Stupid move on my part. I had half a plastic bin (like 25 pounds) of layer mash left when I decided to try out a mixed grain feed that the guy at our feed store recommended. Well, the chickens started off really picky, so I decided to mix the two, and make up my mind about which I would use when the mixed bunch was gone. Problem is, I mixed them in my garage. And I didn't notice how much those layer pellets look like the rabbit feed. Been feeding my rabbits right for the last week or so since I did this, but only because I keep their feed in a smaller bucket closer to their hutches- never got to the overflow of 'rabbit feed' which is now actually layer mash. My chickens have been getting the mixed grain feed plus rabbit feed for the same time period, till I figured it out today. Now what? Can I feed this stuff off to the birds? Can I feed it to the rabbits? I actually tried picking out the alfalfa pellets for a minute or so, lol. Not going to happen that way. What would you do?
Your chickens can have the rabbit pellets. I would not feed the rabbits the mixed stuff though. I often did not have pellets when I brought new birds on to the farm and while they were in isolation I would give them rabbit pellets and offer the grains I feed my chickens. They would eat the rabbit pellets well and I have never had any with problems but they also took to the grains very quickly but I kept rabbit pellets in there anyhow since I had plenty on hand. I wanted to make sure they were eating enough in a stressful time. Rabbits are a bit more sensitive to what they eat. Or mine were anyhow.
Quote:Thanks Nadine! I guess that's what I've been doing anyway, without being aware of it. I just wanted to be sure that there was nothing in the rabbit pellets that could harm them. Since I have oyster shell AND layer pellets on hand, I'll probably feed them half layer and half of the funky mix until the funky mix is gone, and keep free choice oyster shell out there too.. I guess I'm lucky that I didn't make the opposite mistake and feed the rabbits layer, huh? Yikes!
My rabbits are in with my chickens and will hardly eat their rabbit pellets anymore. They have been eating the chicken feed for a year now and are totally healthy. i wouldn't worry about it.