by Claudia Krisniski © 2006-2007 
 

 
On feed mix day I gather my supplies and scales and whip up a batch of good things for them.  
 
I started feeding my bunnies this mix back in the mid 1990's when I discovered Betty Chu and her incredible English Angoras. I read about what she feeds her herd in The Northern California Angora Guild Handbook...Ed K. Spelding and C McLelland. I have modified her mix a tad to accommodate the heavier German Angora Crosses I breed and raise and to meld better with what I can get here locally grown.  
 
There are a number of field crop farms here in eastern NY and I get my black oil sunflower seeds and whole oats from a farm 5 miles from here.  
 
The Heinold Wool Rabbit Feed I get from my local Agway feed store. They bring it in and keep it stocked for a number of us angora folks. It's worth every penny. My bunnies have and keep good weight and excellent health. Heinold Wool Formula is alfalfa based, with no corn in the mix, which is great for meat rabbits that live only a few years, but lousy for angoras who will have a life span of almost 10 years if all goes well.  
 
So, into my feed bin (which is varmint proof!) goes:  

1 - 40 pound bag Heinold Wool Rabbit Food (17-19)  
16 pounds whole field oats!)

8 pounds (and no more!) black oil sunflower seeds:

8 pounds sweet textured horse feed

            (Nutrena Triumph 14% is great)  
 
This stuff gets fed to them twice a day. They get 1/3 cup (level measure) in the morning and a HEAPING 1/3 cup at dusk (which I sift to remove dust; by the way), along with fresh water and a handful of good smelling grass hay  
 
Field oats have to be a bunny owner's best friend here in New York State. I can tell you tales of rabbits who worked through wool block on hay and water and oats for a month, and who are better for it. Read old rabbit raising books and you'll see they all loved whole oats. Even rolled oats from the grocery store are a fine substitute if you have one single bunny with an upset stomach.  
 
I used to go broke buying special water bottles, but now I use bottle converter kits on disposable quart sized water bottles, which I recycle when they get less than fresh. No more bottle sterilizing!