Feeding your Rabbits in Survival Times

by Highlander
(Upper Michigan-Zone3)

Russian Comfrey and Stinging Nettles are high in protein. They can be fed green cut or dried for later use. It is a perennial so it doesn't have to be planted each year. The best types are Russian blocking 4 and blocking 14. Comfrey is a perennial so you don't have to use your time to re plant. As far as I know they are good to zone 3. They are hybrids and can only be propagated by root cuttings but aren't invasive as others. It can be found at Nantahala Farm and Garden on the net. I'm not connected to this site; it's just a good site for plants and info. This plant is so good for a lot of other things for plants, animal, and humans.


All the info is on that site. The nettles are propagated by seed, could be wild harvested. Should use rubber gloves to harvest.

I will be starting a large patch for 2015 garden season. I already have a lot of Nettles growing volunteer from my feed.

You have a great site. Thank you for letting me contribute here. May God have mercy on us.

***** Karen Sez *****
Since this post was written, we have published our e-book, Feeding Your Rabbits With or Without Pellets. You'll get some great info on how to ensure a healthy balance of nutrients for your rabbits without feeding pellets.

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What to feed in a survival situation?

by Jacqueline
(Timson, Texas, USA)

I am just beginning to raise rabbits, and am so grateful for your site! Thank You! My $64,000 question is this...in a survival situation, when you can't go to the feed store to buy rabbit pellets...what do I feed?

This is a real concern. I have a farm, milk cows, beef cows, chickens, turkeys, pigs and now rabbits. I can feed grain to everything else but the rabbits. Any suggestions?

Thank you again!
Jacqueline

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Sep 15, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Rabbits can do well on just grass
by: Anonymous

Rabbits were a main meat source during the dark ages for many families in Europe. During this time, many families would cut the field grasses and feed these to their confined rabbits. (In the wild, rabbits survive on grasses, bark and other such items.

Last year one of my young rabbits escaped. He hung around my back yard all summer and grew almost as well as her siblings that were still in my cages. She lived on grass and clover. After a few months, I was able to re-capture her and bring her back into the herd. Her size and health were very similar to her siblings.

For this reason, I believe that a good thing to have is a nice (quiet) manual push mower (the rotary type without an engine). This will allow you to harvest enough grass and field clipings to keep your rabbits producing.

They would need to be bred-back at a slower rate and would produce a smaller litter, but they would still provide meat for your family. So keep an extra doe (to compensate for the smaller litters and a rotary mower.)

In the fall, cut a bunch of extra grass and dry it on a tarp. Then pile it in a dry place (like the settlers of the American West did before hay bailing machines). This will help get the herd through winter.

Of course, the wise thing to do is to start experimenting with these techniques now, when a mistake won't cost you your life. This way you will know for sure what works and what doesn't before you need the knowledge for survival.
Aug 07, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		You can feed alfalfa and grain
by: Karen

Hi Jacqueline,
An excellent question! In a survival situation, rabbits can live on blended alfalfa and grain, such as whole oats. They might even do okay on grass, weeds (not noxious ones) and oats or other grain.

Because of coprophagy (see Feeding Rabbits page), rabbits have the ability to 'recycle' their dinner and pull extra nutrients out the second time around. This is why some rabbits can subsist,even thrive on what seems like substandard forage, and why they are a good choice for your survival plans.

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