Care and Management of Rabbits/Chapter 14
XIV
FEEDING YOUNG STOCK
FEEDING YOUNG STOCK
There is not much to be said on feeding young stock that has not already been touched in the other chapters upon feeding. There is a need for serious consideration, however, of the matter of feeding green feed.
It should be remembered that green feed is not only succulent but also a very severe drain on any animal when a change from grain and hay to green pasturage, is made. It has a decided laxative effect and often gives cattle, for instance, diarrhœa or the "scours."
With rabbits, green feed has this laxative effect and unless handled intelligently it will serve to throw them off feed and perhaps give the fancier some little trouble.
In the case of young stock, there is a serious disagreement as to the matter of feeding it at all. Some breeders contend that better results are obtained by not feeding green food to young stock at all, but that it is better to continue them on a strict diet of grain, hay and milk.
Young stock which have been fed green food in an improper state or who have had too much of it, very often suffer from a disorder of the digestive tract which is known as "slobbers." This disease is generally fatal, and while serious in its effects even where not fatal, it is something that should occur very rarely if the stock have the proper ration.
In discussing the feeding of nursing does we mentioned the desirability of feeding the nursing doe some green food each day in order to accustom the youngsters to it in her milk. The reason for this was that if the doe was not fed green food during pregnancy a sudden change to it while she was nursing would cause trouble among the youngsters.
The doe should have a green food every day, but as soon as the young stock commence to run around in the hutch, you will have to remove the doe to another hutch while you are feeding her the green food, as the youngsters will nibble at it and get into trouble.
Young stock should not have a single bit of green food until they are at least two months old and it should be fed very sparingly even then. It is better to wait until they are three months old to commence feeding the green element in the ration direct to them.
Then start out on dandelions or chicory or small quantities of lettuce and gradually feed more until they are used to it. By feeding a small quantity until they are accustomed to it, there is less likelihood of trouble occurring. And if it does seem to disagree with them it can be stopped until the trouble seems over.
You have to use your observation and your wits in this matter. There is no need to pass up green food entirely for the reason that it may cause trouble. The point is to use it because it is valuable in the ration, but to use it intelligently.
Never feed green food that is partially wilted or wet from rains or dew. Get your green food after the dew has gone off the grass in the morning or before or after rains. If the grass is wet or the other green food you want to get is wet, pass it up until later in the day. Wet green food has a bad effect on the digestive tract of rabbits of all ages.
There is no objection to feeding thoroughly dried or cured green food; the objection lies in feeding it when it is only partially cured or "heating." It is then somewhat sour and mouldy, especially if it has been piled closely together, and to feed it then will surely cause you to start a burying plot for some of your rabbits.
Roots of all kinds are good for the rabbits and can be used in the winter. They will even eat Irish potatoes when nothing else is available.
The green element in the ration can oftentimes be supplied in the ration by using vegetable tops, especially in the winter, provided the tops are clean and not diseased or frozen. If they are fresh and sweet they will take the place of carrots or other roots that may be fed then.
Many breeders thoroughly dry and cure their lawn clippings in the summer and put them up in sacks to feed in the winter. This will conserve feed bills for hay and also make a valuable addition to the morning mash, provided they are steamed for a few minutes before mixing. The cured clippings will also be a good thing to feed the young stock in getting them gradually accustomed to the use of green food in the ration.
Rabbits may be fed green food most of the summer and if no disastrous results are apparent it can take the place of hay in the evening feeding, but be sensible. Do not try to support them on weeds and thistles alone. They need grain and mash to balance it.