Plain yogurt, apples and rolled oats mixture

[bunnyjames]

Some of you may know that i have a new addition to my family, my daughter found an injured hen in our backyard who is emaciated so we’re trying to nurse it back to health. Anyways i found this great forum just fabulous that has alot of great informational stuff in regards to chickens and othe birds, some of the members recomended i give the hen a mixture of plain yogurt, rolled oats, finely grated apple a drizzle of honey, and smashed egg. Well i didnt have eggs since we dont eat eggs in my house so for the first few days i was giving the mixture without the egg, this mixture is actually crumbly if you follow the recepie, its suppose to help give the hen the much needed nutrients she is lacking. I was doing it in our outdoor kitchen and neddless to say Zoe, Chomper, and the other buns were right there on hind legs trying to smell what i was cooking (i think they could smell the apples, lol) anyways i put a done batch of the mixture on a low table that is in the outdoor kitchen and Zoe and Chomper hopped right on to the table and just gobbled the mixture up it was about a cup. My question is is any of that stuff bad for them, it didnt have the egg, just rolled oats, grated apple, and 1 taplespoon of plain yogurt and drizzle of honey. Now everytime they see im going to the outdoor kitchen they follow me and get on their hind legs trying see if they can get to the yummy treat. And if its not bad for them can i possibly do them some tiny treats out of this?? They only got to it once, but their begging breaks my heart, they try to fight the hen for the yummy food now, lol so now I feed the hen in the garge only where the buns can get to her.

[Sarita]

It’s not good for them – the yogurt and the oats. Rabbits should not eat dairy products and the oats are high in carbs. I’m sure they think it is yummy though since it sounds pretty darn good to me. Apple is fine but in small amounts – honey is too high in sugar though.

[KatnipCrzy]

I would not consider those ingredients to be “bad” as in toxic bad- but they are not good/healthy in that amount.  Some vets will sometimes recommend yogurt for ill bunnies- in my opinion this is very outdated thinking and practice.  Rabbits get milk from their mothers when they are babies- and then for the rest of their life they are herbivores- so I will not feed my bunnies any dairy.  Same with my parrot.  The oats- high in carbs which turn into sugar- and the apples and honey- high in sugar.

I am sure your bunnies really liked it- mine would too- but it would be like letting your child eat a dinner of all sugar- might cause a tummy ache and not a healthy choice.  So just keep and eye on them to make sure they don’t get a tummy ache and need to see the vet.  One of my bunnies gets into EVERYTHING and has eaten part of a potato, part of a pickle, etc.  I know we are supposed to be smarter than the bunnies and prevent their outrageous escapades- but sometimes I think the bunnies are really in charge! 

[RabbitPam]

It’s a lot like the ingredients found in those treats sold in pet stores for bunnies that we recommend avoiding. They’re digestible, tasty, and not healthy. Leads to bad bunny habits – obesity, lying on the couch nibbling a clicker and demanding carrot juice – that sort of lazy stuff. You want a lean, healthy bunny so the treat can be a tiny chunk or sliver of apple, but avoid access to the rest. When a begging mouth comes calling, have a few pellets or a veggie treat handy instead. And get a covered cooling rack.

[Andi]

I’m going to agree with everything already posted.
I have heard of people adding oats to a older or sickly rabbits diet to help put on weight. I don’t think this ‘treat’ should hurt a rabbit next to helping put on the pounds LOL… but with sugary things and even the yogert i would be worried about the excess sugars throwing off the balance in the gut and causing upset stomach/gas/stasis. I just learned that one with my older bunny who was being fed way to many treats over Xmas including carrots and Crasins, I almost lost him
So definetly be careful. I highly reccomend Critical Care for helping feed a sick bunny, the stuffs amazing and has probiotics in it to help with guts and such.
OH and for treats, there are some really good bunny cookie recipies out there, mine like ones with pumpkin and Banana.

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