The eating patterns of our pets are one of the fundamental pillars of their health. That is why we want to tell you all about the feeding of the rabbit so that you know how much and when it has to eat.
Tips for the diet of the dwarf rabbit
Mealtime is one of the most awaited moments for our pets. Rabbits are especially happy when they are eating, especially if we include their favorite foods in their diet. For this reason, it is important to check their eating patterns. We, therefore, offer you some advice so that you know everything about the rabbit's diet: how, how much and when it should eat.
The rabbit and its diet
Before you start talking about your diet, it might be useful to remember the biological history of the rabbit. Until the beginning of the 20th century, the similarities between rabbits and rodents suggested that they were all part of the Rodentia order. Subsequent studies have shown that rabbits are part of the lagomorphs, an order of mammals different from that of rodents.
More specifically, the rabbit belongs to the Leporidae family, to which also the hare and other species belong. Even if all of them have in common an anatomy in which we distinguish the powerful hind legs, a pair of big ears and two rows of incisors, the common trait which interests us most is their herbivorous alimentation.
If we keep a rabbit at home, it is important to know that its diet must be varied and contain a number of basic elements, such as:
- Hay: the most indispensable food for proper development. Fresh hay provides the fiber and helps the digestive system, as well as promoting the erosion of the teeth.
- Fresh vegetables: they are just as important, although we must administer them in smaller proportions. Green leafy vegetables such as chard, carrot leaves or watercress are some examples of vegetables that a rabbit should eat.
- Fruit and feed: From time to time, it is good to reward our rabbits with a little fruit. As for the feed, which is generally given in the form of pellets, it should be offered as a supplement to the main food.
Rabbit feeding: the feed should be offered as a supplement to the main food
How much does a rabbit have to eat?
Answering this question precisely is not easy, because in the correct diet of the rabbit there are a number of variables, such as age or its state of development. In general, we can say that the quantity varies, above all, depending on the type of food. When rabbits are newborns, a diet based on breast milk or similar is ideal.
Hay, although it must make up 70% of its diet, must be administered from the month and a half of life. It should be of good quality and, if possible, we should change it often, so that it is always fresh and available. In this way, our pet will be able to eat all the hay he wants when he wants it.
The vegetables that a rabbit has to eat should be offered in moderate portions. If we keep a young rabbit at home, aged not less than 6 months, the portion of vegetables should not exceed 10% of its body weight.
Fruit and pellets should be offered in small portions, taking care not to exceed 80 grams of feed per day in adult rabbits. It should be remembered that these foods are complementary to the diet.
Vegetables are very important in the rabbit's diet but should be offered in moderate quantities.
When does he have to eat a rabbit?
As a general rule, a rabbit can eat twice a day. However, just as in the case of the amount of food, the frequency with which he must eat depends on a variety of factors, among which we must point out that the age is the most relevant.
When they are still puppies, milk must be fed at least three times a day. As the rabbit grows, it is useful to vary its diet, as well as the timing of administration.
For example, vegetable portions should be divided into two meals when the rabbits are young. Once they have reached adulthood, however, they can only be offered once. Fruit, as we have already specified, must be a food offered occasionally: it is recommended to establish a weekly scheme (for example, three times a week).
However, other foods, such as hay and water, should never be missing. Our rabbit should always have these two foods at his disposal. They should always be fresh and be renewed frequently.