Grass hay is rich in Vitamin A and D as well as calcium, protein and other nutrients. Eating hay promotes healthy teeth and gastrointestinal tract and should be available to your rabbit at all times.
Varying the type of grass hay or mixing hays is a great idea such as timothy, orchard, oat hay, brome, etc. Avoid the use of alfalfa hay as the primary source of hay due to the fact it is very high in calories and protein, far more than the average house rabbit needs. Alfalfa is not a grass, but rather a legume in the pea and bean family. Fresh foods also provide more moisture in the diet, which is good for kidney and bladder function.
Any leafy green that is safe for a human or a horse to eat is safe for a rabbit to consume. An approximate amoun t to feed would be around 1 cup of greens for 2 lbs of rabbit body weight once a day or divided into multiple feedings a day. Many plants contain a naturally occurring chemicals called an alkaloids, which are mild toxins that protect plant in the wild. The one most talked about with rabbits is oxalic acid and it is completely harmless to animals or humans when consumed in small amounts.
The amount of oxalic acid within each plant can vary significantly due to several factors including the composition of the soil the plant grew in, the time of year and the age of the plant.
Most of the fresh vegetables we feed rabbits have a low to zero level of oxalic acid, but a few, most notably parsley, mustard greens and spinach have relatively high levels.
Note that kale, which is often implicated as a high oxalate food is actually very low in oxalates. The toxicity of oxalic acid comes with feeding large quantities of foods high in this chemical and can result in tingling of the skin, the mouth and damage to the kidneys over time. These foods are nutritious and do not need to be excluded from the diet if you feed them appropriately. For instance if you feed parsley this week, then leave it out of the diet for next week and use something else.
As with vegetables, fruit should be introduced slowly and one at a time. Like lots of people, many rabbits have a sweet tooth.
As with humans, treats are at the top of the food pyramid for bunnies and therefore should be fed sparingly. Healthy treats for your bunny include small pieces of fresh or freeze-dried fruit the approved fruits listed above ; natural, unprocessed mixes that include hay and dried flowers the approved flowers listed above ; and Oxbow brand rabbit treats.
Always read the ingredient list on store-bought treats because not all of them are safe for bunnies. Avoid treats that include added sugar, preservatives and artificial coloring, and never give your rabbit human treats.
Some foods are not good for rabbits under any circumstances because they can make rabbits extremely sick. Here are foods to avoid giving your bunny completely:. Finally, rabbits need to stay hydrated, so they should have an unlimited supply of fresh water, which should be changed daily.
The water container should be cleaned with soap and water every few days. Water bottles are not easy to clean and can be difficult for rabbits to use, so bowls are better.
Additional rabbit info and resources. A domestic rabbit's diet should mimic the wild as much as possible, with plenty of hay and grass with smaller portions of greens and pellets. Never change a rabbit's diet suddenly as this can trigger digestive upset, especially in babies or rabbits that are stressed eg.
Do it gradually over a few weeks and feed lots of hay. There are lots of different types about with varying colours of green so you'll be sure to find one your rabbits love.
Mix a few together to give your bunnies a range of textures to help wear their ever-growing teeth down. Many of the bags of hay in shops are cheap and nasty with short, yellow, dusty strands, so look for a shop which has a wide range. Farms sell large bales for a few pounds which will last months.
Unlimited good quality hay is the foundation of a healthy diet for a pet rabbit; it not only keeps them occupied for long periods of time, which reduces boredom and helps prevent behavioural problems, but it also keeps the teeth trim, the jaw strong and provides fibre to maintain healthy gut movement. Unappealing to human tastebuds but great for rabbits! Please read more about different hays available and why hay is so important to your rabbit's health on our page: Hay, hay and more hay.
Pellets are recommended over a food mix, especially for rabbits feeding together as it prevents selective feeding. This is when rabbits pick out their favourite bits of rabbit mixes and leave out other nutrients, and two or more rabbits together eat different components of the mix.
Journal of Animal Physiology Animal Nutrition , 96 5 , — Evidence-based rabbit housing and nutrition. Veterinary Record , , Water intake in domestic rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus from open dishes and nipple drinkers under different water and feeding regimes. Journal of Animal Physiology Animal Nutrition , 95, — Rabbits should not be fed Lucerne alfalfa or Clover hays as they are too high in protein and calcium, which could lead to the formation of urinary stones [ 2 ].
As a guide, feed around two packed cups of leafy greens per kg body weight per day. Treats may be offered in small quantities tablespoons per rabbit per day.
Examples include most fruits, root vegetables such as carrot and sweet potato and capsicum.
0コメント