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HOPE THIS INFO IS HELPFULL
HOUSE OF HAY ONLY SELLS THE BEST QUALITY HAY AND ALFALFA
IT IS HANDLED BY HAND TO ENSURE A QUALITY PRODUCT AND IS ALWAYS PESTICIDE FREE
THANKS FOR VISITING
MIKE & LYNETTE
OWNER/CEO HOUSE OF HAY
RABBITS HEALTH
a diet consisting mainly of HAYS with a moderate amount of various
green leafy vegetables is preferable.
vegetables and fruits, healthier fresh choices as: carrot
tops, parsley, cilantro, and kale, among others.
the vital need for fiber from HAYS in a rabbit's diet and have made
adjustments to meet this need for house rabbits. Before we delve into these different perspectives, it
is important to understand the unique digestive system of the rabbit.
Rabbits' Digestive Systems
Bunny rabbits are herbivores with a digestive system designed for a
diet primarily made up of grasses and leaves as well as occasional
flowers and fruits as they are available. Unlike our digestive
system which involves a gradual breaking down of foods and extraction
of vitamins and minerals, rabbits' systems do not include the enzymes
necessary to efficiently break down the plant matter as it moves
through their bodies.
Lettuce for example
After being crunched down into smaller pieces by
A rabbit's teeth,foods slide down the esophagus and into the bunny's
stomach. Here the food is basically sterilized and stored before
moving next to the small intestine. In the small intestine sugars,
starches and proteins are absorbed. Finally, it will pass into the cecum
which is a blind-ended sac or tube that sits atthe intersection of
the small and large intestines. In the cecum, the cell walls of the
lettuce begin to be broken down by bacteria and protozoa. After that
point what's left of the lettuce
travels up out of the cecum and to the large intestine and exits the
bunny rabbit perched on what looks like a small brown ball, or series
of balls called cecotropes (cecotropes can also be elongated and
greenish in color).
our rabbit friend eats the
cecotrope. Yes, that's right, eats the dropping that is really just
predigested food. This process, called refection, gives the bacteria
and protozoa in the rabbit's cecum a second chance to break down
those plant cell walls and extract more nutrients. So off we go
again and this time, we are finally deposited on a drier fecal pellet
that is ready to be cleaned out of the rabbit's living space and
perhaps sent to the compost heap.
Perspectives on Best Bunny Rabbit Diets
Food sources for a house rabbit can be broken into three main types:
HAYS and GRASSES commercially produced pellets or feed, and fresh
vegetables and fruits. Each of these will be discussed below.
Likewise, we've grouped different perspectives on diet into three
viewpoints as well.
Pellet-Centered Diet Perspective:
Fresh rabbit pellets should constitute 85% of the daily diet with
hays making up 10% of the diet, and vegetables and fruits as the
remaining 5%. Because they provide a concentrated nutritive food
source, advocates of this perspective suggest that the bulk of rabbit
diets should consist of fresh high quality pellets.
HAY Centered Diet Perspective:
Because fiber is so important to supporting the balance of healthy
bacteria and protozoa so essential to the digestive system, HAYS and
grasses should be offered to house rabbits as a free choice food
source.
That means ALL YOU CAN EAT
Hay-Green Food-Centered Diet Perspective:
The biggest difference here is that GREEN FOODS AND HAY are suggested
as equally important in a rabbit's diet. Once again an
"ALL YOU CAN EAT" hay diet is advocated complemented by at LEAST 1 cup of packed
green vegetables per 2 pounds of body weight daily. These sources
argue that commercial pellets do not need to be part of a healthy
house rabbit's diet.
So which perspective to choose for your house rabbit?
First of all, it is important that a bunny rabbit's diet be consistent with a
reasonable amount of variety of course. It is likely that whether
you adopt your rabbit from a breeder or a pet store, s/he has
probably been primarily following the pellet-centered diet
perspective. This can be because of breed-specific requirements
but could also be a matter of
convenience and/or tradition from the commercial rabbit industry.
If you choose to adopt a more HAY centered or HAY-green food-centered
perspective, please transition your rabbit gradually. As we are not
biologists or veterinarians, we cannot say which is best. It is our
intention to make you aware that there are different perspectives on
rabbit diet and ask you to discover what works best for your rabbit's
needs by consulting a variety of expert sources including your
veterinarian.
Whichever approach you choose to your bunny's diet, it is vital that s/he
EAT ALOT OF QUALITY HAYS.
Without these essential sources of fiber, your
rabbit's digestive system will not work effectively which could endanger
his/her health.
Finally, after talking about what gets done to the food inside
rabbits' bodies and the debates about what rabbits should eat, here's
the low-down on the three main types of food sources recommended for
house rabbits.
Hays and Grasses
As mentioned above, HAYS and grasses help support the healthy
bacteria and protozoa that break down plant matter in the rabbit's
cecum. The fiber also keeps food moving properly through the
digestive system and helps prevent GI statis or rabbit indigestion
which can result in very small stools or none at all. This is a very serious
illness and rabbits can quickly die from it. Chewing of HAYS and grasses
also helps wear down the teeth in a healthy way.There are grass HAYS and
legume hays which provide different benefits to your rabbit.
Grass Hays:
Examples are timothy, meadow, oat, rye, or barley hays
and Bermuda grass.
These are full of nutrients and also provide a
lower energy diet appropriate for house rabbits. Adult rabbits in
particular will benefit from the higher fiber and lower protein and
calcium levels in these hays. Do not feed straw and make sure that
hays and grasses are dry and free from molds and, if possible,
organic. Feel free to mix hays.
Legume Hays: Examples are alfalfa, clover, peas, bean or peanut hays.
These are higher in protein and calcium (especially alfalfa) so are
more appropriate for younger rabbits (6 months old and younger).
Sources discourage feeding rabbits who are over 6 months old too many
legume hays because it can lead to digestive disorders and obesity.
*As long as your yard is FREE FROM PESTICIDES, yard grasses and
"weeds" also provide great grazing sources for your rabbit.
Commercially Produced Pellets or Feed
Pellets and feeds were originally developed for the commercial rabbit
industry (i.e. rabbits meant to be consumed or tested in a lab, not
as pets) and so provide a food source with concentrated nutrition to
encourage rapid growth. Of course, not all pellets and feed are the
same so choose according to the needs of your rabbit. In other
words, read the label! Some rabbit pellets are higher in fiber and
others are higher in protein. Feed mixes that include cereals, nuts
or other treats should be considered just that-a treat-and not used
as the basis for your rabbit's daily diet. Whichever type of pellet
or feed you choose, be sure it looks and smells fresh and, unless
otherwise instructed by your vet, only offer the recommended serving
size.
Vegetables and Fruits
The guide here is the greener and leafier the better. Again, advice
on which vegetables are best for house rabbits varies. Benefits to
feeding house rabbits a diet filled with dark green leafy vegetables
not only include the various vitamins and nutrients found in
different vegetables, but also the water content and fiber they add
to what your bunny rabbit drinks. Be aware and conscious when
introducing new vegetables to your rabbit's diet. If you observe
soft stool, choose a different vegetable that may be more easily
digested by your rabbit. Because of the high sugar content in
acceptable fruit, they are only to be offered as treats. Organically
grown vegetables and fruit are, of course, preferable.
Please note that the lists below are just examples of preferable and treat
foods. Check with your veterinarian with any questions you have.
Green Leafy Vegetables (Preferable)
Cilantro ,Parsley,Dandelion greens,Kale,Broccoli (leaves & tops) ,Cabbage,Celery ,Collards,Swiss Chard,Mustard Greens
Romaine, Buttercrunch, and Leaf Lettuces (*Iceberg lettuce is not
recommended as it is very low in nutritional value.)
Carrot tops
Fruits & Other Vegetables (Treats),Blueberries,Strawberrie,Apple,Banana,Pear,Melon,Pineapple,
Cranberries,Grapes,Pea pods (flat with peas removed) ,Alfalfa or bean sprouts,Carrots
Green, Red, or Yellow Bell Peppers
Foods to Avoid (High Fat, High Starch Foods),Breads,Cereals,Oats,Beans,Corn, NutsSeeds,Wheat,Chocolate,Refined Sugar
Other essentials for a healthy diet
Water:
Though rabbits who eat a large amount of greens will be
provided with some water naturally, it is important that they also be
provided with a clean and plentiful supply of fresh water daily.
Minerals and Salt
Salt wheels and mineral blocks provide rabbits
with a supplement to their natural diet and also give them a chance
to chew and prevent overgrowth of their teeth.
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RABBITS WHAT THEY NEED FOR HEALTHY LIFE
