Quinoa question

[hoodat]

Does anyone feed quinoa to their rabbits on a regular basis? I read up on it and it can contain up to 33% protein. WOW That's a lot of protein. It also contains a high amount of antioxidants, antiinflamtories and other beneficial compounds. It could really give a boost to a mostly greens diet. The seeds seem a bit small but since I only have a few rabbits at the present time it wouldn't be that hard to cook it for them so they could eat it as a porridge. Do rabbits eat them freely? I wasn't able to find much info on the greens other than that they are edible and good in salads. I've never found greens that were healthy for humans that rabits can't eat. Is it better to feed the raw seeds or to sprout them first? There is a local store that sells it out of the bins at a reasonable price.

 

[LindseysWoolies]

They are very healthy. I know I feed them to my birds and they love them. I haven't tried them with the rabbits though. That might be a very good supplement to help them get into condition.

 

[MaggieJ]

I wasn't able to find much info on the greens other than that they are edible and good in salads. I've never found greens that were healthy for humans that rabits can't eat.

I've heard that miner's lettuce is not good for rabbits. Other than that, I think you are probably right.

Quinoa sounds like it might be a good supplement. I'll likely do a bit of research on it. I had no idea it was so high in protein!

 

[ohiogoatgirl]

i am hoping to grow quinoa next year to try and feed (and to try the seed myself). also looked into it for feeding quail since it has high protien that they need. but i also have found almost nothing on feeding it.

 

[Frecs]

http://www.permies.com/t/6743/critter-c ... nth-fodder

quinoa may be difficult to grow and has saponins which could be a problem. But amaranth is easy, prolific, and makes great fodder.

http://www.ienica.net/crops/quinoa.htm

Suggests that dehulling the seed removes most of the caponins. For fodder, the vegetative parts are harvested at flowering and contain up to 22% crude protein, 52% carb, 1.5% ash. The seeds are more balanced in amino acids that wheat with good levels of lysine, methionine, and tryptophan.

http://www.saltspringseeds.com/scoop/powerfood.htm

Quinoa is a cool weather crop. Amaranth is a warm weather crop.

Other good sites:
www.prep-blog.com/2012/04/11/survival-g ... ng-quinoa/
www.seedsofchange.com/enewsletter/issue_38/quinoa.aspx
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSgiAa7NNR0

 

[hoodat]

I'm growing quinoa in my garden for the first time this year. I've found that the seeds are a bit too fine for good rabbit feed but I hope to use the leaves for them and save the grain for my own use. I may be growing the wrong variety (called Colorado). I found out too late that most varieties don't do well except at high altitudes but there is a variety called Sea Level that I may try next Fall. It was developed for those of us at low altitudes. There is a lot of interest in quinoa among seed growers now that the public has learned how nutritious it is.
BTW quinoa is a culivated variety of lambs quarter (also called goose foot) which I have fed to my rabbits for years but lambs quarter doesn't produce seed big enough for human use.

 

[MaggieJ]

Another useful member of the Chenopodium family is commonly known as Good King Henry or Fat Hen Chenopodium bonus-henricus. It's been used as a pot herb for centuries and the young plants are supposed to be excellent for rabbits.

http://www.motherearthliving.com/plant- ... now-9.aspx

 

[MamaSheepdog]

BTW quinoa is a culivated variety of lambs quarter

Really? I had no idea. Thanks Hoodat- now I can mark off "learn one new thing today" from my to-do list.

Another useful member of the Chenopodium family is commonly known as Good King Henry or Fat Hen Chenopodium bonus-henricus.

I looked at the USDA distribution maphttp://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CHBO , and there is some in Utah, but it is found mostly on the East coast.

 

[MaggieJ]

Good King Henry is a European plant that found its way to North America as did so many others. As rabbit forage, it is useful because it is perennial and will also self-seed. You can buy seeds for it, but apparently they need to be stratified to get good germination.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

You can buy seeds for it, but apparently they need to be stratified to get good germination.

Yeah, I read that. I read that it is easier to buy a plant and that they self-sow readily. I might search around online and see if I can find a source of plants. It is so vibrantly green, and looks like it must be just packed with nutrients!