Fodder

[SamLM5511]

Ok, I currently have a 4 month old Netherland Dwarf Lionhead cross named Petey. He is currently 2 lbs and I don’t expect him to get any bigger than 3lbs.

For a while now I’ve been thinking that I want to switch him to a fodder system. But this fall I will be going off to college. So my plan of giving him a specified amount everyday just went out the window. It just didnt seem fair to ask my mom to take care of him and a fodder system. But, I will be home most weekends and was wandering if I could just grow a big mat that would last him about a week? Would this be a bad idea or has anyone even tried this?

If I do go with the fodder system, ideally it would be to replace pellets and provide a more natural feeding. I was thinking maybe some sort of combination of oats, barley, BOSS (just a few a day), and maybe wheat. Any other suggestions? On top of that he would give mint and willow (which he already gets small amounts of daily) and maybe a pinch of flax.

Would enough fodder replace the need for hay or does it have too high of a water content? A lot of times the mint and willow is dried, could that be his hay?
He would also get other things like different herbs and such, and I would probably use a cut up apple slice for little pieces of treat once be was old enough.

Any tips/advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks guys!

[Sarita]

Oh, no oats, barley, wheat – that is a bad idea. Don’t know what BOSS is.

Here are some good videos that discuss what rabbits should eat and why by a vet:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P55h2n7PKU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhEfweUqKY8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlVTITy7k9Y

[manic_muncher]

Yea, the diet you are describing is what homesteaders typically do to get their livestock to gain weight. As far as THAT topic goes, we don’t discuss that here (see the blurb at the top of this page).

Please check out those links and this one too:
https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/CategoryID/2/PID/940/Default.aspx

It’s really nice with links to veggie lists and whatnot.

Sarita: BOSS are those black sunflower seeds you would find in a feed store to feed wild birds.

[SamLM5511]

BOSS is Black Oil Sunflower Seed. Do you know why specifically those grains are bad for rabbits? It would be grown out into a grass with a root mat so it would cause any soar jaw problems like the hole grain would. Also, if you look at the ingredients for pellets, most contain most of those ingredients.

[Sarita]

Well pellets are a very small part of the rabbit’s diet not the majority of it.

I really suggest you watch those videos that I posted for you – the vet goes into detail about the rabbit diet and discusses carbs, proteins, the rabbits digestive system, etc…better than I could.

[Sarita]

Here’s an article as well that will answer your questions:

http://rabbit.org/disorders-of-the-cecum/

You may have to cut and paste the youtube links – I had problems linking those.  

[MoveDiagonally]

Also, if you look at the ingredients for pellets, most contain most of those ingredients.

This is true but pellets should only account for, at most, 5% of a rabbits overall diet. Pellets while containing some less than ideal ingredients, are formulated to meet the nutritional needs of rabbits. It’s very hard to replicate this and feeding grains and seeds wouldn’t. Another concern is that grains are generally high in carbohydrates and low in digestible fiber. For rabbits this results in slower GI motility which can lead to GI Stasis. The only successful pellet free diets I’ve seen or heard of involve large quantities and variety (10+ types of greens/veggies each day).

[LongEaredLions]

I just wanted to add that you cannot replace hay with herbs or fodder. Long strand grass hay is essential because it wears the back molars down as well as keeping the digestive system healthy. Hay should be 80% of the diet.

[Author]

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