The Original Twisted Spinster - Rabbit feed

Ok I’ll only post it here because Slave asked. Otherwise I think it would be rude to undermine her post.

Things to remember about this mix

It's for an OUTDOOR angora rabbit. In Minnesota with the extremes of winter and humidity of summer I have to change the mix per season. The breeder of my rabbit came up with this diet. She shows, breeds, spins. My knowledge of the hay comes from show/breeding horses, and dairy goats.

It's bulk. If you can’t mix it all up and use it in a timely manner the nutritional value of it drops as it ages and you may get bugs. I move my can inside the garage in the summer to keep it shaded. It's fine outdoors in the winter. You won’t want open bags half full laying around unless you have an air tight container. Freezer is a myth. It dries the foods out and they will become crumbly/dusty. Though it is a nice way to kill off bugs.

MUST be kept in a tight container to: keep it fresher, keep out bugs, not attract unwanted wildlife/pests. As an outdoor pet owner you are obligated to your community to ensure you do not bring in wild life to your food source and waste/poo/beddings etc because of diseases and pest control.

Hay-I buy only timothy/grass mix from reputable horse or dairy farms. They go for the best quality. Hay snobs if you will. I do NOT feed alfalfa. It is a high heat producing feed  and is BAD for Minnesota summers. I only have fed alfalfa hay to my show or breeding horses in the winter.

Alfalfa hay comes from Northern Europe "Germany" to be exact and we only have it in the US because of the German immigrants to New Ulm, Minnesota in the 1800's. There is NO animal native to the US that was ever designed by the grand master of all to accommodate alfalfa. But it does produce very nice fat in milk for dairy animals. Wild rabbits, mice, guinea pigs-of course not- wrong continent *grin*, rats DO NOT EAT field alfalfa unless there is nothing else. Rats and mice if anything are after the seeds.

East coast can not grow timothy, Bermuda coastal is what is there. Though course, it is a nice hay and is best as a grass mix. Does not have the calorie content Timothy does which is why a grass mix is nice.

IE: "grass" Local ditch grasses, yes I know timothy and Bermuda are a grass.

I know nothing about western hays

Some fresh clovers can be toxic certain times of the year to pregnant mammals. (Specifically horses-Still borns/miscarriage) Do more investigating before you feed it fresh.

Winter feed= 50 lb bag of fortified rabbit pellets-I get mine from the farm/feed stores. Usually their private blends. 10 lbs bag black sunflower seeds, 10 lbs calf manna, 5 lbs chopped dried organic papaya. More than that he picks it out wont eat anything else and gets fat. This is PRICEY! You could alter this by just giving a smidge of a treat once a day.10 lbs corn.5 lbs oats

Summer feed-Drop corn, increase sunflower seeds and oats by 5lbs

Corn and calf manna are "Hot feeds" high calorie, high fat. This is feed to not only keep him warm in winter but also to encourage a superior coat for spinning.

Trace Mineral salt lick (red ones) NOT mixed in the food!!!!!

Free feed hay liberally

Only 1 form of fresh greens daily be it parsley, carrot, dandelions ( this can save my a $65 office charge on the vet) hairball/dehydration. When I have strawberries I will save a few tops and give them to him. No more than 4 or 5, or compensate with 2 strawberries.

I have to make sure he doesn’t get diarrhea, its sticks to the fur. flystrike! Yes I have yogurt drops. Can’t help it when he gives me that “look”.

Unlimited water- no I do NOT add vitamin drops. (Gimmick, waste of money) It can not be controlled by me or the rabbit.

I know many of you will faint at the idea of feeding corn and the salt. However, I must accommodate the winter conditions and without proper minerals no mammal will get 100% out of any feeding program. If the red trace mineral lick is offered freely, the animal will take in only what they need/craving.(gimmick/waste of money- colored/flavored mineral licks.)

Guinea pigs- just a fortified pellet, greens, hay. Mice/hamsters/rats- I fed lab food which back in the 70's-80's was considered the best along with fresh greens. My pig lived to a ripe old age of 9, my mice 5-6 years as long as they hand no genetic issues (I had at one time 350 mice for a 3 years genetics program)

Alfalfa cubes or pellets. Nice treat it think... may be a good alternative if you need to be out of town for a few days and your pet may snarf all the good food day 1 while your gone? It will definitely sustain your pet for a weekend.

Winter=I bed with oat or barley straw when I can find it/afford it. A nice winter treat I think if he gets the "I'm cold" munchies. I also give him corn cobs as a treat and to satisfy chewing and deal with long teeth. So far so good.