Feed for show bunnies...?

[bluepez]

I was told to feed a feed with 18% for show bunnies...I wanted to see what people think here.

I want to show Mini Rex and English Lops..and I want the best feed for them. Right now I feed a rabbit food from my feed store that is 16%.

Also, for baby MINI rex..can they have free feed for a few months or do they need to be rationed as well? I have read many places people feed 1/3rd or 1/2 cup daily to MR to make sure they dont get too big.

Thanks

Also, I posted on another post..but check this out.

www.bluepezrabbitry.com/velveteenlops.com There are some rexs on that page I would like thoughts on for showing..I know you cant tell completely..but what do you think.

thanks

misty

 

[Erins Rabbits]

I feed Purina Show Formula and love it for my buns.

The Mini Rex on your page all look to have longer shoulder and look a little undercut in the HQ. The one on the bottom on theleft is my favorite. They all look a little long in body and maybe a little flat.

Did you already buy them? They seem to have the same faults, so I don't think you'd see many improvements breeding them. You really want faults that compliment each other, and to know to never breed two rabbits with the same fault.

 

[bluepez]

No I have not bought any of them. Which one did you like? The blue buck?
I am new at this and want to get good rabbits..so with the HQ undercut..could you explain that. If they didnt have that..what would they look more like? more round?

 

[Erins Rabbits]

Drew an arrow for you-

That's undercut, when they are almost tucked up under themselves. Ideally, the HQ will be more full and round. It's a really common fault in MR, from what I've seen.

 

[bluepez]

Ah ok...I see it and understand what you mean.
If you have time could u look on my site under the Mrex DOES and look at ADDIE. I just got her.
I know about my REW I took her to a show and they said she lacked a little in the HQ but the judge was too busy and I had a sick kid with me so I didnt get chance to ask what it meant at the time.
I am learning more tho. lol

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

I free fed my Mini Rex kits until the age of 6 months. Then I start lowering it down to a 1/3 cup, and then a little lower.

I'm currently feeding all my rabbits a 16%, but will be switching to another feed soon...I don't know if it's 16%, or 18%, but it's the Dels Show Rabbit feed.

Emily

 

[BlueGiants]

All our Mini Rex do fine on a 16% feed. I free feed them until 12 weeks of age, then cut them back to 1/3 cup. They get hay daily. They seem to do fine on this. I have some that don't eat it all and some that inhale it and look for more... As long as they are maintaining weight and condition, that's what they get.

Condition is the key.No matter their size, ifthey start to look/feel thin or I can prominently feel the spine, I'llincrease feed. We do have a couple of Mini Rex (brood does) that tend to be a tadover the maximum show weight, but their feed is based on how they look and feel. You can't restrict feed just to keep a rabbit small. You can restrict feed to prevent them from getting overweight.

 

[MyRabbits]

I have heard that for large rabbits like the Flemish Giants we do, which would be comparable perhaps with your English Lops, that they should be fed with nothing lower than a 17% protein diet. So I feed them Blue Seal Show Hutch Deluxe, and they seem very healthy. I do not know what would be appropriate feed content for show rabbits of a smaller breed, however.

 

[bluepez]

Thanks for ur input! I didn't know that about the elops...I'm gonna check out that fees Emily...is it better?

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

bluepez wrote:

Thanks for ur input! I didn't know that about the elops...I'm gonna check out that fees Emily...is it better?

I hope so. Haven't switched to it yet. I was reading something about it a few weeks ago, but I can't remember what it said; and the info was on the back of a feedbag which has since been thrown out. Really wish I could remember what it said, but I think it will be a nice feed.

Emily

 

[bluepez]

Emily-
I called Dels and they said they didnt have that type of feed? Odd.