DIY Fodder System

[Toady]

Since I’ve discovered that my local supply of lettuce and chinese vegies has disappeared I am looking around for alternatives (home garden isn’t growing due to weather) and I was told about these fodder systems by a fellow Angora owner. From what I can see it’s a grow your own grass from wheat, oat, barley, any other grass (or maybe even vegie) seeds and feed as needed, although I think 1 tray would last my lot half a week, not a day. 

DIY Fodder System

Do you guys think that sprouting a variety of seeds (grain as well as things like sunflower or grasses) and feeding them along with the usual hay and pellets would fulfil a bunny’s daily greens needs??

[jerseygirl]

Is it weird that I thought “Yum” when I looked at the pics?
I don’t even eat wheat grass! Lol

I can imagine rabbits going crazy over a variety of greens like this. 2 of mine (Maple & Potamus) ignore salad greens I give them. But when I give fresh picked grasses or willow, they chow it down.

Personally I think it would cover a rabbit needs and be more true to the natural diet. Pellets cover things they mightn’t be able to get via greens. Hay provides some nutritional vitamin D.

If anything, I think the nutrients in this would be higher then commercially available vegetables and you might need to limit intake.

One thing to try for variety is the pasture seed mixes for horses. Much of that is rabbit safe.
You could grow green salad mixes like this couldnt you?

When commercial greens are hard to come by, there are lots of weeds natural to the rabbit diet. Also safe for humans to eat and have lots of nutritional value. I read a UK based rabbit forum sometimes and many are big on foraging for their rabbits feed. Many members have kept their rabbits on an exclusively foraged diet for years as the rabbits had problems with commercial greens. These rabbits have thrived.

[MoveDiagonally]

Hm…. I think this is a really interesting idea. (I thought “yum” too!)

I’m wondering though if rabbit should be fed the whole thing (like in the article) or if it would be better to “clip” the grass and avoid the seeds? This type of diet is used by breeders/meat producers more often than by pet owners (in the articles I found) and they say it helps “put weight on them” so I’m wondering if that’s the seeds or just that it’s healthier than what they were giving?

Any ideas anyone?

[Author]

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