Need Help: Food for Flemish Giant

[m.e.]

I called the shelter today, and it seems they'refeeding "Fuzzy" the 4 month old Flemish Giant, regular rabbit food.It's a very poor food to begin with, but I imagine it will beespecially bad for a young, growing Flemmie. So I told the tech I'djust pick a bag of food up for him (and maybe some good feed for therest of the bunnies).

What exactly am I looking for?

There's a Blue Seal feed store nearby, and another supplier that sellsPurina (but I'm not sure what their selection is like). I know theprotein needs to be a minimum of 18%, correct? Blue Seal has a formulacalled "Hutch Plus™ 18":

Our highly fortified, high-protein, high-energy pelleted dietrecommended for commercial rabbitries specifically for rapid growth,pregnant does, and does and litters fed one diet after babies leave thenest box. high-protein, high-energy formulation of crimped oats, flakedand cracked corn, pellets, and molasses. This very palatablecoarse-textured sweet feed is a highly fortified, fixed-componentformula ideal for dairy goats. It features chelated trace minerals forincreased mineral bioavailability and yeast culture for increaseddigestibility.

Good? Bad? And if I call the other supplier, what Purina formula am I looking for?

Also, since I'll be at the stores , what is a good basic feed foradult rabbits? I don't imagine I can afford to feed the entire crewOxbow

 

[NightPoet00]

I was at the pet store the other day and intendedto buy Oxbow's Bunny Basics feed. However, I was surprised to find thatit only had 14% min. protein! I think I'll stick with my Kaytee brandfor now.

 

[Fergi]

I feed Purina complete to Diva and add in someCalf Manna everyday as well to make up for the 2% protien that sheadditionally needs(it is 16% protien). Purina complete is $12.00 for a50 pound bag here so I imagine it would be reasonably priced where youare as well. The calf manna bag was around $10.00 for a 25 pound bag.

Anything at 18% protein is fine for a Flemish.

Fergi's mom

 

[m.e.]

Yes, well they do have : "Purina Advanced Nutrition Professional Formula, 18% High Protein Diet"

I suppose this would be a good one...

I don't know how easy it'd be to get calf manna, and moreimportantly, because I won't be at the shelter everyday, whether ornot someone would actually remember to feed it to him :? That's why I'dprefer to find a complete formula.

 

[Carolyn]

Fergi and I are on the same page. Purina plus the calf manna. Unlimitedfeed until they're full grown. Not sure if there is a formula that ismade just for Flemish.

Calf Manna isn't as hard to find as I had originally thought. A dearfriend sent me some, but later I discovered I could purchase a 5 lb.bag at Agway.



-Carolyn

 

[m.e.]

I'll keep calling for around Calf-Manna then. You'd think with all the livestock we have it'd be easier to find :?

Do you think the 18% formula is less desirable than 16%supplemented with manna? Hate tokeep being a pest about this,but to be honest,I don't trust thestaff and othervolunteersto remember the extra manna and I just can'tget to theshelter every day to see that it's done. I don'tknow how deficient his diet has been up to this point, which is why Ireally want to see that this gets done, and gets done right.

I've been able to track down Purina's 18% protein foodandwould be able to geta bagto "Fuzzy" by Monday. Butif it's not what he needs, I'll keep looking for the manna...

 

[Spiced77]

ok, aside from the food being poor quality, whywouldnt one feed a flemish giant 'regular' rabbit food? i would imagineit would be in higher quantities than a smaller rabbit, but i dontquite understand why they would need something 'extra' than anotherrabbit, other than the fact that they're bigger?

i would love to have a flemish eventually btw.. there is definitly anattraction it seems for most of us on the board for them!

 

[m.e.]

They need the extra protein because they grow tobe so large at a rather rapid rate. Not getting the sufficient amountcould cause problems.

The shelter's rabbit food is so poor it's barely good as a maintenancediet, nevermind for an actively growing Flemish Giant. Hopefully I'llbe able to get this new food to him by tomorrow . . .

 

[Carolyn]

dajeti2 is talking and talking to me about this rabbit, m.e.

She said there was a picture of Fuzzy, but I didn't see it. Can you post a picture?

-Carolyn

 

[dajeti2]

Here you go, here is a picture of the Awesome Fuzzy

Isn't he gorgeous? I love the black outline on his ears. Athena had the same markings on her ears.

I love this rabbit.

Tina

 

[Carolyn]

What a Baby!!

:dude:

-Carolyn

 

[m.e.]

UPDATE

The Flemish Giant "Fuzzy" was adopted this morning. Its...... bittersweet...
His food's still in my trunk :?

*sigh*

 

[dajeti2]

Imean

Iam happy for him yet heart brokenhe won't beliving here. I actually had him transport from Pa to here and wasworking on the rest.

God bless you m.e. I mean that.

Best Wishes Fuzzy.

Tina