How much do you feed your rabbits?

JoeKan · #1 06/09/12, 02:02 PM

I feed mine about 4 oz. of pellets in the morning (tuna fish can size) and brome hay in the evening. Is that enough, too much?
Thanks,
joe

Danaus29 · #2 06/09/12, 02:14 PM

When you go to feed them do they act like they are starved? Or do they have food left in their dishes?

The amount of food they need will vary by age, breed, level of activity, amount of other foods given, and even the brand of food. You have to go by what your rabbits need.

We don't feed the Netherland dwarfs as much as the mini Rex and they don't get as much as the large monster mutts.

JoeKan · #3 06/09/12, 02:50 PM

They act like they are hungry at feeding time. I'm afraid they will get to big and not get pregnant. Should I increase their diet? Pellets are getting very expensive.

Danaus29 · #4 06/09/12, 06:35 PM

Can you give them some hay? Feeding hay would decrease their hunger but shouldn't (some can overindulge on hay but it doesn't have the calories that pellets do) make them fat like pellets will.

If they act like they are starving and you can feel their ribs easily it probably won't hurt to increase the amount of pellets you give them by just a little.

lonelyfarmgirl · #5 06/09/12, 08:41 PM

What breed do you have?
My tans get half a cup a day, rex 3/4-1+ cup a day depending on the season, and angoras, free feed. In the winter, everyone eats a little more, because they burn more energy keeping warm.

JoeKan · #6 06/09/12, 08:55 PM

They are NZs. Thanks!

**mygoat** · #7 06/09/12, 11:05 PM

I have New Zealands, Silver Foxes, and various percentage crosses between the two breeds. Both are the same size, with NZ's being a bit meatier.

I feed growing juniors free choice 18% until they're about 4.5-5 months or so. After which they get 1 heaping cup of 15% pellets per day until they make adult weight, at which point maintenance varies from 1 level cup to 1 heaping cup 15% pellets per day. Adult bucks and nonworking does get 1 level cup to 1 heaping cup per day depending on individual. Pregnant does are switched to free choice 18% pellets 4 days before their duedate (when we put the box in), and continue on free choice 18% until their kits wean at 6 weeks old. Then the does go back down to a level or heaping cup of 15% per day. We try to offer free choice hay as well as possible.

Offering free choice grass hay should not cause them to get fat.

Haven · #8 06/10/12, 08:27 AM

You can keep hay available at all times and they will eat less pellets. A $3.00 bale lasts me over 1 month with 6 or 7 meat rabbits and cuts feed prices.

scpankow · #9 06/14/12, 09:41 AM

NZ's should be getting from 6-8oz of feed (by weight, not volume) so I think you should be feeding them more...

jolly rabbit · #10 06/14/12, 09:15 PM

i agree, 4oz for NZ's is to little. try 6oz or so.

akane · #11 06/14/12, 10:58 PM

Rabbits are designed to eat 24/7 and not meals so mine have food 24/7. If they start to get fat they get lower calorie and fat % food not less. I think it has saved us from many bloat and enteritis issues. We also never have droppings stick to the cage floor. We never get poop build up even without cleaning off the wire.