One of the important and essential keys to their health is obviously their diet plans. We all know that rabbits have a unique digestive system but some of us are still have no idea what is the best nutritious food for them. Is it good to feed them with pellets? Do they need high-fat food? or additional protein, maybe? Lack of information about the proper rabbit’s diet plans can harm their health and even shorten their life span! So surely all of rabbit owners, no matter pet rabbit or breeding rabbit, have to know the basic knowledge about their rabbits’ proper food.
In this article, you will get the answer about what is the nutrition that your rabbit needed and why it is important for your rabbit’s health.
Special Food Nutrition For Your Rabbit Breed Process
1. Fresh water
Water is essential, we know it for sure. A rabbit can survive for many days without food but only last for 3 days without water. This is obvious but many of us often forget to provide easy access for freshwater to their rabbits every day. Make sure their water tubes are accessible and full. You also need to put an extra caution during winter or cold months, when the weather can freeze the water tubing or the nozzles. You can get some warmers for their water tubing if needed.
2. Fiber
Fiber is super essential for your rabbits’ health. Fiber, both soluble and insoluble, helps your rabbits’ guts to keep the food or contents moving along when they are digesting their meals. Transit slow-down may lead to some health problems to your rabbit. Or worst, it might block your rabbits’ digestive system, making them unable to eat or drink until they starve to death! What a nightmare, right? So make sure your rabbits’ diet plan has some food with fibers in it, for example, hay.
3. Protein
The easiest way to provide protein to your rabbits is from pellets food. The commercial pellets food that you usually find in stores mostly already provides protein needs, from alfalfa or soybean meal.
4. Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are needed for your rabbits’ energy and to boost their immune system as well. Balance your rabbits’ fiber with simple crabs. Too many carbs are bad for your rabbit since it can cause and trigger toxin-producing bacteria in your rabbits’ gut.
5. Fats
Rabbits can digest fat in the small intestine. Breeding rabbits need fats to boost their milk production. The safe proportion of fat levels for rabbits is as high as 25 percent. You can also find commercial pellets food contains fats in it with a low level, like no more than 5 percent, so make sure you give your rabbits more than just a pellets food.
6. Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamins are needed, but it is not the main concern. Usually, rabbit owners provide vitamins, like vitamin A, vitamin D, Vitamin E, B1, B2, and B12, as an additional supplement in their rabbit’s dry pellets. As for minerals, mineral supplements are needed as well because your rabbits can absorb calcium very efficiently and excrete it in their urine. Some commercial pellets food already include some of these, from magnesium, zinc, sodium, potassium, iodine, and more.
Okay, that’s some nutrition that is essential for your rabbit. Now, let’s discuss what type of food we can give to them.
First thing first, is fresh food. Always give fresh food to your rabbits as much as you can. Pellet foods might be convenient since it already includes all the nutrients that your rabbits need. But remember that it may not fulfill the portion of the minimum requirements for your rabbits, so you might want to try to add some fresh food as well. Pellet food might also lead to boredom into your rabbits, too!
A daily variety of fresh veggies and fruits can help you to balance out their nutritional requirements in your rabbits’ diet plan. You can provide your rabbits with at least 3 different veggies every day with one or more of them containing vitamin A. Your rabbits will surely love their food variation, too! As for the portion, usually you can give them two to four cups of fresh and washed veggies, but it is better for you to give it depend on your rabbits’ weight.
Be careful with a high level of fiber and sugar fruits, like apples, pears, or tomatoes. Too much sugar intake can lead your bunny into obesity, which is not healthy at all! So make sure to limit their daily fruit intake. It is better and safer for you to give them fruits just as additional treats besides their main meals.
That is all the basic food nutrition for your rabbit! As for the conclusion, our rabbit can stay healthy as long as we feed them with the right essentials: accessible freshwater, a limited amount of high fiber, which you can get from pellets food, with some fresh food as well, like hay, and additional supplements or treats from fresh vegetables and fruits! Not only that, but it is also important to concern about the portion and how often you have to feed your rabbits so it will not prone to obesity or any other health issues. Lack of nutrition is bad for the growth of your rabbit, but a large portion, especially sugar intake, for your rabbits can be harmful to their health, and even lead to death! So keep it balance, okay?
If you’re not so sure about the right amount of food you have to give to your rabbits, you can ask your vet to have some recommendations depending on your rabbits’ condition. Also, don’t forget to let your rabbit stay active by letting them get out of their cage for at least 3 to 5 hours a day so they can exercise and play around at the same time. Happy rabbit is a healthy rabbit, right? Good luck!