Feeding A Rabbit: When And How Much?
Feeding time is one of the most desirable moments of our pets day. Rabbits especially love their food, of course even more if we add their favorite food to their diet. This is why it is important to follow the guidelines for feeding a rabbit.
That’s why we’d like to share some tips with you so you know how, how much and when a rabbit should eat.
Feeding a rabbit
Before we get into nutrition, let’s first remember a little bit about the rabbit’s biological history.
By the beginning of the twentieth century, the resemblance between rabbits and rodents was enough to make them think they all belonged to the order of Rodentia . Later studies have shown that rabbit to the lagomorphs or Lagomorpha include what another genus than that of rodents.
Strictly speaking, the rabbit is part of the hare family (scientifically also called Leporidae ), which also includes the wild hares and other species.
From an anatomical point of view, they all have in common that they have long, strong hind paws, large ears and two rows of incisors, but what is most interesting for us is that they feed on plants.
When keeping a rabbit at home, it is important to know that its diet should be varied and include a number of basic elements. This includes:
- Hay : This feed is essential for healthy development. Fresh hay contains fiber and supports the digestive system, and it also helps to grind teeth.
- Fresh vegetables : This is also important, but should be given in small quantities when feeding a rabbit . Leafy green vegetables like Swiss chard, carrot leaves, or cress are examples of vegetables a rabbit can eat.
- Fruit and dry food : Every now and then you can reward the Mümmelmänner with a piece of fruit. The dry food usually consists of pellets that are fed to the animals as an addition to their main diet.
How Much Should I Give When Feeding a Rabbit?
It is difficult to answer this question precisely because there are a number of variables such as age and developmental status.
Generally speaking, it can be said that the amount varies, especially when it comes to the type of food. If the animals are new, nutrition with breast milk or a veterinary substitute is ideal.
Hay should make up around 70% of your diet. You feed it from the seventh week of life. It should be of good quality and we should always replace it to keep it fresh and available.
This way our pet can eat all the hay when it wants.
Vegetables should be given to rabbits in moderate quantities. A young animal that is not younger than six months should eat no more than 10% of its body weight in vegetables.
The fruit and pellets should be fed in small quantities. An adult rabbit must not be given more than 80 grams per day. You have to remember that these foods are only an addition to the actual feed.
When should you feed a rabbit?
As a rule of thumb, a rabbit can eat twice a day. However, just like the quantity, the frequency with which a rabbit feeds can depend on various factors. Age is the most important here.
As long as it is still a young animal, you should feed the milk at least three times a day. As the rabbit grows, it is best to vary its diet and also the frequency of feeding.
For example, the vegetable rations should be divided into two portions when the animals are young. Once they are fully grown, they can be fed once a day.
Fruit, as mentioned, should only be fed occasionally and it is advisable to set up a weekly schedule (three times a week, for example).
However, other nutrients such as hay and water should never be missing. Our rabbit should always have these two things ready. You also have to always make sure that the hay and water are fresh and replace them often.
