15% vs 18% Feed

[P.O. in MO]

The reason for this question is that my feed supplier has 16% pellets for $18.45 w/tax for 50# and 18% pellets for $16.25 w/tax for 50#. At the present time I feed the 16% pellets to my breeding bucks and does at the rate of 5 oz. a day (some slight variation to this as the ones that don't clean up this amount get slightly less). When a pregnant doe kindles, she gets the 18% free choice until all her babies are weaned. All my rabbits get brome hay free choice. I also give a couple of teaspoons of oats morning and night just because they love them and they live in a cage and I think they deserve a treat. What would my life be without a cookie once in a while. I have one doe that is getting a little heavy but the rest look ok and am going to put her on a diet when I wean her current litter. Which, by the way was only 4, can small litters be caused by fat does? Her past 2 litters were 9 and 10.

I am always quoting Storey's Guide to Raising Rabbit's and Mr. Bennett says that 16 % feed is sufficient for all rabbits. Including pregnant and nursing does. It has enough roughage for good digestive health and enough protein to provide for the rabbit's requirements. He also recommends alfalfa hay but there are many other sources out there that say that there is already a a lot of alfalfa in the pellets and by doing this you are asking for fat rabbits. Do any of you feed the 18% all the time? If you do this would you cut the ration slightly? Since my rabbits get hay free choice they would have something to eat if they are hungry and the hay provides the roughage they need. Any of you have experience with this option?

 

[Beekissed]

Yep, fat does can cause smaller litters. If I were going to feed the 18% I'd feed way less and just supplement with the hay, like you suggest. I think the roughage and lower nutrients of the hay will counterbalance your high protein feed and you'll save even more money on that deal by cutting back on rations. Watch your buck for weight gains also, as fat bucks are less fertile...or so they say.

 

[Hens and Roos]

We use an 18% pellet plus free choice hay. Since my kids help with the chores, we wanted the feeding to be as easy as possible for everyone. We feed about 6 oz a day and if they don't clean up the pellets we cut back at the next feeding. Both does and buck that are overweight can have fertility problems so that is something to watch for. We were able to pick up some 15% pellets that we are mixing in right now- will see how that works. Our friend who works in poultry/rabbit nutrition told us that pregnant does/ nursing does do better with the higher percent pellets and the bucks would be okay on the 15% pellets.

 

[VickieB]

The breeder I got my rabbits from told me to put the rabbits on 18% during the cold winter months, and back down to 16% the rest of the year. I asked the man at the feed store about it, and he told me a lot of farmers will up the protein on their animals during the winter because they feel it helps them to stay warmer. I'm trying to watch them so that they don't get fat. This is my first year with rabbits, though, and I'm not all that experienced in knowing when a rabbit has gotten too fat. I've been giving my nursing does and growing kits some Calf Manna also, which adds more protein to the diet. I only give them a couple of tablespoons though. So far we're doing all right...

 

[P.O. in MO]

Thanks to all for the replies. If I want to put my fat doe on a diet how much would I cut her ration. She gets just slightly over 5 oz. a day right now. That is one measuring cup slightly rounded according to the kitchen scale I use. She always cleans it up and her hay is also usually gone by morning. She is always ready for me to fill up the hay feeder in the morning when I go out to water and hay. She just had this litter so I will wait until they are weaned before starting the weight loss program. I also want to ask if you all actually weigh them on a scale or just go by how they look and feel. My rabbits don't like to be handled as I talked about in another thread. I have adopted just not handling them except when necessary for breeding instead of handling them more to get them used to it because it seems to be so traumatic to them, maybe a mistake. I tried to palpate the fat doe at 14 days because I would really like to learn how to do this. I took her out of her cage and put her on my table, I couldn't feel a thing, and she is still making squealing noises when I reach in her cage to pet or brush her. Before this she always ran to the front wanting attention. She is the one in the picture to the left of the post and was a real sweet rabbit before this.

 

[Beekissed]

I watch that double chin on does...too big, too fat. To me that's pretty much a doe's fat meter. I would just cut it down slowly, a little at a time and give just a little more hay with each reduction in feed. When you get the desired result, level off.

 

[P.O. in MO]

Thanks Beekissed, I think I have let all of my rabbits get a little heavy, the diet starts today on all but my nursing doe.

 

[jhough42]

Thanks to all for the replies. If I want to put my fat doe on a diet how much would I cut her ration. She gets just slightly over 5 oz. a day right now. That is one measuring cup slightly rounded according to the kitchen scale I use. She always cleans it up and her hay is also usually gone by morning. She is always ready for me to fill up the hay feeder in the morning when I go out to water and hay. She just had this litter so I will wait until they are weaned before starting the weight loss program. I also want to ask if you all actually weigh them on a scale or just go by how they look and feel. My rabbits don't like to be handled as I talked about in another thread. I have adopted just not handling them except when necessary for breeding instead of handling them more to get them used to it because it seems to be so traumatic to them, maybe a mistake. I tried to palpate the fat doe at 14 days because I would really like to learn how to do this. I took her out of her cage and put her on my table, I couldn't feel a thing, and she is still making squealing noises when I reach in her cage to pet or brush her. Before this she always ran to the front wanting attention. She is the one in the picture to the left of the post and was a real sweet rabbit before this.

Sounds like you just have a productive doe to me. The squealing is something does do when they are in their reproductive prime. Cutting back her rations is a great move, as you don't want to fight weight when she's otherwise ready to raise babies. While her babies are still in the nest, it's ok to ration her a little! You can actually make them gain weight by feeding too much early in the litter.

Kudos to learning to palpate! It's an invaluable skill. Where are you in Missouri? I know several breeders around the state and could probably connect you with someone who could help you with that.

As for your original question: a good rule of thumb is that whatever you feed, don't change it. Rabbits are sensitive to diet changes. It can take up to a year and a half for your herd to acclimate to a new feed, so switching feeds between seasons or litters doesn't always work out well. Keep up the free choice hay. If you can find timothy, it's their favorite and great for them. Alfalfa is fine too, but I like to mix just a little of it in with a different grass for the weight gain reason. Mine like brome although I've heard some don't. Less is more with pellets. What brand of feed do you use?

 

[jhough42]

Thanks to all for the replies. If I want to put my fat doe on a diet how much would I cut her ration. She gets just slightly over 5 oz. a day right now.

I generally cut back by 20% for a few days until they get to the desired flesh condition, then increase by fractions until I find their ideal portion size. So that would be from 5 ounces to 4 ounces. If they don't start losing after a week, cut back another half ounce each week until they start losing.

I go by flesh condition, checking them weekly. Weighing is a good option if you don't trust your judgment at first. Good luck!

 

[P.O. in MO]

Thanks for all the input. The 16% pellets are Purina Complete and the 18% is called Country Acres. jhough42 I am about 40 miles south of KC and I haven't learned to palpate yet, I tried again yesterday on a doe 12 days along (hopefully) but I can't feel anything. I know they say everyone is afraid they will hurt something by feeling around but when I really get to massaging around in the guts the does start getting scared. I tried doing this in the cage this time so not to get her all upset by picking her up to put on the exam table but still unsuccessful (or she's not pregnant). I would probably lean more toward unsuccessful.