Is it ok to give my rabbits horse sweetfeed?

-- Jessica (jaywig86@psknet.com), March 11, 2002

Answers

sure is

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), March 11, 2002.

Use it as a treat, though. Once they get the good stuf, they may stop eatig what they are supposed to have.

-- Wendy A (phillips-anteswe@pendleton.usmc.mil), March 11, 2002.

Jessica, what is the protein content of the sweetfeed? I feed my rabbits maintenance pellets which are 16% protein, and add fresh grass (when available) and very good quality hay. When they're nursing, I also provide them with extra alfalfa hay to boost their protein intake. I'm not familiar with sweetfeed, but I would definitely check the protein content. Also, make sure you don't overfeed them! Overweight rabbits won't breed well.

Best of luck to you! Enjoy those bunnies!

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), March 11, 2002.

I also heard that you're not supposed to give baby bunnies greens. Is that true?

-- Jessica (jaywig86@psknet.com), March 11, 2002.

To many greens will give them the runs , also never give them any gas producing veggies {cabbage , broccoli , ect}

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@hotmail.com), March 11, 2002.

Be cautious in feeding this, they will eat the sweet stuff and forget the pellets! Also the corn in sweet feed not good for the buns in large amounts. A good balance pellet really supplies all they need. Denise

-- Denise K. (Rabbitmom2@webbworks.com), March 12, 2002.

Our rabbits get sweet feed, grass hay and alfalfa and nothing else. I have killed allot of rabbits with fresh green grass so I don't feed it anymore. Baby rabbits can't have alfalfa, just grass hay. And if the hay has been sprayed, it'll kill the babies too. Ask before you buy it. The pellets are the safest, but they are expensive.

-- Cindy in KY (solidrockranch@msn.com), March 12, 2002.

We had to sell our horses and I had about a half bag of sweet feed left and thought I would just go ahead and feed it to my rabbits. These are meat rabbits that I breed, raise and butcher for my own families use. What I discovered is, they LOVE the stuff, quit eating the pellets so much and put on a LOT of fat. I discovered how much fat they were putting on when I butchered. I decided to quit feeding the sweetfeed and just go back to a good quality pellet, good quality hay and all the fresh, clean water they want.

-- marla schofield (petcare@winnemucca.net), March 17, 2002.