6 Best Organic Rabbit Feed For Small Backyard Farms Old-Timers Swear By
Explore 6 top organic rabbit feeds for small farms, backed by the wisdom of old-timers. Our guide helps you select the best for your herd’s nutrition.
You’ve got the hutch built and the rabbits settled in, but then you stand in the feed store aisle staring at a wall of options. The truth is, what you put in that feeder has more impact on the health and productivity of your backyard herd than almost anything else. Choosing the right organic feed isn’t just about a label; it’s about giving your animals the foundation they need to thrive.
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Why Old-Timers Prioritize Quality Rabbit Feed
Experienced rabbit raisers know that feed is an investment, not an expense. A cheap bag of low-quality pellets saves you a few dollars today but costs you dearly down the road in vet bills, poor litter sizes, and slow growth rates. It’s a classic case of being penny-wise and pound-foolish.
Good feed is preventative medicine. High-quality, organic ingredients support a robust immune system and a healthy gut, warding off common ailments like GI stasis and enteritis that can wipe out a litter overnight. When your rabbits are getting consistent, high-fiber, nutrient-dense nutrition, they are simply more resilient. You spend less time troubleshooting problems and more time enjoying healthy, productive animals.
Ultimately, you get out what you put in. For meat rabbits, quality feed translates to better feed conversion and a healthier final product. For fiber animals like Angoras, it means a stronger, more luxurious coat. Old-timers don’t fuss over feed quality out of nostalgia; they do it because decades of experience have proven it’s the bedrock of a successful rabbitry.
Small Pet Select: Premium Timothy-Based Pellets
Small Pet Select built its reputation on hay, and their pellets reflect that same focus on fiber. Their flagship rabbit food is Timothy hay-based, which is a key distinction. This makes it an excellent choice for maintenance, adult rabbits, and any bunnies prone to weight gain.
The lower protein and calcium content of a Timothy-based pellet is ideal for preventing digestive and urinary tract issues in less-active rabbits. If you’re keeping a few rabbits primarily for companionship or as pets alongside your main breeding stock, this is a fantastic, high-fiber option that supports long-term health. It mimics a more natural, grazing-focused diet.
However, a Timothy-based feed isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for a production herd. Growing kits and pregnant or nursing does have much higher protein and energy requirements. While you can use this feed, you’ll need to supplement heavily or switch them to a higher-protein, alfalfa-based formula during those critical growth periods.
Modesto Milling Organic Rabbit Pellets No. 16
When you need a reliable, do-it-all feed for a mixed-age herd, Modesto Milling is a name that comes up again and again. This is a classic alfalfa-based pellet with a 16% protein content, making it a solid workhorse for the small backyard farm. It has enough protein for growing kits and lactating does without being too rich for your bucks and non-breeding females.
Formulated with organic alfalfa, wheat millrun, and stabilized rice bran, it provides a balanced nutritional profile that supports steady growth and good condition. It’s a straightforward, no-frills formula that delivers consistent results. Many old-timers appreciate this kind of predictability; they know what to expect from the feed, bag after bag.
The main consideration here is that it’s a true general-purpose feed. For high-production meat breeds or does raising very large litters, you might find you need to supplement with other protein sources. But for most backyard setups, it hits the sweet spot of nutrition, quality, and reliability.
Scratch and Peck Feeds: The Soy-Free Choice
For farmers who make a conscious choice to avoid soy, Scratch and Peck is the go-to brand. Their organic rabbit pellets are formulated without soy or corn, which is a major selling point for a growing number of homesteaders. Instead, they use alternative protein sources like peas and sesame meal.
The decision to go soy-free is a personal one. Some do it due to concerns about phytoestrogens, while others simply prefer to diversify the protein sources in their animals’ diets. Scratch and Peck’s commitment to whole, minimally processed organic ingredients resonates with farmers who apply that same philosophy to their gardens and their own kitchens.
Be prepared for a higher price tag. Sourcing high-quality, organic, soy-free ingredients costs more, and that’s reflected in the final product. This is a premium choice for those who prioritize a soy-free operation and are willing to invest in it.
Kalmbach Right Now Organic 16% Rabbit Feed
Kalmbach is another stalwart in the organic feed world, offering a dependable 16% protein pellet that’s a direct competitor to brands like Modesto. It’s an alfalfa-based formula designed to be an all-purpose feed for all life stages, which is exactly what most small farms need to simplify their feeding routine.
One of the key things that sets Kalmbach apart is their reputation for consistency and quality control. The pellets are uniform and hold together well, minimizing waste from dust and fines at the bottom of the bag. This might seem like a small detail, but when you’re buying feed regularly, that lost product adds up.
This is a feed you choose for peace of mind. It’s a balanced, certified organic product from a reputable mill that supports healthy growth and lactation. If it’s available in your area, it’s a rock-solid choice that won’t let you down.
Nature’s Best Organic 16% Rabbit Pellets
Sometimes the best feed is the one you can get reliably from your local co-op or feed store. Nature’s Best is often one of the most widely available organic rabbit feeds, making it a practical and popular choice for backyard farmers across the country. Like others on this list, it’s a 16% protein, alfalfa-based pellet suitable for all life stages.
Don’t mistake its availability for lower quality. Nature’s Best is known for producing a consistent, palatable pellet that rabbits take to readily. It provides the essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids needed for a productive herd, from growing kits to the nursing doe.
The real advantage here is logistics. Not having to special order your feed or drive an hour to a specialty store is a huge benefit for a busy hobby farmer. It’s a testament to the idea that a good, consistent, and accessible feed is often better than a "perfect" but hard-to-find alternative.
Sherwood Pet Health: Grain-Free Alfalfa Feed
Sherwood takes a different approach that appeals to rabbit raisers focused on maximizing gut health. Their professional-grade formulas are not only organic but also grain-free and soy-free, concentrating heavily on high-quality alfalfa and eliminating common fillers like wheat middlings or soybean hulls.
The philosophy behind this is to create a pellet that more closely mimics a rabbit’s natural forage-based diet, which is naturally low in starch. This can lead to improved digestive function, better nutrient absorption, and fewer gut-related health problems. It’s a particularly excellent choice for sensitive rabbits or for those raising fiber animals where gut health directly impacts wool quality.
This is a specialized, premium product, and its price reflects that. It’s not typically the most economical choice for a large meat rabbit operation. However, for those with a smaller herd, or for breeders of show or fiber rabbits where individual animal health is paramount, the investment in a grain-free feed like Sherwood can pay significant dividends.
Supplementing Pellets With Forage and Hay
No matter how good the pellet is, it should never be the only thing your rabbits eat. The old-timers knew this instinctively. A rabbit’s digestive system is designed for a constant intake of high-fiber roughage, and that’s a role that pellets alone cannot fill.
Unlimited, high-quality hay is non-negotiable. It is the single most important part of their diet.
- Timothy Hay: The gold standard for maintenance. It’s high in fiber and lower in protein and calcium.
- Orchard Grass: A slightly softer hay that is great for picky eaters.
- Alfalfa Hay: Much richer and higher in protein. It’s not a free-choice hay for most adult rabbits but is excellent as a supplement for pregnant/nursing does and growing kits under six months.
Beyond hay, safe, fresh forage adds vital nutrients, moisture, and enrichment. A handful of dandelion greens, plantain weed, raspberry leaves, or willow branches provides a nutritional boost and keeps your rabbits engaged. This is where a small farm has a huge advantage. You can grow or safely forage these supplements yourself, reducing feed costs and increasing the vitality of your herd.
The key is balance. Pellets provide the concentrated, consistent nutrition that forage alone often can’t, especially for productive breeds. Hay keeps the gut moving correctly. And fresh greens provide micronutrients and hydration. A successful feeding program uses all three components together.
Ultimately, the "best" organic feed is the one that works for your rabbits, your goals, and your budget. Start with a quality, reputable brand, but always pay closer attention to your animals than to the label on the bag. Their body condition, energy levels, and litter health will tell you everything you need to know about whether your chosen feed is the right one for your farm.
