Rabbits and Bunnies Eat Horse Hay and Pellets
What does the rabbit eat? Carrot? Timothy Rabbit Or Alfalfa Or Fruits, Grains and Vegetables Other than Carrots? Of course, rabbits love these food options, but these foods are not suitable for a free-range rabbit's diet and overeating any of these foods can lead to problems. . Fruits and vegetables without leaves are high in sugar, and grains are also high in starch. Excess starch or sugar in the rabbit intestine induces rapid growth of toxin-producing bacteria that cause inflammation of the small intestine (inflammation of the intestine), leading to diarrhea and possibly death (1). So, if picking fresh grass every day is not a viable option and if fruits, grains, and vegetables are not recommended as the only nutritional ingredients for rabbits, what should be fed to the rabbit? A basic understanding of the rabbit's digestive system will lead to the selection of an appropriate diet.
can rabbits eat horse pellets?
Rabbit is a non-ruminant herbivore with a digestive system similar to that of a horse. Rabbits have a simple stomach, an enlarged cecum, and a colon filled with bacteria capable of fermenting fibrous food (1). Rabbits practice coprophagy - they eat their own feces. This practice improves the digestion of food and is an integral part of the rabbit's digestive process. Because rabbits are enteric fermenters following coprophagy, they can be fed a low-grain, high-fiber diet.
Many commercial producers offer complete alfalfa pellets. These pellets contain ground alfalfa and other ingredients that are blended together to provide all the nutrients your rabbit needs. Feed pellets can be purchased at pet food stores and fed to pet rabbits. However, in addition to a pelleted diet, rabbits should also be fed hay. Large, indigestible food particles when rabbits are fed hay are important for maintaining gastrointestinal health, improving intestinal motility, and reducing feather chewing (2). In addition, the tooth-to-tooth contact that occurs when chewing hay promotes better oral health (2) and reduces boredom.
Alfalfa hay can be fed to growing rabbits because their protein, energy and calcium requirements are higher than that of adult rabbits. Alfalfa or not should be fed to adult rabbits as it contains too much protein and calcium and prolonged consumption can lead to kidney damage. Timothy hay, on the other hand, with its moderate protein and calcium content, is an excellent forage option for adult rabbits. Timothy hay and other hay used for rabbit food should be as dust-free as possible, free of mold and very little weeds or other contaminants, and should be bluish in color and fragrance (2).
Have you found a good rabbit feeding plan? Share with us in the comments!
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