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MMC BunClub

130 members • Free

2 contributions to MMC BunClub
8 week weights
2 litters at 8 weeks. Weights are shown. Those with * by them are pictured. Last 3 photos are of the Harlequin magpie buck at 4 lb 2 oz. First 8 photos are possible keeper magpie does. The harlequin buck has very cute checkerboard on his back. Note Collette’s x Willys are a bit on the smaller side, especially when you consider the litter is 1/3 smaller than Fiona’s. There’s an Ermine doe of Fiona’s that’s very nice, but I think she’s the 3 lb 7 oz doe. Not pictured. I only have two over 4 lbs at 8 weeks. Are your kits larger guys? I’m feeding free pellets (18% Best in Show- Kalmbach), occasionally mixed grass hay and daily fresh foraged. Each rabbit gets 2-3 large leaves of greens (comfrey, sunchoke, clover, various leaves, collard or mustard greens, broccoli, bok choy etc) And about 1/8 cup of fruit or veggies (carrot, celery, cabbage, apple, pineapple, pepper, cauliflower, beets, banana etc) and a mix of sunflower seed, oats and pumpkin seeds at about 1 T once a week. Are they underfed? Eating the wrong food? Or do I need to select for larger breeding stock?
8 week weights
1 like • Jun 2
So any time you add greens or forage, you're taking up space in the cecum for digesting the pellets that fuel growth. Greens and forage are great for moisture, fiber, and carbohydrates, but protein is what drives growth in kits. For optimal gains in your kits, stick to just pellets with alfalfa hay a couple times a week from 3wks-6wks of age. After 6wks, the cecum has matured and hay is no longer necessary. After you've adjusted the diet, you'll select for better structure. Type is not just about show table performance. Commercial body type(structure) is how you optimize how much meat the frame of the rabbit can carry, while maintaining function. Depth = height from peak of the spine to the bottom of the foot. Width= how wide from the outside of each foot. Ideally you want a rabbit that's got great depth that's equal to it's Width. By breeding for these and selecting for them, you put more space for muscle to attach on the frame. Those muscles increase in size and give you optimal cuts of meat. When selecting kits during evaluation. You look at their type, their size and weight, then their color, and make your determination.
Your input on Pellets
For those who’ve switched to a balanced pellet-based diet — what’s the biggest physical change you noticed first? Coat? Muscle tone? Cecotropes?
0 likes • Dec '25
@Nicole Holland I have noticed the same thing. I frequently include black oil sunflower seeds in my rabbit feed to combat any lack of it though. I switched to feeding Dr Pol farm rabbit and haven't had a vitamin issue since.
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Stephanie Hughes
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4points to level up
@stephanie-hughes-8587
33yrs of Rabbit Experience, Exotics Vet Tech

Active 32d ago
Joined Nov 6, 2025