Which hay for my rabbits?

[Sumatra503]

To each their own I suppose. I've found that Alfalfa fed in small ammounts helps them keep a good weight when they are nursing. i'm talking like half a cup's equivalant. If you feed an entire heaping handful like you would hay then you will end up with problems, but small ammounts can be very good for rabbits.

One compressed alfalfa cube is equal to about a half a cup of non compressed alfalfa.

 

[Sumatra503]

If alfalfa is bad for rabbits, them why is it the primary ingredient in rabbiot food and how come feeding to many pellets doesn't cause calcium deposits?

I've heard that it's bad for a lot of other animals as well. Llamas, Alpacas, Sheep, Goats, horses. I've seen these arguements arise in their parts of the forums as well.

 

[Heartlandrabbitry]

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That's the thing, why feed more when they already get enough in their food? That's why I don't feed them Alfalfa hay because they are get enough in their food... It's the way I do it, don't like it then that's fine.

 

[Sumatra503]

Same could be said to you.

 

[Heartlandrabbitry]

Yea

 

[iajewel]

There is allot of good info about rabbits you won't find anywhere else at www.pet-rabbit.netfirms.com then go to housing or raising

 

[chickenwhisperer]

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Id like to say the same thing, but I cant get non-alfy pellets, so thats what they get.
I feed less than the recommended amount of pellets to my rabbits tho.

I seen it with my own eyes, a progo/nursing doe got alfy for 2 months, and I literally had to SCRAPE her urine out of her litter box. It was chalky, gritty, and nasty. I could only imagine what her kidneys looked like.
Ill never feed my rabbits any raw legumes willingly.


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Because most rabbit pellets are designed to put weight on rabbits FAST, so they will be ready for butcher in 2 months, they were developed for the meat rabbit industry and no concerns are given to health or longevity . . . thats why

 

[iajewel]

I do not agree that most rabbit pellets are made for the meat industry. There are meat pellets yes, there are show and maintenance pellets as well. Just read the label.. its there for a reason. I personally have chosen to make my own feed and I do feed Alphalfa as well as grow alphalfa in the pens. I do not find it harmful. Timothy is the #1 choice for rabbits however its not the only choice out there. Rabbits love variety and when you can give them a bit of many things that have different nutrients then they are likely to get a balanced diet. BOSS, pumpkin seeds, wheat berries, beat pulp, alphalfa pellets, hay or grass, raspberry leaves and branches, corn, there are many things you can add together to make a nice complete feed. Please keep in mind that my rabbits run in a very large pen, or meadow. They have different needs than a caged rabbit would due to their already available plants in their little half acer.

 

[chickenwhisperer]

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I disagree with this statement.
It is always recommended, but there are MUCH better choices out there.



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Those "show" and "grow" pellets are just derivitives of a meat-rabbit-based feed industry.
Argue it all you want, read all the labels you like, THATS where pellets originated from . . .

 

[iajewel]

If you look at articals and information published by the world rabbit science assn. you will find what a rabbit that is being bred, not raised for meat, but producing those babies where over all health and longevity is an issue and you will find her feed needs different then that of a meat pen rabbit. You will also find feeds like Pen Pal are made to accomodate the breeding rabbit not the meat rabbit. I will admit that 20.00 a bag is a bit more then most people can afford, however many show people do pay these prices to avoid the high protein that will burn out a rabbit.
I personally make my own feed and Im very happy with the results.