Rabbits are herbivores. Their menu should consist of foods with carbohydrates, proteins, fat, vitamins and minerals. In addition, there are herbs that can contribute to the health of the rabbit. Many animals are fed standard rabbit feed consisting of grains, seeds, grass, carob pods and seeds and chunks. It is important not to keep rabbit food for too long, because the vitamins will break down. The basis for rabbit food consists of hay or grass. Rabbit feed consists of four to fifty percent of the ration.
Varying can be done by feeding the animal bread, cabbage, endive, lettuce, cucumber, apple, pear, sugar beet, fodder beet, turnip, wild herbs, peas, beans or paprika. Also, don’t forget that a rabbit must be able to gnaw well so that its teeth don’t get too long. This can be done by offering a fresh willow branch. The animal should also always have access to fresh drinking water. It is best not to feed rabbits more than what they can eat in twenty to thirty minutes.
Drinking water
Rabbits should always have access to fresh drinking water. They need that for stowing food. Water is also a kind of building material. An animal needs more water when it gets hot outside, when it has to raise young or when the rabbit is mainly fed dry food. The bugs drink less when they are mainly offered grass, green food, beets and tubers.
Vitamins
Just like humans and other animals, a rabbit needs vitamins. If there is a lack of this, an animal can become ill.
Vitamin A.
Vitamin A is found in kale, Brussels sprouts, grass, clover, carrots, hay and corn, among others. This vitamin contributes to the good health of the skin, mouth, eye, nose, throat, trachea and intestinal wall. A deficiency causes a low resistance, infections of the respiratory tract, paralysis and skin diseases.
Vitamin B.
Rabbits benefit from vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12. B1 ensures a good energy metabolism and appetite and provides prevention for nervous disorders. B2 contributes to a good metabolism and gives a rabbit strength during pregnancy. Vitamin B6 is an important part of a good metabolism for carbohydrates. Vitamin B12 is important in the growth of a rabbit and is mainly found in food that comes from animals.
Vitamin C
Vitamin B protects a rabbit against infectious diseases and ensures a beautiful coat. This type of vitamin is not a problem, as long as the animal is offered a varied food.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is very important for a rabbit, especially for a calcium and phosphorus metabolism for the production of bones. Hay and straw that has been exposed to the sun contain a lot of vitamin D. In the sun, the animal also produces vitamin D itself. Without enough vitamin D, an animal runs the risk of calcification of the bones, crooked bones and the English disease.
Vitamin E.
Vitamin E ensures good fertility in rabbits and is good for the immune system against disease and the correct functioning of the brain. A rabbit can obtain this vitamin from green vegetables.
Vitamin K.
Vitamin K is extremely important to the rabbit for many functions. Among other things, the effect of blood clotting is well promoted by vitamin K. This vitamin is found in cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, peas and alfalfa.
Minerals
A rabbit takes in minerals from vegetable food. These animals mainly need the minerals calcium, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium. Also important in smaller amounts are chlorine, cobalt, iodine, manganese, sodium, iron, zinc and sulfur. Mixed rabbit food consists of about seven percent minerals. Good rabbit chunks contain eight to percent minerals.
Amount of food
The amount of food for a rabbit depends on the size of the animal, mobility and climate. Large breeds from 5,000 grams need 120 to 180 grams of feed. For medium varieties from 2,500 to 5,000 grams, this is 100 to 160 grams. For small breeds from 1,750 to 3,000, 50 to 100 grams is sufficient and dwarf varieties from 800 to 1,650 grams need 30 to 50 grams. Pregnant does and does with young must have enough food and drink throughout the day. Also take a good look at the feeding instructions on the packaging.
Types of food
Standard rabbit food consists of a mixture of grains, legumes, carob, sunflower seeds and rabbit core pellets. In addition, there is also mixed rabbit food for sale with dried carrots. The rabbit gnawing mix is very suitable for young rabbits. In addition to grains, legumes, sunflower seeds, vegetables and carob, it also contains vitamin grains and has a finer structure. Especially rabbit muesli is a real snack for a rabbit. This is a complementary food consisting of grains, herbs, seeds and vegetables with vitamins and minerals granules. Muesli also contains alfalfa. It is recommended that a rabbit’s daily feed should consist of no more than one third of rabbit muesli. There is special feed for rabbits that are used for breeding or sport. The standard rabbit food should be supplemented with grass, hay, carrots and green food.
Manure
Rabbits, like other herbivores, have a long digestive tract. After chewing, the food travels to the esophagus, stomach, duodenum and small intestine. Here the food is processed before it leaves for the appendix. The food stays here for twelve hours and is processed into manure: hard rabbit droppings and soft balls of manure. The latter will eat the rabbit again, because they are full of vitamin B. Usually the animal eats the dung balls directly from the anus.
Complementary feed
Various herbs can be offered as a complementary feed for health problems. However, only do this in consultation with a veterinarian, because the herbs are not a substitute for medicines. For example, dill stimulates a rabbit’s appetite and mallow can even heal inflammation in the mucous membranes.
Plants
Rabbits can also eat common plants. Be careful with this, because the animal itself does not recognize poisonous plants. Some plants that are suitable for feeding are dandelion, sorrel, plantain, yarrow, shepherd’s purse and white dead-nettle.
Poisonous plants and herbs
Many flowers, shrubs and trees are poisonous to the rabbit. These include acacia, hogweed, boxthorn, broom, boxwood, crocus, thorn apple, golden rain, holly, hyacinth, jasmine, lavender, privet, daffodil, yew and foxglove. Herbs that should absolutely not be given because of their toxic effect are spotted hemlock, dog parsley, poppy, buttercup, St. John’s wort and black nightshade.