thinking of the feed...

[Nyctra]

Well, the talk of feeding rabbits horse food got me wondering what all the feed store has for critter food..
Looking, looking...found something with an "analysis" that seems pretty close to the rabbit pellets I've been getting.
Dunno the price yet, but do you think this chicken feed would be OK to feed the meat rabbits? XD
http://www.grangecoop.com/feedsheet/o/org-pol17.html

 

[SatinsRule]

One of the worst experiences I ever had was as a youth exhibitor, and it began when I started feeding all-grain horse sweet feed to my rabbits. It seemed innocent enough. It had nothing on the ingredient labels which suggested that feeding it would be detrimental to my rabbits, and at first the rabbits ate it like there was no tomorrow, but I nearly lost everything I had as a result of it.

I know others on here have used it successfully, but I wouldn't personally suggest its usage to anyone. Just my $0.02 worth.

 

[curlysue]

My neice accidently fed my buck horse feed while he was at her house and he was never in better condition.my mom fed scratch feed and hay too her rabbits years ago.i would try it on one or two rabbits and see what happens.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

here is something you guys should read
http://cottonwoodfarms.tripod.com/condition.html

 

[Miss M]

In my wanderings around the net, I have found quite a few mentions of using feeds for various farm animals for other farm animals, with no problems at all. I also found quite a few people saying, "no, you shouldn't", without being able to say why not.

SatinsRule's experience is the first one I've read in which it was tried and failed, and he's the first one I've seen who can say "no, you shouldn't, and here's why."

Still, the analyses of many of these feeds produced for specific farm animals are so similar, I would think it's worth trying, at least on a couple of rabbits at first.

With that chicken feed, you would definitely need to supply unlimited hay, as its fiber content is low.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

In my wanderings around the net, I have found quite a few mentions of using feeds for various farm animals for other farm animals, with no problems at all. I also found quite a few people saying, "no, you shouldn't", without being able to say why not.

SatinsRule's experience is the first one I've read in which it was tried and failed, and he's the first one I've seen who can say "no, you shouldn't, and here's why."

Still, the analyses of many of these feeds produced for specific farm animals are so similar, I would think it's worth trying, at least on a couple of rabbits at first.

With that chicken feed, you would definitely need to supply unlimited hay, as its fiber content is low.

Well, correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the feed you are trying different than Sweet Feed? Or is that what it is?

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

Basically the second mix is rolled oats and calf manna.

 

[Miss M]

Well, correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the feed you are trying different than Sweet Feed? Or is that what it is?

Well, I don't really know what the definition of "sweet feed" is, to tell you the truth...

Okay, I just looked up what sweet feed is. Apparently, if it has any molasses in it, it's sweet feed. So this is sweet feed.

This feed does have molasses in it, but it is the last ingredient, unlike other horse feeds I saw. The feed is almost tacky, but almost dry, too. It kind-of sticks together, but not really. After sitting overnight, it does take some "fluffing" to loosen it up again, but it isn't even close to being like a brick. I am keeping it inside.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

i just read ,,,, I coped and paste

RRR has used Buckeye Rabbit Developer, MannaPro Gro, and Pen Pals Professional 18, and other pelleted feeds. It can be mixed with oats or sweet feed to about an 85% feed to 15% oats/sweet feed ratio.

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

The molasses causes the powdery fine ingredients to stick to the grains and pellets. I believe that is the purpose of the molasses. A little shouldn't hurt. Only if it is completely coated and like damp with it that I would be worried.

 

[Nyctra]

I don't see molasses in the ingredients, unless it goes by a name I don't know? :?

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

Nyctra the feed you asked about in your original post is not sweet feed. It is chicken feed. Sweet feed is generally made for horses and goats. Miss M is feeding a sweet feed on a trial basis to her bunnies that we are following. I believe that is where the confusion comes from.

 

[Miss M]

I don't see molasses in the ingredients, unless it goes by a name I don't know? :?

Nyctra the feed you asked about in your original post is not sweet feed. It is chicken feed. Sweet feed is generally made for horses and goats. Miss M is feeding a sweet feed on a trial basis to her bunnies that we are following. I believe that is where the confusion comes from.

Yes, sorry for the confusion, Nyctra! OAF asked me about my feed, so that's when we started talking about molasses.

The molasses causes the powdery fine ingredients to stick to the grains and pellets. I believe that is the purpose of the molasses. A little shouldn't hurt. Only if it is completely coated and like damp with it that I would be worried.

This would be my guess, since the molasses is last on the list -- last, after Trace Elements and Salt. There can't be much in there. It will seem to stick together a little as you scoop it out, and then it will pour freely into the bowl I use to mix it with more alfalfa pellets.

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

You could mix more oats with it to dry up the molasses a bit more.

 

[Miss M]

You could mix more oats with it to dry up the molasses a bit more.

I might do this. Thank you!

Nyctra -- are you thinking of giving the chicken feed a go?

 

[Nyctra]

I'll be giving it some more thought, once I know the price of it. XD