dandeegraham wrote:
I just got my 9wk old NZ's from a small breeder and they had only been fed pellet food. not sure what kind but i think bulk and cheap. Currently, that's what they are getting in their bowls in their hutches until I buy more. They are in large runs in my yard almost all of the day. with water and a hideout and in the shade. With lots of fresh grass grazing and maple branches and leaves and lettuce, radish greens, beet greens, outer cabbage leaves, etc from my garden.
Am I doing too much too soon for them? should not allow them so many greens to eat at their will thoughout the day?
Also, our neighborhood has raccoons and I'm sure rats, I can't be sure that they haven't urinated and such in my yard. is this going to be a problem for my free grazing rabbits?
That sounds like a bit too much greens for how young they are.
I would cut back on some of it, especially the lettuce, which isn't really good for rabbits, and watch for any signs of diarrhea. Did the breeder feed his/her pregnant does & litters greens? If so, then it's probably okay to feed them greens, but I still wouldn't give them too much.
As for the grass grazing, I would be selective about where you put your grazing pens - check the grass for feces of raccoons, rats, etc. I know that something from raccoons can harm rabbits, but I'm not sure if it's their feces or what exactly. A good idea would be to keep the pens away from trees (but still in shady areas) and away from garbage bins, where the raccoons are most likely to venture near, hoping to find a tasty treat.
As for my daily feeding routine - amongst a herd of Mini Rex, ranging in age from 5 months to 2/3 years, I feed like this:
The Srs (6 months and over), besides Savannah & Taj, get half 1/3 cup of pellets twice daily. Savannah & Taj (and any other rabbit on a major diet to lose weight) gets less than half 1/3 cup pellets twice a day, so their total pellet intake is about half 1/3 cup a day, whilst the others is a full 1/3 cup. The JRs are free fed until they are 6 months old, unless they start gaining weight easily or don't eat as much, then they are given a little bit less. My Jrs get two full 1/3 cups daily, and that suits them fine.
They are all given fresh hay twice daily, each get a different amount because I give them what they will eat, and not waste. Right now they are eating alfalfa (by mistake. oops), but they usually eat grass hay. They do seem to like the alfalfa though, but it is known to cause calcium build up in the kidneys, so that's why I don't feed it.
As for greens, my rabbits usually get a couple of handfuls of grass, dandelions, dandelion leaves, blackberry leaves, clover, etc. a couple times a week during the summer. In the winter, they don't usually get too much greens, but we might give them some fruit (banana, apple, etc.). But we don't buy veggies/fruits specifically for them. They are perfectly happy on their diet though, and love a raisin every now and then, and they definitely love their fresh grass.
Emily
