How much to feed

[redthunderrabbits]

I have had rabbits for many years. I just started showing my rabbits in ARBA about a year ago. I noticed a lot of the breeders were telling me differant amounts to feed my rabbits and differant types of food. I try listening to everyone but now when I weigh my rabbits I notice they have lost weight and at 2 shows now ive been told my rabbits are out of condtion. My question is Can anyone tell me how much to feed the following breeds ofrabbits?

Dutch

Holland lops

French lops

Fuzzy lops

Mini rexes

Netherland dwarfs

I am just so lost as far as feeding I was feeding them all a cup and hay then they were ok some were fat. Then someone told me to feed 1/2 a cup and little amounts of hay. Thank you for your help!

 

[Korr_and_Sophie]

The amount of pellets does depend on the weight of the rabbit and a bit on the individual. The general rule is 1/4 cup per 5 pounds for body weight, but it is mostly for pet rabbits. Breeding rabbits (especially does) and show rabbits can have different needs. You should assess each rabbit as an individual and decide what they need. If some are thin, work of getting the weight up, for the fatter ones, work on getting the weight down. It is more important that the rabbit be a healthy weight than within the weight limits of the breed. The Netherland Dwarfs may only need 1/8 of a cup while the French lops might need 3/4 of a cup.
You do need to give lots of hay for digestion and to keep the teeth in good condition.

If you are having issues with the condition of the rabbits on your current feed, you might want to consider switching to a new brand or formula. It might even be needed to have different feeds for different rabbits. It can take several weeks for you to notice a difference in the condition of your rabbits after you switch the feed.
It seems the each breeder has a feed that they like and works for them. Someone might have had a bad experience with a feed that another breeder swears is the best. Some add supplements like black sunflower seeds (only 2-3 at certain times) or oats while others don't. Ultimately, you need to find what works for you and your rabbits.

Some of the breeders on the forum should be able to help you more with the specifics of good feeds to use. Posting in the Rabbitry/Showroom area of the forum could help you too. A mod should be able to move this thread there if you ask them.

 

[missyscove]

This is going to depend not just on their breed, but their age and weight. Individual rabbits may have a different metabolism.
What kind of feed are you giving them? Do they get any hay, veggies, supplements, etc also?

 

[Maureen Las]

I think that this particular topic will get better results in the Rabbitry so i am moving it there

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

It depends on their weight, and age.

No matter how much feed you feed them, they should always get unlimited hay. Do you have a scale? That would help if you could keep track of their weights, and adjust the amount of feed to meet their required show weights.

Since you have 5 compact breeds (which would be your Dutch, Hollands, Fuzzies, Mini Rexs & Nethies), any juniors (6 months and under) should be free fed. For your French, I don't know what the age is for juniors, but as long as they are juniors you should be free-feeding them.

I feed my mini rex less then 1/3 a cup of feed2x a day- but that's just me. Your mini rex might require more feed (if they need weight). But if they need to lose weight, I just keep it at 1/3 a cup 2x a day, and they usually will slim down.

For your French Lop, they will most likely need a larger amount of feed, seeing as they are bigger rabbits. When I had English Lops, I gave them 2 1/3 cups of feed 2x daily. That seemed to be enough for them, but like stated above, it depends on your rabbits' specific weights and ages.

If your rabbits are out of condition, then you might need to switch feeds, or give them supplements. Like Kate said, many breeders feed oats...I don't feed oats, so I don't know exactly what they do. I do give my rabbits dandelion greens and that seems to put their coats into great condition everytime.

Emily

 

[pamnock]

Our French Lop gets a heaping tuna can full each day.

We give our Mini Rex and Hollands 1/2 cup per day and the Dwarf Hotots get 1/3 cup per day.

Feed amounts may need to be adjusted to the individual, so they are at optimal condition.

High protein feeds/conditioners can have the adverse effect of causing rough condition and out of condition coats that never finish. I prefer lower protein feeds. Too much hay can result in nutritional deficiencies that can affect condition.

Carefully read the recommended amount for feeding on your feed bag, as well as adjusting to the individual's metabolism.

Also remember that illness and parasites can result in poor condition, as well as genetic predispositions.

Pam

 

[Blaze_Amita]

Well for the Dutch, Holland Lop, Fuzzy Lop and Mini rex, i used to feed 5 oz a day, Yes they got a little chubby and I know you are on Nutrena 18%, but if you can drop back to the 16%, the 16% worked a lot better for me sis.

The frenchie's I know they'll eat a bit more, but for all intense perposes I would feed them 8-10 Oz a day, that's what my V-Lops get(Well Wordy dumps his dish)

The dwarves, I would say about 3 oz a day. I mean i know that's a bit high by some standards, but when Ester and Toto lived with me(SOrry, Rae, you know them at least-everyone else, sorry) they would get almost 4 oz a day going into the winter, held the 3-4 oz a day through the winter and come spring i would start weaning them back down, but that was only because of size, where those two were in my shed was a bit of a colder spot.

I gave mine their food in the morning-pulling any left over hay out, and a handful of hay at night. I never lost a rabbit that way. I never had the sunflower seeds in mine or the oats. If you can get up to Walkers at any point, they have that little scoop, metal one, like I have that's a 5oz scoop, When i get a second scoop like i use for my v-lops i'll send it to you, they just come out of Phoenix's hoof suppliment container.



Biggest thing Rae, switch back to the 16%. That I know will work great for a number of your dutch at least. the 16% was the best I found.

 

[GorbyJobRabbits]

I always kept ALL my rabbits with a self feeder. They'd nibble when they were hungry. I never had fat and over weight rabbits, I never had underweight rabbits. I did this that way during breeding my does could eat more without me having to make ajustments. They just always had food available for whenvever they felt like eating. And the weather where I'm at, is sooo hot in the summer, that unless I was feeding at night, they wern't going to eat anyway. So they just ate whenever they felt like it.

I don't like measuring out food, because each individual is always different.

and like Pamnock said, I watch how much hay you give them, and other treats as well.