Rabbit pellets as a supplement for calls

[Wyandotteman]

Although I know fresh lettuce, spinach, grass clippings etc are the best source of greens for call ducks do you guys think rabbit pellets mixed in with the food is a suitable replacement as a supplemental source of greens.

[goosedragon]

My feed store had two different items that they sold as rabbit pellets. The ones labeled rabbit pellets were only suitable for rodents since they were made very hand to help keep the rabbit's teeth worn down (evidently on soft feed the teeth aren't worn down enough and they grew faster than the wear rate forcing owners to use other methods to control the teeth) None of my birds would/could eat them and I ended up using them as slow release fertilizer. The other "rabbit" pellets were labeled "alfalfa pellets" and were dried and pelleted alfalfa. My geese would eat some of them when graze wasn't available, evidently they need the roughage in their digestive track. To the best of my knowledge the ducks didn't eat them at all.
Let me pass on the warning that I got when I posted about them a couple of years back, I was told that the salt level in these feeds was too high for ducks. I am just repeating what I was told, I never checked it out.
Someone that actually raises calls may give better answers than mine. ~gd

[Wyandotteman]

Thanks Goosedragon for your informative reply. I will check my bag for salt content and take a closer look at density on the pellets before I decide to use it anymore or if it goes out of the duck food and into the fertilizer category.

[Evy]

GD gave good advice. I've never seen a duck touch them either. Calls do just fine with a good comercial feed. Greens are a treat.

[goosedragon]

Thanks Goosedragon for your informative reply. I will check my bag for salt content and take a closer look at density on the pellets before I decide to use it anymore or if it goes out of the duck food and into the fertilizer category.
They do make a nice slow release organic type fertilizer. I am not talking ORGANIC in the official meaning of the word because they contain ingredients not on the 'approved' organic lists, I was using it in contrast to the Chemical fertilizers which are usually not slow release at all. If you have problems with salt buildup in the soil with chemical fertilizers you might want to keep an eye out for sodium chloride build up from the rabbit pellets. I mostly used them in large flower pots where the constant drainage out the bottom holes rules out salt buildup (and also allows traditional chemical fertilizers to be flushed out before the plants have a chance to use them up) I have been a gardener a lot longer than I have been raising waterfowl. If you raise roses the alfalfa contains a component that really helps the roses to bloom. ~gd

[Evy]

If you raise roses the alfalfa contains a component that really helps the roses to bloom. ~gd

I tried it last spring, as you'd suggested. It really did seem to make a difference. My only complaint is that I had wild rabbits around like I've never had them before!!! :roll:

[goosedragon]

If you raise roses the alfalfa contains a component that really helps the roses to bloom. ~gd

I tried it last spring, as you'd suggested. It really did seem to make a difference. My only complaint is that I had wild rabbits around like I've never had them before!!! :roll:
Now that you mention it I did have wild rabbits in great abundance (like 13 rabbits covering 3 generations on my front lawn at one view :lol: ) I always considered that to be a good thing because if you have lots of rabbits running around in full view it means that you probably don't have a fox hunting there. When the rabbits decreased in abundance I would make sure my traps were in good shape. Of course if you have a lot of prey you are going to attract preditors but I had the ducks and they are easier prey than rabbits :mrgreen: ~gd

[ronnie413]

I think the salt content of the rabbit pellets is more than what is desirable for call ducks. I put some out once and they didn't take to them.