One of the things I do as needed throughout the year is make up my own grain mix for the rabbits.
In it I put pumpkin or squash seeds because they are a natural anti-coccidiant, black oil sunflower seeds for energy, oats because rabbits like them, and a bird seed mixture since variety is a good thing.
In it I put pumpkin or squash seeds because they are a natural anti-coccidiant, black oil sunflower seeds for energy, oats because rabbits like them, and a bird seed mixture since variety is a good thing.
These are pumpkin seeds from our own pumpkins. Dried over the last couple of days.
For those interested, nutrition for pumpkin/squash seeds can be found here.Calorie Information
Amounts Per Selected Serving %DV
Calories 126 (528 kJ) 6%
From Carbohydrate 61.9 (259 kJ)
From Fat 45.9 (192 kJ)
From Protein 18.2 (76.2 kJ)
From Alcohol ~ (0.0 kJ)
Amounts Per Selected Serving %DV
Calories 126 (528 kJ) 6%
From Carbohydrate 61.9 (259 kJ)
From Fat 45.9 (192 kJ)
From Protein 18.2 (76.2 kJ)
From Alcohol ~ (0.0 kJ)
If you click the image you'll get the page I got this image from. Black oil sunflower seeds (also known as BOSS) is an excellent way to make a rabbit's coat shine, and in in the cold months to provide some extra energy for warmth.
BOSS nutrition facts. found here.Energy 584 Kcal 29%
Carbohydrates 20 g 15%
Protein 20.78 g3 7%
Total Fat 51.46 g 172%
Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
Dietary Fiber 8.6 g 23%
Carbohydrates 20 g 15%
Protein 20.78 g3 7%
Total Fat 51.46 g 172%
Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
Dietary Fiber 8.6 g 23%
Clicking the image takes you to the page this is from. I have gotten whole oats before but find some rabbits won't eat them, hulled ensures the rabbits eat them. The mice don't much care for hulled oats, but the rabbits sure do. :) This makes up about 1/2 of my mixture.
Nutrition facts for oats found here.Calorie Information
Amounts Per Selected Serving %DV
Calories 607 (2541 kJ) 30%
From Carbohydrate 425 (1779 kJ)
From Fat 90.1 (377 kJ)
From Protein 91.2 (382 kJ)
From Alcohol 0.0 (0.0 kJ)
Amounts Per Selected Serving %DV
Calories 607 (2541 kJ) 30%
From Carbohydrate 425 (1779 kJ)
From Fat 90.1 (377 kJ)
From Protein 91.2 (382 kJ)
From Alcohol 0.0 (0.0 kJ)
Click on image to go to source. The bird seed I use varies depending on what is cheap and has the least amount of corn in it. I don't do cracked corn with the rabbits as it's just a waste. Whole corn either gets eaten or more likely dug out and then it comes up in the spring and becomes green food for the rabbits. Currently I'm using a grain mix with a lot of safflower in it.
My basic mix is 1 part pumpkin, 2 parts bird seed, 2 parts BOSS and 4 parts oats. I usually do whole oats as they'll grow if spilt, but I've done oatmeal in the past as well. That gets eaten REALLY fast. :) Some rabbits love the pumpkin/squash, others don't. Depends on when I have the babies in....winter babies LOVE squash seeds, summer babies not so much.
Why do I feed a grain mix? I find variety with rabbits a very good thing. It gives me something to feed if I run out of pellets. It gives the rabbits something to look forward to, grain treat days are highly favoured around here. In the cold months they get a grain treat every other day, in the summer once a week. They don't get much, a litter shares a full 1/4 cup, the rest get anything from a tsp to a tbsp depending on size. I like having go to options with the buns, and this is just one of my go to options.
Sometimes I think about going pellet free with the rabbits and just feeding grains, but then I need to worry on giving salts and minerals, I need to worry on transitioning them to pellets for bunny owners and so much more. I'd rather not do that. I like keeping them relatively stable on a varied diet. Makes for better pets and breeders anyways, makes it easier for them to transition to new homes.
Oh... should add this factoid on corn.
Another reason to avoid feeding much corn is concerns about it's benefit as a feed source AND it's potential to develop white mould. The mould is not a good thing for bunny tummies and is more prevalent during wet seasons, the concern about it as a feed source is that rabbits don't tend to digest a certain part of the corn kernel well which can cause blockage in the gut. I find when I feed corn that the rabbits do not eat the entire kernel. They nibble the ends off (the tips) or the edges of the kernel itself. They rarely if ever eat the whole thing. Ergo when I get a bird seed with corn I only buy bird seed with limited amounts of whole kernels, never cracked.
Why do I feed a grain mix? I find variety with rabbits a very good thing. It gives me something to feed if I run out of pellets. It gives the rabbits something to look forward to, grain treat days are highly favoured around here. In the cold months they get a grain treat every other day, in the summer once a week. They don't get much, a litter shares a full 1/4 cup, the rest get anything from a tsp to a tbsp depending on size. I like having go to options with the buns, and this is just one of my go to options.
Sometimes I think about going pellet free with the rabbits and just feeding grains, but then I need to worry on giving salts and minerals, I need to worry on transitioning them to pellets for bunny owners and so much more. I'd rather not do that. I like keeping them relatively stable on a varied diet. Makes for better pets and breeders anyways, makes it easier for them to transition to new homes.
Oh... should add this factoid on corn.
Another reason to avoid feeding much corn is concerns about it's benefit as a feed source AND it's potential to develop white mould. The mould is not a good thing for bunny tummies and is more prevalent during wet seasons, the concern about it as a feed source is that rabbits don't tend to digest a certain part of the corn kernel well which can cause blockage in the gut. I find when I feed corn that the rabbits do not eat the entire kernel. They nibble the ends off (the tips) or the edges of the kernel itself. They rarely if ever eat the whole thing. Ergo when I get a bird seed with corn I only buy bird seed with limited amounts of whole kernels, never cracked.
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