THE FOOD WE CHOOSE:
When we began raising rabbits in 2013, we were feeding our herd a pellet food that has been specially formulated for rabbits used in a breeding program. This was the easiest feeding method for us at this time and our rabbits did very well on this pellet. Faith Feed Store, located in Thibodaux, La, is where we purchased "Petrus 700B" (contact us for more information) although it is milled in Alexandria, La. It is intended as a stand alone feed, so we primarily offered herbs, veggies, and/or fruits for medicinal purposes.
Since January 2014, we decided to slowly switch our entire herd to a more natural diet. We currently feed them barley, oats, wheat grass, BOSS (Black Oil Sunflower Seeds), and free-fed hay. Sprouted Lentils are a favorite as well. Raw ACV (with the 'mother') is added to their daily drinking water. We have seen great results on this new diet plan and the rabbits seem to be pleased. We feel that the best way to feed our animals is by feeding them more organically, so we no longer offer them commercial pellets at all.
When we began raising rabbits in 2013, we were feeding our herd a pellet food that has been specially formulated for rabbits used in a breeding program. This was the easiest feeding method for us at this time and our rabbits did very well on this pellet. Faith Feed Store, located in Thibodaux, La, is where we purchased "Petrus 700B" (contact us for more information) although it is milled in Alexandria, La. It is intended as a stand alone feed, so we primarily offered herbs, veggies, and/or fruits for medicinal purposes.
Since January 2014, we decided to slowly switch our entire herd to a more natural diet. We currently feed them barley, oats, wheat grass, BOSS (Black Oil Sunflower Seeds), and free-fed hay. Sprouted Lentils are a favorite as well. Raw ACV (with the 'mother') is added to their daily drinking water. We have seen great results on this new diet plan and the rabbits seem to be pleased. We feel that the best way to feed our animals is by feeding them more organically, so we no longer offer them commercial pellets at all.
It is important to remember that all rabbit food, even hay, carries its own set of nutritional factors. By offering your rabbits food outside of their normal diet, you are changing their nutritional intake and this can cause an array of problems. So, although you can feed your rabbits several different ways, research BEFORE you feed anything new (how much, how often, possible allergens or toxins, etc.). Rabbits have very sensitive digestive tracts, so always introduce new foods slowly and along with lots of hay. Remember to watch their poop for signs of gastric distress. If there's a problem, it'll show in the poop. If you notice mushy or runny poop from your rabbit(s), offer more hay and oats. Raw apple cider vinegar (with the 'mother') is a very effective probiotic that is extremely useful in the rabbit's overall health, but it can also deter fleas and help kill the stink of ammonia from their urine...and there's a bonus: it seems to make breeding season go smoother! Raw ACV is a WINNER!
SAFE FOOD LIST FOR LAGOMORPHS:
(!) = Use sparingly.
(!) = Use sparingly.
- ALFALFA (!)
- APPLE (!)
- BAMBOO
- BANANA (!) - PEELING AND FRUIT BOTH ARE SAFE
- BARLEY
- BASIL
- BEET GREENS (TOPS)
- BLUEBERRIES (!)
- BOK CHOY
- B.O.S.S. - BLACK OIL SUNFLOWER SEEDS (!)
- BREAD
- BROCCOLI (!!)
- BRUSSEL SPROUTS
- CARROTS
- CELERY (!)
- CHAMOMILE
- CHERRY - REMOVE THE PIT (!)
- CHICKORY
- CILANTRO
- CLOVER AND CLOVER SPROUTS
- COLLARD GREENS
- COMFREY
- CUCUMBER (!)
- DANDELION GREENS AND FLOWERS
- DOLLAR WEED
- ENDIVE
- ESCAROLE
- FENNEL
- GRAPES -FRUIT, LEAVES & VINE (!)
- GRASS
- GREEN PEPPERS
- HAY (WHICH IS DRIED GRASS) - ORCHARD, BAHIA, BERMUDA, TIMOTHY- UNTREATED ONLY!!!
- HUCKLEBERRY (!)
- KALE (!)
- KIWI (!)
- LETTUCE- (NO ICEBURG!!)- ROMAINE, DARK GREEN/RED LEAF, BUTTER, BOSTON, BIBB ARE SAFE.
- MINT
- MUSTARD GREENS
- OATS
- ORANGE (WITHOUT THE PEEL)
- PAPAYA
- PARSLEY
- PEA PODS (THE FLAT, EDIBLE KIND)
- PEACH
- PEAR
- PEPPERMINT LEAVES
- PINEAPPLE (!)
- PLANTAIN
- PLUMS - REMOVE THE PIT (!)
- PUMPKIN
- RADICCHIO
- RADISH AND RADISH TOPS
- RASPBERRY - TWIGS & LEAVES (!)
- RHUBARB- RED STALKS ONLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- SPINACH (!)
- STRAWBERRY (!)
- SQUASH- YELLOW, BUTTERNUT, PUMPKIN, ZUCCHINI
- SWEET POTATO
- TOMATO (!)
- TURNIP GREENS (!!)
- WATERCRESS
- WATERMELON (!)
- WHEAT GRASS
REMEMBER: EVEN IF YOU FEED A PELLETED DIET, YOUR RABBITS STILL NEED HAY! RABBITS TEETH NEVER STOP GROWING. THEY NEED TO CHEW ON HAY TO KEEP THEIR TEETH AT A SAFE LENGTH!
SO, HEY, DON'T FORGET THE HAY!
SO, HEY, DON'T FORGET THE HAY!