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Jay Ward Veteran user Flowery Branch, GA 328 Posts |
I have learned about proper bunny diet here recently, and I thought I would share what I've learned. One of my bunnies got diarrhea, and it would gather in a giant clump on his behind. It was awful. Not to mention, my second bunny had a shedding problem. Turns out, the expensive rabbit food we were buying was the culprit. It had lots of cool dried veggies and fruits in addition to the pellets. Turns out, the more appealing to the human eye, generally the worse it is for bunnies. Keep in mind that the bunnies ate this food for about a year before it really "caught up with them." The vet said to only feed them fresh fruits and veggies and grass. So we started giving them bowls of sliced apples, grapes, berries, carrots, parsley, asparagus, radishes and such twice daily with an unlimited supply of grass.
They are happier than ever, the diarrhea is gone, the 2nd bunny sheds 80% less, and we feel really good about having happy, healthy bunnies. Here's one of many links for good foods for bunnies: http://www.adoptarabbit.com/articles/packet/abcvegi.html So, we have completely eliminated pellets from the diet. Grass, fruits and veggies. |
hugmagic Inner circle 7665 Posts |
Another great source of information is the local Cooperative Extension Service in your area. As an old 4-H'er, there are lot of very good little booklets on the care of these and other animals. I don't know what they are called now, but they were called Project Books for the various animal projects we would do.
There might be a nominal cost, but they are a great source of information. Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
Michael J. Douglas Inner circle WV, USA 1645 Posts |
The great thing about 4H booklets is you can be pretty sure the info is coming from a knowledgeable source, as opposed to finding dubious info online.
Michael J.
�Believe then, if you please, that I can do strange things.� --from Shakespeare�s �As You Like It� |
boppies2 Elite user Arizona 422 Posts |
I understand that Timothy Hay is a good staple for Bunnies. I give mine a very small amount of pellets daily, and after a performance, they get about one half teaspoon of uncooked oatmeal (regular, NOT instant).
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Jay Ward Veteran user Flowery Branch, GA 328 Posts |
Grass is the most important food to give them. Alfalfa is not good for them, and mine don't like Bermuda. But, Timothy Hay is very important and fairly cheap. Pellets are actually better to be given as an occasional treat. We have an unopened bag of pellets, but I haven't reintroduced any yet, and our bunnies seem very content. We used to keep pellets in the cage all the time. But, we've now got the bunnies trained on a twice a day feeding regimen for fresh food. Plenty of grass is in the cage all the time. I have a friend that has bunnies on his farm that eat only grass.
I've never heard of feeding them oatmeal. Is that beneficial to them? |
MikeHMagic Inner circle 1007 Posts |
The oats are a nice treat. My Loki loves them. I give as a reward after shows.
Gus
Mike "Gus" Harvatt
"Bullwinkle that trick never works." |
boppies2 Elite user Arizona 422 Posts |
I also give mine very little oats after a show. I am not sure if this is correct, but somewhere I was told by a breeder that the oats calm them down?
Anyway, mine get a little as a reward, and they love it. Max |
AOberheim New user 5 Posts |
Pellets are needed for the basic nutrition. Hay and veggies are needed for the fiber. Fruits are high in sugars, and too much can cause gas and, sometimes, painful bloating. We tell our clients that the perfect diet is 1/3 pellets, 1/3 timothy hay, and 1/3 vegetables and occasional fruits. Over weight bunnies....less pellets.
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TheMagicMaker New user 64 Posts |
I have been using rabbits now for over 20 years, and I have had pretty good luck with them after doing some research on how to properly care for them. I'd say the biggest mistake most people do is trying to make the rabbit happy by giving them fancy food or by feeding them too much. I spoke to many breeders, who are tremendously knowledgeable when it comes to caring for rabbits, and I learned that rabbits need consistency in their diets. Apparently, that is the key to keeping your rabbits healthy. I learned that a rabbit's stomach is SO delicate that a drastic change in diet can actually make them very sick and die. Feeding too many fruits and veggies is also not good. I only give my rabbits, as a treat once or twice a week, a few pieces of oranges (sometimes apples) for the vitamin C. A vitamin supplement can be added to their water as well if you'd like.
As for hay, it should be fed in combination with the rabbit food, which is also made of hay. Make sure the hay is fresh, though, because rabbits are also sensitive to the dust old hay might produce. Keep the diet simple and consistent, and you will have happy, healthy rabbits. Also, if you are not going to show your rabbits, regular rabbit food is just fine. I purchase mine at the feed store made by Purina in 25 pound bags for around $8.00. You're lucky if you get 5 pounds for that price at the pet store!! On 2010-02-25 23:23, TheMagicMaker wrote: PS: forgot to mention about quantity... Unless your rabbit is pregnant or nursing, I was told by the breeders that you should only feed them 1/2 a cup daily. This, of course, is assuming you're using Netherland Dwarf rabbits. Apparently, rabbits will eat all day long if you let them and will get FAT if you give them too much. A fat rabbit is no good, not only for magic but for the health of the rabbit as well... I just thought this info was also important to add... |
GRMAGIC New user 54 Posts |
I have had great luck feeding standard Agway rabbit pellets and a little hay twice a week. Every rabbit I have owned over the past 20 years on this diet has lived 8-12 years of age, which my vet says is a long lifespan for a rabbit.
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Bob Johnston Inner circle Philadelphia, PA 1251 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-02-11 23:39, Jay Ward wrote: Jay: When you say "grass," are you talking about regular green grass or hay? Bob |
Jay Ward Veteran user Flowery Branch, GA 328 Posts |
Bob, the Timothy Hay that you buy at Petsmart. We keep a constant supply of that. We feed them twice daily veggies and fruits. We have a list of safe foods, and the fruits and veggies that should be given sparingly. Their favorite is parsley. We have not re-introduced pellets. When we fed pellets, they'd rummage through it spilling lots on the floor. With the fruits and veggies, they generally eat all of it. The main thing is to stay away from pellet mixes with dried veggies and such in it. The more attractive to humans, the worse for bunnies. Our bunnies love parsley, carrots, carrot tops, radishes, apples, bananas, berries. We feed once every couple of weeks spinach and broccoli, which should not be given daily. Lettuce generally is not good for bunnies. Our bunnies are healthier now. One stopped the massive shedding, the other's diarrhea is cured.
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Bob Johnston Inner circle Philadelphia, PA 1251 Posts |
You are doing the right things. Lettuce that is dark green is good for rabbits (like Romain). Iceberg (for example) has no nutritional value for the rabbit.
Carrot tops are very good for rabbits. The reason they take to them so well is because carrot "tops" are what they would encounter in the wild. Wild rabbits always eat the tops of growing carrots and only sometimes pull the carrot up to eat. |
MikeRaffone Special user 623 Posts |
It is best to learn what your rabbit will eat. Rabbits have their own tastes like people and would rather starve than get stuck eating things that are unpleasant.
It took a while to learn what my rabbit would and wouldn't eat after giving her everything on the "what rabbits eat" list but it was worth the effort because now the rabbit is very energetic and healthy. This what her diet evolved to - romain lettuce, parsley, carrots and celery. The romain lettuce must have the "vein" removed first or she won't touch it. Celery must be hearts only, she won't eat the outside of the stalks. Carrots must be, the peeled mini-carrots that people get for snacking on. Scrap vegetables just won't get eaten. All produce I give her is organically grown. Ocasionally pellets. Never fruit. She loves those yogurt covered treats by Kaytee but can't give it too often because she gets addicted to them. She gets unlimited amounts of Timothy hay. Mike
Mike Perrello
DC Area's Leading Family Entertainment Expert |
Regan Inner circle U.S.A. 5726 Posts |
No matter what you feed your bunnies you need to be very, very careful in making sure it is clean. Wash any kind of fresh fruit and vegetable. My rabbits love apple tree branches. I do not give them any very often, but when I do I even wash the branches well. You never know what lurks in innocent looking places. Parasites that can easily make bunnies (especially dwarf bunnnies) very sick, or even kill them, can be most anywhere.
Regan
Mister Mystery
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