Rabbit diet fruit
The bulk of fresh foods should be made up of leafy greens (about 75% of the fresh part of the diet). Alfalfa is not a grass, but rather a legume (in the pea and bean family). Varying the type of grass hay or mixing hays is a great idea (such as timothy, orchard, oat hay, brome, etc). Various types of dry and fresh grasses and plants with leaves comprise the largest portion of the wild rabbit diet. Suggested Vegetables and Fruits for a Rabbit Diet. Avoid the use of alfalfa hay as the primary source of hay due to the fact it is very high in calories and protein, far more than the average house rabbit needs. Do not purchase more than 6 weeks worth of feed at a time, as it will become spoiled. The majority of the house rabbit diet should be composed of grass hay. Alfalfa can be given to underweight rabbits, only if calcium levels are normal. Rabbits will also eat bark on trees, tender twigs and sprouts, fruits, seeds and other nutritious foods in much small amounts. Grass hay is rich in Vitamin A and D as well as calcium, protein and other nutrients. Many plants contain a naturally occurring chemicals called an alkaloids, which are mild toxins that protect plant in the wild.
[img][/img]
Frail, older rabbits may need unrestricted pellets to keep weight up. The amount of oxalic acid within each plant can vary significantly due to several factors including the composition of the soil the plant grew in, the time of year and the age of the plant. Eating hay promotes healthy teeth and gastrointestinal tract and should be available to your rabbit at all times. Pellets should be fresh, and should be relatively high in fiber (18% minimum fiber). This is important to know when we decide what is a healthy diet for our house rabbits. The one most talked about with rabbits is oxalic acid and it is completely harmless to animals or humans when consumed in small amounts. Any leafy green that is safe for a human or a horse to eat is safe for a rabbit to consume. Alfalfa pellets are fine for younger rabbits but timothy pellets are preferred for older rabbits. Fresh foods also provide more moisture in the diet, which is good for kidney and bladder function. An approximate amoun t to feed would be around 1 cup of greens for 2 lbs of rabbit body weight once a day or divided into multiple feedings a day. Suggested Vegetables and Fruits for a Rabbit Diet. If sufficient weight is maintained, continue adult diet. Annual blood workups are highly recommended for geriatric rabbits. When you feed a lower quantity (or no) of pellets, you must replace the nutritional value without the calories, which is done by increasing the vegetables. Rabbits in the wild all over the world successfully consume a wide variety of plant material.
