Meat rabbit fattening

[chickens454]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ten-meat-rabbits.1302985/page-2#post-21229087

Any one know of the beef maker there talking about?

I'm feeding alfalfa hay, pellets and sunflower seeds and I'll be getting oats along with occasional fresh carrots, cabbage and celery.

Also any other things to help fatten please list.

 

[GypsyG]

You have to be careful feeding too many sunflower seeds or oats during the summer because they will make it harder for your rabbits to handle the heat and it will delay them putting on their winter coat when they need it. Cabbage can give a rabbit bloat, and too much alfalfa can cause bladder sludge. The best solution to fast growing rabbits is good genetics.

Here is what I feed-

Bucks- 17% protein pellets, barley grass fodder, seasonal weeds and twigs, Timothy or teff hay. Occasional carrot sticks or apple slices for treats

Breeding does - 18% protein pellets, barley grass fodder, seasonal weeds and twigs, and Timothy or teff hay all the time. Apples or carrots for treats. When nursing they also get a small amount of steam crimped oats with molasses and alfalfa cubes. During the winter I add just a few sunflower seeds.

Juniors - 17% pellets, barley grass fodder, seasonal weeds and twigs. Apples and carrots for treats.

Weanlings and fryers - 17% pellets, barley grass fodder, grass and weeds in the rabbit tractor, teff or Timothy, and alfalfa cubes. They get oats for the first week after weaning.

My rabbits always have pellets available, but when provided with enough hay, fodder and weeds, they don't eat very many pellets

Everyone does it differently, this is just how I do it. I have selected for good growth rates. I have more trouble keeping my rabbits from getting overweight than I do getting them to gain weight.

 

[Bunnylady]

I wouldn't worry about the Beefmaker. That is cattle feed, and the only feed I can find by that trademarked name is a "textured" cattle feed - which means whole grains and pellets with a molasses binder. Rabbits don't handle sugar well; seems to me that anyone feeding that stuff to rabbits is asking for problems.

 

[AmberLops]

I know oats are a good thing for weight gain...be careful with the sunflower seeds though.
You can skip the sunflower and maybe give them Wheat germ oil on their feed instead. It's much better for them and helps with their skin/coat as well as weight.

 

[chickens454]

I know oats are a good thing for weight gain...be careful with the sunflower seeds though.
You can skip the sunflower and maybe give them Wheat germ oil on their feed instead. It's much better for them and helps with their skin/coat as well as weight.

Where would I find that and dosage?

 

[AmberLops]

Where would I find that and dosage?

You can get it on amazon, ebay or at most feed stores.
Give 1/2 teaspoon per 10lbs of body weight.

Here's a link to one made just for rabbits
https://www.kwcages.com/wheat-germ-oil.html

This one is for horses but it's safe for rabbits also
https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail... Coat (SC00) v2 PLA&utm_term=4584963488293522

 

[chickens454]

And I just put it on there feed?

 

[AmberLops]

And I just put it on there feed?

Yep, you can mix it with pellets or oats

 

[chickens454]

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/select-the-best-wheat-germ-oil-plus-1-gal?cm_vc=-10005

This work?

 

[animalmom]

I buy my wheat germ oil here: https://www.scahealth.com/scah/product/ultracruz-wheat-germ-oil-blend-horse-supplement

The per gallon price is less than Tractor Supply, and if you buy 4 at a time it is even less expensive. If you find other items to buy you get free shipping with orders $75+. They ship Fed Ex to me and the turn around is usually very fast.

I've been feeding this to my goats and dogs for a couple years now and they seem to like it.

For rabbits you don't need much per animal.