what do you think of these feed mixes?

[ohiogoatgirl]

was looking over one of my older books and was wondering what y'all think of these mixes for rabbit feed.

**for dry does, herd bucks, developing young**
mix #1
whole oats or wheat 15 pounds
barley, milo, or other grain sorghum 15 pounds
alfalfa, clover, lespezda, or pea hay 69.5 pounds
salt .5 pounds

mix #2
whole barley or oats 35 pounds
alfalfa or clover hay 64.5 pounds
salt .5 pounds

mix #3
whole oats 45 pounds
soybean, peanut, or linseed pellets, or peasize cake(38-43%protien) 15 pounds
timothy prarie or sudan hay 39.5 pounds
salt .5 pounds

**for pregnant and nursing does**
mix #1
whole oats or wheat 15 pounds
whole barley, milo, or other grain sorghum 15 pounds
timothy, prarie or sudan hay 39.5 pounds
soybean or peanut meal pellets (38-43% protien) 20 pounds
alfalfa, clover, or peahay 49.5 pounds
salt .5 pounds

mix #2
whole barley or oats 35 pounds
soybean or peanut meal pellets or peasize cake(38-43%protien) 15 pounds
alfalfa or clover hay 49.5 pounds
salt .5 pounds

mix #3
whole oats 45 pounds
linseed pellets or peasize cake (38-43% protien) 25 pounds
timothy, prairie or sudan hay 29.5 pounds
salt .5 pounds

**a complete ration**
44% protien soybean meal 18 pounds
28% protien linseed meal 4 pounds
15% alfalfa meal 40 pounds
wheat bran 15 pounds
ground milo, barley, or corn 18.5 pounds
ground oats 4 pounds
salt .5 pounds

 

[MaggieJ]

I'd be wary of the ones with a lot of soybeans in them. Rabbits can find soybeans difficult to digest, according to Ann Kanable ("Raising Rabbits")
I feel more comfortable with my rabbits getting the protein from alfalfa or clover hay as in Mixes #1 & #2. Just my preference. I would also suggest that the salt be fed separately. I use a trace mineral salt block. Akane uses a different kind of mineral mix, but I can't remember the details. Perhaps she will post about it again.

I feed good alfalfa hay with a bit of grain, whole wheat or barley usually. I also give them fresh or dried greens, depending on the season. In winter they get dried greens and also small amounts of fresh cabbage, romaine, carrots, pumpkin, squash trimmings etc. Again, it is just my preference, but I prefer simple whole foods over mixes of any kind.