Feeding Meat Rabbits Pt. 1: Overview of Rabbit Feeds, and How to Feed Pellets

[@jennamillsap8220]

7 Thumbs down by people who don't like that he's raising them to eat. (shh don't tell them that they are a major part of the food chain in nature)

[@jacquelineb5060]

This is an amazing video! I can tell I’m learning from an experienced and thoughtful person.

[@westmeadowrabbits]

Thanks so much I'm glad I can help!

[@mdb1239]

What is astonishing (at least to me), is that rabbit meat is not sold and consumed everywhere in the US (sold at Walmarts,, Whole Foods, Krogers/Safeways, etc). But it isn't. Rabbit meat (the one time I ate it) is delicious and tasted just like chicken -- it was very good.

[@westmeadowrabbits]

It's also much more sustainable and has a higher protein content than chicken. Its not sold because big ag and the US gov collude together. They subsidize cheap grain winch makes chicken less expensive than it really is, and use marketing and regulations to block out/demonize competition.

[@Africa1000]

It's actually better than chicken!

[@adonaizedek8966]

Thanks for the information Greetings from UGANDA Looking forward to beginning a rabbitry.....3 rabbits to begin with Collecting all the information I can

[@westmeadowrabbits]

Good luck! Some viewers from Africa told me rabbits are booming over there so I'm sure you will do great!

[@tomprice2501]

Great video, I grew up in Rhodesia and successfully bred New Zealand whites, blacks, California and other varieties. I also bred guinea pigs to keep most varieties of snakes away. I would use a clay pot like a Kromatof (spelling) to cook my rabbits, in fact I had 3 pots, one of cooking chicken, one for rabbits and the other for for bread and bread pudding. Never clean these pots with detergents, only use lemons and water back in the oven to remove fats, especially chicken. Important to soak your clay pot and the lid in water for 30 / 45 minutes, put your rabbit in with carrots beans peas potatoes onions celery , herbs like Oregano parsley Tyme and other herbs of your choosing. Don’t put any water in your cooking process, because you will that your pot will have a wonderful natural gravy flavour from your vegetables and rabbit.

[@hobojuanita7756]

Only took a minute for me to like and subscribe to this guy. I just wish he would quit trying to hide what he's really feeling in his gut, and thinking by saying just joking. But I get it... Don't want to scare off the gulable and blind from liking and subscribing...and don't want to be shadowband by KZbin. Your a smart young man. Don't change....the rest of us are getting what your saying any way.

[@harrisfamily3754]

I have found that it is best to use a pellet form hey products. and mix it in with your regular pellet feed less waist and last much longer

[@binipoof4153]

Good comprehensive and moving in a sequence

[@strwbryparfait3889]

What a great video! Thanks! I look forward to watching the other ones, also.

[@guyward3928]

Nice explanation. I going to watch the rest of them. I’m looking forward to seeing them

[@jjhdarklight007]

Great video! Only one I found covering these topics from this perspective.

[@westmeadowrabbits]

Glad you find it helpful!

[@faithbuller4086]

Good basic information. Good job 👍🏼

[@HelenEk7]

Good and informative video. Greetings from Norway.

[@westmeadowrabbits]

Thanks for watching!

[@suzannebazeghi5698]

thanks a lot it was very usfull info i havr plan to start my homesteading and one of my animall would be rabit and alsoo your a good teacher you used simple word that is usefull for a lots of imigrants like me .i pray for your heaith and happienes.

[@westmeadowrabbits]

Thanks so much that means a lot! Be sure to let me know if you have any questions or requests.

[@squizzyicetea]

This has been super informative 👏 thank you 😊

[@westmeadowrabbits]

I'm glad I could help!

[@andypanda4756]

I love your presentation style. I clearly need a copy of "Beyond the Pellet". I live in Tropical Thailand and want to raise rabbits for fertillzer from their manure. I grow lots of organic Napier grass. Can I feed rabbits JUST Napier grass? What suppliments or other foods, would I be required or suggested to combine with a Napier-based diet? I am on less than a shoestring budget, so I am searching for the MINIMUM amount of pellet/whatever suplimentation. A pure forage diet would be optimal, we have lots of space and year-round great weather. Note: Thai people think of rabbits like a dog or cat. NOBODY (but me) will eat them here. So only breeding to expand the colony at 1st and then just maintaining a nest of 20 rabbits maximum. It's the urine and poop I'm after.

[@westmeadowrabbits]

I've met a few people form Thailand now who do it! You would need to feed more than one species of plant for them to have a balanced diet. I'm not very familiar with plants in the tropics, but doing a custom diet can be a bit complicate. Here's a good book on the subject: www.amazon.com/Beyond-Pellet-Feeding-Rabbits-Naturally/dp/1493654055

[@darthtaiter]

Great advice and info.... much appreciated. I'm planning on keeping meat rabbits and the whys and wherefore of what you just taught me were very helpful.... Subbed 🙂

[@VideoconferencingUSA]

Nice job, regarding rabbit tractors in the yard. I have a lots of weeds here in South Florida. Some breeders are saying don’t do tractors here because of the parasites they will pickup. I’m more worried about the weeds.

[@westmeadowrabbits]

Parasites can happen, but most are carried by manure. If there aren't to many wild rabbits in the area and you move the tractors every day, you shouldn't have any issue.

[@junipersue]

I don’t think you’re exaggerating….. 🙄

[@celebvoncelebrus4429]

When we had meat rabbits in Eastern Europe we used to give them hay and dry bread during the winter. Never fresh one, but like dry to the stone level. Outside the winter mostly green grass, red beet, trimmings from kitchen and some pellets. After seeing this amazing channel, I started to think about to reintroduce rabbits to my backyard. But back to the Q, do you think dry bread is not appropriate food for the rabbits?

[@westmeadowrabbits]

My family from Greece does the same thing. I think it's ok if you aren't feeding pellets.

[@stacyclark5910]

How about grow out bunnies once they are weaned? Is it good to tractor them to ‘harvesting’ weight? Garden greens or willow tree hay for grow out bunnies? Thanks!

[@westmeadowrabbits]

Yes and Yes!

[@wilson-nm5ok]

Loved the video and the information offered🤝🏽🙂

[@haileybogan4440]

I didn’t realize until I watched this video that the manna pro im feeding is only 15% protein 😳however the only other thing I can get is 16% ts brand. Unless I ship in food which is going to get expensive. Is there anyway I can bump up my protein without switching feed? (They also get Timothy hay) thanks ❤️ also what about feeding boss? (Black oil sunflower seeds)

[@westmeadowrabbits]

At the end of the day the best feed for meat rabbits is what is available! 16% is standard for bucks, and and rabbits over 5-6 months that aren't breeding. Feeding 16% to Does with litters is not ideal, but they won't die. It will just take more feed and won't produce as fast growth rates and condition. Boss is a good source of calories, but not protein, as they are mostly fat. That best easily available source of protein is Alfalfa, which is the main ingredient in rabbit feeds. You can get it at feed stores. As far as "fresh" plants, you can't beat black locust which I talk a lot about on the channel. Keep in mind that high protein feeds also have lots of calories, so don't feed to much to rabbits that aren't growing or breeding. Hope that helps!

[@andrealosinger3866]

Thanks for the info! I've seen a lot of breeders adding rolled oats to the staple pellet diet. Do you recommend using oats?

[@westmeadowrabbits]

In my mind, if you're feeding a good quality pellet, its totally unnecessary.

[@charleencnossen9930]

Very good. Thank you!

[@Dchase32]

Thank you for all of your videos! Do you feel 4-h market rabbits should be on 18%? Or are they okay on 16 or 17% as long as they are gaining weight properly? Also, have you noticed a difference in muscle gain with different brands of feed, or is this mainly genetics?

[@westmeadowrabbits]

Feed is one of the more controversial subjects in the rabbit world. Genetics are critical, but feed will determine whether a rabbit reaches its genetic potential. In my mind quality ingredients and consistency in the feed formula is more important than brand. 16% is not ideal for grow outs or pregnant mothers, but fine for maintaining non breeding adults or bucks. Protein and calorie content determine muscle growth, so going with a cheaper (lower protein feed) will reduce growth rates. However that could work if you're feeding a lot of protein/calorie rich foods in addition to pellets (like black locust/clover/alfalfa). Unfortunately there's no one size fits all. You need to look at what resources you have, your budget, and your goals, and go from there. Hope that helps. Sam

[@Dchase32]

@@westmeadowrabbits sure does thank you so much

[@williamstephens3805]

Brilliant, glad to come across this

[@reginacarroll8149]

Thank you

[@carlclark1036]

Will you add an episode featuring your rabbit tractor?

[@westmeadowrabbits]

It's in the works, but wont be out till next summer.

[@ohiodeerhunting2552]

Would 100% alfalfa pellets along with timothy/orchard grass hay be a good diet for rabbits?

[@westmeadowrabbits]

It would cover the bases, but most commercial pellets have a added vitamins and minerals. They also balance the protein ratio which is SUPER important! If you feed to much alfalfa to bucks or does who aren't breeding, they can build up calcium in their bladder and die.

[@naturally_danii]

Rabbit tractor = 80% savings on food, better quality of life 👌🏽

[@mikeriverajr4447]

i have a question that i can't seem to find any where. my rabbits that i use to have as well as my brother still has , has always fed them fresh hay as well as horse pellets which are either pure natural timothy hay or a Timothy alfalfa mix and nothing else, they have always seemingly done pretty well on this and from my understanding is a all natural diet since its pure hay in both a pellet form and regular form . . . so my question is? is this wrong? i see so much more things in a rabbit feed, which are potentially questionable. while with the horse pellets its literately has only hay as its one ingredient. would love to have your insight on this. . . we also use calf manna as a occasional supplement/treat to them another side note: my rabbit that i had a long time ago actually died after i tried feeding her commercial feed, i question whether it was a bad food or just that she was so use to hay and hay pellets and then transitioned to a commercial feed.. im about to get back into breeding and am not sure whats the best choice

[@westmeadowrabbits]

That's a really awesome question. I am going to make a video soon on reading a rabbit feed tag which should go over what's in the feed. The short answer is that I don't see anything wrong with feeding just horse pellets. Especially a timothy alfalfa mix is going to give them plenty of energy and fiber. For a good rabbit feed, it will balance fiber and energy sources as the primary ingredients. Most of the ingredients will be for those two purposes. The other ingredients is to offer trace minerals, probiotics, and vitamins. While your rabbits will survive fine without these I generally find that the commercial pellets cover all your bases, and eliminate the need to supplement. In all likelihood your rabbit probably died from switching to quickly to a new feed. Their digestive systems are very sensitiv3e and that is a major switch. In the end feeding horse pellets is probably fine as long your ok with slightly slower growth rates. Just make sure you supplement where appropriate (leafy greens, vegetable scraps, tree leaves, etc.). If you do use horse pellets id use one that has at least some alfalfa in it. At the end of the day let your rabbits be the guide. If your happy with how they are doing then you should be good.

[@mikeriverajr4447]

producer pride ingredients Ingredients: Wheat Middlings, Sun Cured Alfalfa, Ground Rice Hulls, Rice Bran, Whole Pressed Safflower Seed Solvent Extracted, Calcium Carbonate, Ground Corn, Cane Molasses, Salt, L-Lysine, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Ferrous Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Niacin Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Cobalt Carbonate, Manganese Sulfate, Ethylenediamine Dihydroiodide, Zinc Sulfate, Basic Copper Chloride, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin D3 Supplement

[@westmeadowrabbits]

@@mikeriverajr4447 This stuff is vitamins and minerals: Salt, L-Lysine, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Ferrous Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Niacin Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Cobalt Carbonate, Manganese Sulfate, Ethylenediamine Dihydroiodide, Zinc Sulfate, Basic Copper Chloride, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin D3 Supplement These are fillers for fiber: Ground Rice Hulls, Rice Bran Wheat Middlings The corn should not be in there and alfalfa should be the first ingredient so I would not use this feed.

[@Lumbasi_E]

Awesome 👍

[@lukewang4396]

very very great job. thank you so much.

[@backyardfarmingaroundbyfa1059]

Nice video

[@brudleyarcellana1159]

Thank you for sharing..new fren here

[@shannonlatrise]

Thank you for this!

[@siviwemusubi2233]

Wow that's great

[@backyardfarmingaroundbyfa1059]

Supporting each other here. Keep it up

[@ceepark114]

❤I have a couple of does that started to dig their pellet feed out of their feeder. They are bred and will have their kits in less than a week. Could being pregnant be a reason they are wasting their pellets? I've seen this behavior with the kits once they start eating solid food.

[@westmeadowrabbits]

Does especially pregnant ones have an instinct to dig, so that could be it, or the might just be bored. Are you using hanging feeders? If they aren't eating their pellets right away you might want to cut back on feed. I only free feed after the litter is born.

[@lorrainerussell6049]

❤❤❤

[@johnliberty3647]

I am interested in meat tabbits because manure is tainted with aminopyralids which destroys garden.

[@westmeadowrabbits]

Rabbit manure is awesome for the garden!

[@jeanbergeron4112]

Love the videos

[@logiic8835]

How profitable is the meat rabbit market in the US?

[@westmeadowrabbits]

In the US not profitable at all in most places. I have a video about it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ol7GYamAnb-pe80

[@logiic8835]

@@westmeadowrabbits perfect, thanks

[@morningmystfarm2017]

Ok, so I'm curious!! You said don't feed them poison ivy.... I'm a goat person, and goats LOVE poison ivy. Can you please explain why it would be bad for rabbits? (Not that I'm going to plan on harvesting THAT and bringing it to them anyway 🤣)

[@westmeadowrabbits]

I've never heard of rabbits being able to eat poison ivy, but I wouldn't want to bring it to them either! That's what goats are for!

[@morningmystfarm2017]

@@westmeadowrabbits Goats certainly enjoy it. I'm sure sheep eat it too, which is why I wondered why it might be toxic to rabbits.... Guess it's time to do research😎

[@mizzyz7275]

I live in Jamaica, there isn't a bunch of hay, but we live on a farm, my dad as acres and we have a bunch a grass, can we feed my rabbits grass?

[@westmeadowrabbits]

Yes you can! Hay is just dried grass, but rabbits also love fresh grass!

[@mizzyz7275]

@@westmeadowrabbits thank you, also after a while the grass gets dry so I think it's good, I'll definitely keep ur suggestions in mind

[@calamaridog]

You can make delicious jerk rabbit when you prepare them

[@mizzyz7275]

@@calamaridog I don't want to eat them, I have them as pets and for selling the babies

[@be.ndover]

what is a good mix to make pellets ?

[@westmeadowrabbits]

Making a balanced pellet is extremely complicated, time consuming and expensive. You would be better off buying pellets, or feeding an entirely non pellet diet. If you are going to formulate a diet without any pellets, you will need to do a lot of research which is beyond the scope of my expertise. I don't recommend it unless you have a lot of time on your hands.

[@be.ndover]

@@westmeadowrabbits im going through a $100 a month in pellets so last year i picked up a pellet machine i calculated i could save $1000 a year if i make my own but no clue on a good mix ratio. i was thinking i could just mix a few things together and it would be easy but now im thinking it would be cheaper to just go to the store and buy myself the food and skip the animals completely. not to mention how hard it is to judo chop rabbit kill my rabbits lol trying to get some one to kill for me is hard to

[@westmeadowrabbits]

@@be.ndover A store would always be cheaper, so saving money is not really a good reason to get into meat rabbits. Nothing about making your own pellets would be easy, but you can supplement heavily to save on the amount of pellets you use, which is something I cover extensively on the channel.

[@troybuckley7600]

Great info you always seem so annoyed in your videos though when your explaining things haha

[@westmeadowrabbits]

I gotta work on that. I usually make these things in response to people spouting a bunch of BS that needs to be corrected.

[@rooteddeephome]

Know anything about roasted soybeans?

[@westmeadowrabbits]

I know its common in chicken feed, but I probably wouldn't feed it to rabbits. It would be to rich for them (to much protein and calories, not enough fiber). There are cheaper ingredients that they would do better on.

[@rooteddeephome]

@@westmeadowrabbits We have access to abundant supply of non-gmo soybeans and a roaster. Wasn’t sure if that would do well for them in a mix. Also have access to other things like alfalfa hay, wheat berries, rye, and other grains. Several farmers in the family raising diverse crops. We are more familiar with raising pastured chickens and do a special blend for them, I think it’s Joel salatins mix recipe with some vitamin and mineral supplements. Haven’t come across a good go-to for rabbit feed yet. Maybe I need to get that book you mentioned. Want to have our rabbits in tractors and found a breeder who has been raising them that way for many many years.

[@westmeadowrabbits]

@@rooteddeephome You could definitely get way with it if they were mixed and pelletized. Here is a link to the feed tag of the feed I use: blueseal.com/product/home-fresh-top-hutch-18/ You can see that soybeans are a main ingredient, but it is primarily alfalfa and Wheat Middlings. Alfalfa provides plenty of calories and proteins, while the wheat middlings provide fiber. The rest of the ingredients are mostly for vitamins minerals, and other trace nutrients. They key with rabbit food is to make sure the ingredients are evenly mixed and in some sort of pellet. Rabbits will pick out the things they like and ignore less preferable items leading to imbalances in their diet. If you've got a lot of proteins and calorie rich foods like alfalfa and soybeans. They key will be balancing it out with plenty of fiber from grass hay or something similar. Having them in tractors will greatly help with fiber and micro nutrients. They will graze aggressively and the weedier the field the better!

[@nphare]

Ah yes, the famous unit of measure, the tuna fish can.

[@jamesstephens6941]

Good info. Your hands pounding the table is annoying and distracting.

[@kevywilliams3304]

Commercial Pellets are grain.. Gmo junk !

[@westmeadowrabbits]

Quality pellets have little to know grain, mostly byproducts from processing. The main ingredient is usually alfalfa. In any livestock feed you will have GMOs. Unless you have access to non GMO feed which will cost two or three times as much, and even then, there is no way of guaranteeing it is 100% GMO free.