass.
You move it at least once a day. If they eat the grass down, move it. Some of mine I move 4-6 times a day, but always everyone moves at least once each day. That's to keep everything clean and limit poop buildup.

Do you notice a difference in the taste of pasture rabbits v. pellets and hay?

 

[Secuono]

Only thing I noticed is the slow growth.
:/

 

[GBov]

Only thing I noticed is the slow growth.
:/

How much slower?

If my growers take 8 weeks to reach 4 pounds on pellets, how long should it take to reach 6 pounds on grass?

Just a ball park really as I am estimating 5 months for this project. That has them butchered in December with prime pelts on. Hmmmm, I wonder how the grass will be doing by then?

 

[MaggieJ]

Rabbits on pasture may need additional feed to do well. Certainly, grass alone is not enough... unless you mean a good mix of healthy weeds as well. You can aupplement with a small amount of grain daily and some high-protein forage like mulberries, willow, poplar if you have them down your way. Your rabbits will also need a trace mineral salt block.

My rabbits are fed naturally on alfalfa hay, a small amount of grain and as much in the way of weeds and tree branches and leaves as the season allows. They generally take 14-16 weeks to reach butchering size. Without the alfalfa and grain they would take longer, I am sure, but how much longer is difficult to guess.