Best Brand Of Food?

[TylerWaugh]

Whats the best type of bunny chow I can buy in a big bag like 50 pounds its for dwarf sized bunny a but I might get other breeds later on if I want to expand my hobby also how do you figure out how much food for the bunny depending on calories fat etc and the bunnies weight?
Thanks In Advance

 

[Hens and Roos]

Depends on where you live, we get a 40 lb bag at our local Farm & Fleet- it is a 17% complete, we currently feed 6 rabbits and probably use 1 bag per month. There are different manufactures out there as well. Pet food stores would also carry rabbit food- just in smaller amounts.

opps-our feed is 18%

 

[secuono]

Anything at 18% is good, as long as it's not full of corn.
Only adult bucks, pets or does who aren't breeding can have lower protein. Growers, bred, lactating all need 18.

 

[Bunnylady]

The usual rule of thumb for feeding mature rabbits is one ounce of feed per pound of body weight per day. That may vary depending on the rabbit, but for a Netherland Dwarf, for example, that would be about a quarter cup of pellets per day. Young, growing rabbits are generally fed "free choice" (meaning as much food as they can eat in 24 hours), as are does with litters.

Storage of the feed is a matter that also needs to be thought about. One dwarf will take forever to work its way through a 50 lb. bag. When I had just a few rabbits, particularly during the humid summer months, I'd have to throw part of the bag away because it was getting moldy before it was all fed out. I fixed that by parceling it up in zipper plastic bags to keep the air away from it, but the feed will still deteriorate some when it is stored. The manufacturer is expecting it to last for about 3 months after the date of manufacture. Some of the vitamins (vitamin E, particularly) will break down during storage, so even though it might not be moldy, feed that has been stored for a long time won't be quite as nutritious as it was when it was fresh.

 

[ragdollcatlady]

When I buy calf manna in a 50 lb bag, but only need a little, I zip lock bag it and freeze it. This saves some of the nutrients from breaking down as fast. I would do the same with rabbit pellets for only one rabbit. You will still save money buying in bulk. I have problems with bugs getting into open bags, so this solves that problem for me. Of course if you have chickens, they can make use of small amounts of buggy or older, less fresh rabbit pellets, just not moldy. I wouldn't feed it to poultry on a regular basis but I wouldn't hesitate to throw them the screenings from the bottom of the bag or a little bit for a few days if you need to get rid of some.

As far as feeding I agree with the general one oz/lb body weight for adults. More for babies and pregnant/lactating/recovering adults.